A new season has started at the Library for the Performing Arts. The kickoff of the series of silent films brought us Just a Husband (1927) and Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928). Here’s a shout out to the team of Bruce Lawton, Steve Massa and Ben Model.
Just a Husband was a slight two-reeler that had some nice slapstick moments. I was rather fond of the title slides that read, “The road to Marriage is paved with good intentions,” and (regarding the ex-husband of the divorcée getting married) “They wanted him to be the Best Man—he just wanted to give the bride away!” After the ceremony, the happy couple head off to the desert for their honeymoon. Falling rocks and a screwball sign reversal end up with them being stranded in Death Valley with no food or water, paired up with three ne’er-do-wells, and then threatened by four other fellows (the real bad guys). Who knew the desert was so well populated? After the bad guys steal the new bride, the other four find, attack, and drive off the four bad guys. Then the three ne’er-do-wells and the happy couple celebrate with GROCERIES. Did I mention that this was a slapstick comedy?
Steamboat Bill, Jr. is a true Buster Keaton classic. Buster is a Boston boy sent out to the Mississippi to join his father, the captain of the Stonewall Jackson. But there’s a new riverboat in town, the King, sponsored by Mr. Rich Guy, by the name of King. Mr. King’s young daughter is also on the scene—and she and Bill, Jr. (Keaton) know and love each other. Of course, both fathers are dead set against the kids getting together. Stormy weather causes all kinds of problems (and all kinds of cinematic slapstick). One of my favorite scenes involved Keaton taking bread to his father who is in jail. Of course, all sorts of tools were baked in, which then fall out and get Bill, Jr. in trouble, as well. During the storm, many buildings are destroyed or fall over, including a famous scene where a wall falls on our hero, but the open window on the second story miraculously falls right where our hero is standing, so he remains unscathed. In the end, Bill, Jr. saves the girl, saves his dad (by piloting the Stonewall Jackson through the floating away jail), then jumps back into the river and saves the girl’s father, too. Everybody is happy! So why does Bill, Jr. jump into the river one more time? To rescue a parson so that our two youngsters can get married! Did I mention that this was a slapstick comedy?
Once again, Mr. Model at the keyboard added a great amount of enjoyment to the afternoon.
It’s good that a great series is back. Also, autumn brings the return of other performance series. And a new season that I am definitely looking forward to.
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