BUSTER KEATON - MARYNARZ SŁODKICH WÓD / STEAMBOAT BILL JR DVD

Willie jest synem kapitana łodzi parowej, Billa. Jedzie, aby się z nim zobaczyć po wielu latach rozłąki. W między czasie spotyka piękną dziewczynę, w której się zakochuję. Jak się okazuję, jest to córka innego właściciela statku, konkurenta Billa. Ojciec Williego stara się zrobić z syna prawdziwego "mężczyznę", ale pewnego dnia zaczyna bójkę z Johnem - konkurentem i trafia do więzienia. Willy postanawia wyciągnąć go z więzienia...

Steamboat Bill Jr dates from 1928 and is the last great film Buster Keaton made before he gave up his independence and signed for MGM. Buster is the rather fey son of an elderly steamboat owner who is being driven out of business by a wealthy competitor. More by accident than intention Buster turns things around and gets the girl as well. The last 15 minutes are truly astonishing: a storm sequence in which a whole town is blown apart, with Buster experiencing a series of amazing escapes as buildings fall down around his ears. On the DVD: The print is a good one, best seen in the 4:3 ration, with unobtrusive organ music added. As a nautical extra there's The Boat, a 1921 short (the print not in such a good state as the feature), in which in the course of launching his newly built craft Buster manages to wreck his house, tip his car into the river and sink the boat. And that's only the beginning. -- Ed Buscombe