Construction is as important to creating a comedy as it is to building a house. Buster Keaton was a master when it came to structure, and he proved it brilliantly in “Steamboat Bill Jr.” (1928), now on Blu-ray and DVD from Kino International. The visual gags are beyond belief—the cyclone sequence that concludes the film is pure genius—but they’re always in service of the story and the characters, an art almost forgotten today. It’s my personal favorite of Keaton’s expertly-crafted silent films, and holds up beautifully today.

The comedian’s last independent feature from the prime of his career, “Bill” is equal in scale to his epic, “The General.” He’s a college-educated but mechanically inept young man in this one, working alongside his crusty old riverboat captain dad (played by Ernest Torrence) on a rundown Mississippi paddlewheel; pop is enmeshed in a bitter rivalry with a competitor, who is of course the father of Buster’s sweetheart (Marion Byron in her film debut).

In addition to the feature (directed by Charles F. Reisner from a story by Carl Harbaugh), Kino has added a complete second version of the film, comprised of alternate takes and camera angles (a common practice in that era); both are mastered from archival 35mm. This special edition also includes a nifty score by the Biograph Players in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, two additional scores, and a 15-minute documentary on the making of the picture by film historian Bret Wood.

Buster was one of the most inventive comedians of all time, and he demonstrates it unforgettably in “Sherlock Jr.” (1924), also now available on Blu-ray and DVD from Kino. This hilarious deconstruction of the filmmaking process, directed by and starring Keaton as a projectionist and wannabe sleuth, has inspired Woody Allen (per “The Purple Rose of Cairo”) and likely Charlie Kaufman, among others.

This disc is a twofer including “The Three Ages,” Buster’s clever 1923 parody of D.W. Griffith’s “Intolerance.” Both films are accompanied by three scores apiece, as well as visual essays on filming locations by John Bengston; there’s a documentary short on “Sherlock,” and a re-cut of “Ages” as a trio of stand-alone shorts. Kino is bringing out a special edition of Buster’s “Our Hospitality” on Blu-ray and DVD in March; as the keepers of the flame, isn’t it about time they renamed themselves Keaton International?

Hot tip: My Facebook friend Paul E. Gierucki is busy putting together “Blue Collar Buster” for spring release. The new DVD set will consist of “all sorts of great material, most not available elsewhere… industrial films, outtakes, interviews, commercials, etc.”

More from Jordan:

‘Lost Keaton’ and ‘Route 66’ revive Buster’s forgotten comic gems

Charley Chase’s silent comedies jump back to life on DVD

Silent comedy recall: Mack Sennett, Lloyd Hamilton, Glenn Tryon

Oscar winners and nominees of the 1920s & 1930s on DVD; Film Noir Trailers

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