The General (1927)

1927, United Artists. Directed by Clyde Bruckman. Marion Mack, Charles Henry Smith, Richard Allen, Glen Cavender, Jim Farley, Frederick Vroom.

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The General / Steamboat Bill, Jr. (DVD)

The General (VHS)

From a National Catholic Register review

By Steven D. Greydanus

Arguably the greatest of Buster Keaton’s silent comedies, The General begins with a single, brilliantly sustained premise and works it into an engaging story that combines edge-of-your-seat excitement, stunningly conceived stunts and sight gags, spectacular set pieces, touching sentiment, and a rousing finale.

Essentially a chase film, The General tells the Civil War-era tale of stoic young Confederate railroad engineer Johnnie Gray (Keaton), whose precious train is stolen — and beloved Annabelle (Marion Mack) kidnapped — by Union spies. Commandeering another train to give chase, Gray winds up sallying deep into enemy territory, riding by the seat of his pants as he confronts obstacles and difficulties at every turn, often with only moments to act and split-second timing needed to avoid disaster.

Watching Keaton in action, one can easily believe he was one of Jackie Chan’s main inspirations. Yet in his deadpan understatement Keaton was perhaps unique among physical comedians. Perhaps misleadingly nicknamed "the Great Stone Face," Keaton was in fact a subtle actor, but didn’t go for broad emotion or histrionics.

Part of The General’s strength is its historical persuasiveness; the look of the film was meant to evoke Matthew Brady’s Civil War photographs, and though a comedy The General has an authentic period feel unmatched by dramatic Civil War films.

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The General / Steamboat Bill, Jr. (DVD)

The General (VHS)

Wartime excitement and action; a sequence involving large-scale battlefield violence.