I am an unabashed fan of Buster Keaton. This stems in part from my childhood: I used to spend a lot of time with my grandparents, who would watch films from anywhere between the 1920s to the 1940s. While I was exposed to the Marx Brothers, Shirley Temple and Charlie Chaplin, Keaton was always my favorite. His 1928 film Steamboat Bill, Jr. has many things going for it. It’s available on Netflix, so here are five reasons to sit down and give it a whirl this weekend.

One aversion to silent films is the notion that they’re somehow inferior because they don’t have speech. This one has a charming piano soundtrack to make up for the lack of talking, and it’s just as mood-enhancing as a stellar soliloquy. The effect is that you smile without realizing it. That’s a beautiful feeling while watching a film. The music in this one will do that for you. Worth a whirl.

I’ve echoed this sentiment when talking about The Babadook: some parents have to face the actual child in front of them while trying to reconcile reality with the child they dreamed of having. We get to see that this was being explored on film in the 1920s, as our hero attempts to fit in with the expectations of his domineering father. Watching a parent struggle with this concept and fail in this film is a reminder that this isn’t a new problem, and that it’s up to the parent to grow to appreciate what’s in front of him or her.

This film does have a heart when it comes to not fighting who you really are, despite that it’s a slapstick comedy. We get a main character that struggles with being himself while the old ways are still trying to dictate everything from his attire to his profession. No new themes here, but it’s a good story with a nice
message. Being true to yourself can seem hokey or cliche. Let’s face it, we could all deal with something positive, something that tells us we’re a little less alien than we think, every so often.

Fun fact: Buster Keaton came from a family of acrobats. The man did all of his own stunts, and his comedy is very physical. It’s impressive to see what he can do, especially with how fluid his movements are. While he’s contorting himself into various escapes and visual gags, he’s also wearing a deadpan expression. The stone face is pretty fucking funny, and adds to the action. You don’t need talking to appreciate what he accomplishes.

You know that famous house-falls-down-on-a-guy stunt, and the dude goes through the empty window hole? The one that’s been re-created and spoofed over and over again? That stunt came from this film. It was shot once and nailed on the first try. It’s heady once you realize that one bad wind would have killed Keaton. It’s worth it to watch the original in context and realize just how much Keaton had in the balls department.

Despite any aversions to black and white, despite that there’s no talking, you should really check this one out. It’s a gem.