The General (1927)

Buster Keaton's career reached its creative apex with this rousing comic adventure. Not merely one of the finest silent films, this remains one of the great film comedies of all time. The Great Stone Face stars as Southern railroad engineer Johnny Gray, a man with only two loves: the sweet Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack) and his trustworthy engine, the eponymous General. When Fort Sumner is fired upon he's one of the first to enlist, but when the war office rejects him (he's too valuable as a trained engineer) his sweetie rejects him as a coward. Johnny has the opportunity to prove his bravery when Yankee spies steal his engine and inadvertently kidnap Annabelle, and Johnny pursues with all the resources at his disposal: handcar, bicycle, and finally railroad engine. Keaton's love/hate relationship with technology and machinery shines as he becomes one with his beloved locomotive and wrestles with a finicky cannon that threatens to blow his engine off the tracks; with tremendous dexterity, he nails the humor with inimitably deadpan takes. Spunky Marion Mack makes a perfect partner for Keaton, not merely a foil but a gifted comedienne in her own right. Other Keaton films contain more laughs and inspired comic stunts, but none combines romance, adventure, and comedy into a solid story as seamlessly as this silent masterpiece. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com essential video

Keaton

The original documentary of the General theft, 1862.
Like the Keystone Cops and other films of the era, play at 1/2 speed for natural movements. (3 hours)
September 19, 2008

Great movie, lousy music

This not just one of the greatest comedies ever shot, but one of the greatest movies ever made.

Sadly, this particular edition, though featuring a lovely print, has public domain music slapped on it, with no correlation to the action. While watching this movie about the American Civil War, you're hearing music from CARMEN, a French opera set in Spain, and other classical selections by other composers. You have fast music during slow scenes, and slow music during fast scenes. It's disgraceful.

Get the Kino release instead. They show far greater respect for the silent films they release than this slapped-together mess. That supreme genius Buster Keaton deserves better. July 29, 2008

Comedy Film

Hilarious silent movie! Buster Keaton was a genius. We couldn't take our eyes off the screen for fear of missing something. May 26, 2008

Great Classic, Poor Copy!

This Buster Keaton classic deserves a better DVD copy. The whole point of DVD should be to convert old films like this to a better format. This classic Civil War film that appeals both to train buffs and history fans, desperately needs a Criterion release. It seems only Criterion bothers to restore films like this to their former glory.

Based on an actual Civil War incident, this was Buster Keaton's most ambitious film, and was a huge production for its time. Here the great comedian attempts to combine history with humor, and succeeds admirably. Some noted at the time that Keaton's stunt with the sword killing the Union sniper at the Rock River battle was not that humerous! Still, he manages to carry it off.

This DVD copy does not contain the actual music of the original production. The classical music mix often falls flat with events actually occuring in the film. The original music score was for solo piano or organ, and was much more in keeping with the mood and character of the film. Some DVD extras showing behind the scenes and historical context for this film, still a landmark in cinema to this day, is lacking here. Hopefully someday a proper DVD production will do justice to this great and classic film. April 8, 2008

fine early motion picture--and one of the best ever made !!!

The General is clearly one of the greatest silent films ever made; and one of the better films of all time to boot! The action is never ending which held my attention very well; and the acting is quite convincing. The plot moves along at a good pace and the quality of the print is very good.

The action starts down south when Fort Sumter is fired upon by Union troops; this means the start of the Civil War. Johnnie Gray (Buster Keaton) tries to enlist--and he even makes it first to the enlisting office. However, Johnnie is turn down; they feel he would be more valuable to the South as an engineer although he is not told this. Johnnie's second attempt to enlist fails, too. Worse yet, Johnnie's sweetheart Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack) is convinced that Johnnie is lying to her and that he didn't even try to enlist. Annabelle, thinking Johnnie is too afraid to fight, tells Johnnie that until she sees him in uniform she's not even speaking to him.

Of course, this sets up the REAL treat of the movie, which is an extended and extensive train chase scene that lasts a long while but never gets boring. Johnnie Grey's train, The General, is stolen by Union troops and he takes another train to get even with them and recover his prized locomotive. Of course, this generates several memorable scenes with Johnny trying to literally derail the Union hijacked train (The General) and the Union troops trying to bump off Johnny and proceed with a surprise attack on Confederate troops.

The plot gets an interesting complication when Annabelle is captured by the Union troops and is taken prisoner on board The General; and we are left in suspense as to how she will be freed.

The plot, of course, still can take many avenues from here. Will Johnny--or anyone--be able to rescue Annabelle and get back The General? What happens when Johnny has to cross enemy lines to fight to get back his train--and his girl? How will Johnnie ever elude the Union soldiers when he is hiding under the table in their home after being caught out in the woods for too long? No spoilers here, folks--watch the movie and find out!

The choreography works so well in all the crowd scenes as well as the chase scenes; and the cinematography gives us excellent shots of a huge bridge on fire and a train descending into the river after attempting to cross that burning bridge. Great!

Overall, if anyone tells you to skip this movie, ignore them. It's simply excellent. Buster Keaton, Marion Mack and all the others turn in fine performances that must have made them proud. No wonder this was Keaton's favorite movie of all that he made!
March 16, 2008

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