Film Forum

U.S., 1928
Directed by Charles Reisner
Starring Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence
35mm. Approx. 71 min.

Ukulele-playing collegiate twit Buster is a big disappointment to gruff sea-faring dad Ernest Torrence, until… The big cyclone finale is “surely one of the most fantastic dithyrambs of disaster ever committed to film.” - Rudi Blesh. 35mm print courtesy Library of Congress.

Reviews

“Although The General is widely regarded to be Keaton’s masterpiece, there is a case to be made that this tale of an effete city-boy who joins his brawling, pipe-chewing father on board the latter’s dilapidated paddle steamer is Keaton’s funniest.”
– Wendy Ide, The Times

“...miraculous physical comedy and stunt work.”
– Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

“The last part of the film is unforgettable. It eclipses for sheer panache anything he ever did.”
– Kevin Brownlow, The Parade's Gone By...