If a minus mark was available then presentation of this film deserves it. There are some truly wonderful scenes in this film, which is full of adventure, comedy, and some pretty impressive stuntwork on moving trains by buster keaton and. The general, one of several buster keaton movies to make it to the library of congress national film registry this one in 1989, is truly keatons movie epic. Theres no use trying to avoid exaggeration on this point. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or instore pickup. Today, keatons dauntingly ambitious and remarkably accomplished 1927 comedy is universally recognized as one of the enduring classics of the silent era. December 18, 1926 julian, is immediately followed by january 1, 1927 gregorian. Bits of 1926 hollywood train wreck are still in row river the movie was the general, starring buster keaton.
It was released to the general public on february 19, 1927. Rather, we are given long, beautiful setups which add tension while propelling the story. When union spies steal an engineers beloved locomotive, he pursues it single handedly and straight through enemy lines. It is set during the american civil war 186165 and highlights the theme of. Early in the film, keaton, dressed in his sunday best, walks to his girls house. It was adapted by al boasberg, bruckman, keaton, charles henry smith uncredited and paul girard smith uncredited from the memoir the great locomotive chase by william pittenger. The general 1927 is an imaginative masterpiece of deadpan stoneface buster keaton comedy, generally regarded as one of the greatest of all silent comedies and keatons own favorite and undoubtedly the best train film ever made. He seems like a modern visitor to the world of the silent clowns. When union spies steal an engineers beloved locomotive, he pursues it singlehandedly and straight through enemy lines. After establishing its characters with speed and efficiency in the start keatons johnny gray is utterly besotted with both his train and his girl.
Although buster keaton is the star of this film, he is listed last in the onscreen credits. The civil war adventureepic classic was made toward the end of the silent era. How buster keaton filmed the general chaplinkeaton. No silent moviemaker ever engaged with the machinery of modern life as resourcefully as buster keaton did. Marion macks annabelle lee is strong but playful, the rest of the movie is taken up by a series of. The confederates surprise the union army, and a fight begins. This film is a true narrative, not the typical keaton style of stringing together slapstick visual elements for effect. The one star is out of pity, that a classic movie is sold like this.
The general keaton and clyde bruckman, 1926, which he considered his favourite, was keatons last independently produced film and in many ways presents the apotheosis of his style. Buster keaton plays johnny gray, a southern railroad engineer who loves his train engine, the general, almost as much as he loves annabelle lee marion mack. Buster keatons the general, arguably the first actioncomedy epic, merits special consideration as a far more significant failure. The films sets were borrowed from the hunchback of notre dame 1923. Consider an opening sequence in the general 1927, his masterpiece about a southern railway engineer who has only two loves in his life his locomotive and the beautiful annabelle lee.
Buster keaton in the general 1926 buster keaton and charles henry smith in the general 1926. It utilised some incredible stunts and good comical tricks, but i find it rather distasteful to make a comedy about the civil war. The general is one love in the life of johnnie gray buster keaton. Buster keaton starred in the film and codirected it with clyde bruckman.
A recent movie called the general also exists but its a brutal uk mob drama, utterly unrelated to this one, and rated r. The general 1927 one of the most revered comedies of the silent era, this film finds hapless southern railroad engineer johnny gray buster keaton facing off against union soldiers during the. With the aid of a wealthy erratic tippler, a dewyeyed tramp who has fallen in love with a sightless flower girl accumulates money to be able to help her medically. The general is a 1927 american silent film comedy from buster keaton. He is unaware that two small boys are following him, marching in. The general is a 1927 american silent comedy film released by united artists based upon the great locomotive chase from 1862. A railway engineer caught up in the civil war makes good, and saves his girl from the enemy. The general is a 1926 american silent comedy film released by united artists. The general may hold a claim on being the first action comedy, or at least the first great one. The general, american silent comedy film, released in 1927, starring and directed by comedian buster keaton, and cited by many film. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Infobox film the general is a 1927 silent comedy released by united artists based upon the great locomotive chase from 1862. The texas proceeds onto the bridge, the span collapses, and the engine crashes into the river. Hollyfield was a dublin slum where the rejected, the derelict and the antisocial were housed.
The general is a classic film and deserves much better than this dvd can offer. The film is based on events from americas civil war. A film about the french generals youth and early military career. The picture was considered lost for many years, but a nitrate copy was found in prague in the 1960s. It is set during the american civil war 186165 and highlights the theme of personal redemption. When the civil war breaks out he enlists as a soldier, but it is decided that he is too valuable as an engineer. Thanks to cottage grove historical society for making this image available. Jan 24 alfred hitchcock releases his first film as director the pleasure garden, in england. It was scheduled to have its us premiere at the prestigious capitol theater in new york city on january 22, 1927, but was delayed for several weeks due to the enormous hit flesh and the devil playing at the capitol. Rotwang rudolf kleinrogge and his robotic invention brigitte helm in fritz langs silent film classic metropolis 1927. I had the honor of introducing buster keatons 1926 masterpiece the general at the san francisco silent film festivals inaugural a day of silents festival held in 2014. From nosferatu to the general why the 1920s is my favourite film decade chaplin and keaton made millions laugh, but silent cinemas greatest classics were the fruit of wild european fancy. Set preferences and get ageappropriate recommendations with common sense media plus. The unusually fine photography matthew brady comparisons are inevitable, the extensive action involving the trains, the ambitious subject based on history the theft and recovery of the locomotive, the general, and the serious element of the drama combined to give this film an epic sweep that is surely unique in silent comedy.
With buster keaton, marion mack, glen cavender, jim farley. There are moments, rare and situationspecific, but nothing frivolous. The study guide can be used for study in an english or film studies class. With this in mind, the general is not overly funny. Every sunday, film school rejects presents a movie that was made before you were born and tells you why you should like it. Check out the official the general 1926 trailer starring buster keaton. Remade in 1956 as the great locomotive chase starring fess parker. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the general 1927 near you.
To see many other historical photos, including several more from this movie, click here. Although modern sources note that keaton was hired to create gags for red skelton to use in the 1948 mgm film a southern yankee see afi catalog of feature film, 194150, which was also based on the same historical incident, the plot of the mgm film is only slightly related to it or either the general or the great locomotive chase. Bits of 1926 hollywood train wreck are still in row river. The general 1927 is an imaginative masterpiece of deadpan stoneface. Watch the general online stream full movie directv. Consider an opening sequence in the general 1927, his masterpiece about a. When union spies capture johnnie with annabelle on board, johnnie the general must rescue both his loves. The general was an original selection to the library of congress national film registry in 1989.
Bits of that locomotive are still being picked out of the river where the bridge once was. The general je americka crnobijela nijema komedija iz 1927. The image laserdisc and kino video release feature an orchestral score by carl davis. A weird thing imagining how when this film was made, the civil war was more recent to them than ww2 is to us now. The film flopped when first released but is now regarded as the height of silent film comedy. The general is a civil war tale, the fictionalized account of an attempted hijacking of a confederate train called the general by union spies in 1862. One of the most revered comedies of the silent era, this film finds hapless southern railroad engineer johnny gray buster keaton facing off against union soldiers during the american civil war.
Read the full synopsis of the general, 1927, directed by buster keaton, with marion mack, glen cavender, jim farley, at turner classic movies. The general buster keaton film analysis senses of cinema. Preceding the show, these informational slides below prepared by the festivals artistic director anita monga, ran on a loop as people took their seats. The general, american silent comedy film, released in 1927, starring and directed by comedian buster keaton, and cited by many film historians as one of the greatest american movies. The first page provides a cast and crew list and a backgrou. The following 3page document is a study guide movie packet to guide a viewers analysis of the 1927 film the general directed by clyde bruckman and buster keaton. The general premiered on december 31, 1926 in two small theaters in tokyo, japan.
This film has been enhanced using a video enhancement program that reduces noise and enhances video quality. Keatons heroism and stunts in any of his movies are always amazing to watch, but often they are almost too outsized for the ordinary world in which they take place. Young martin carhill grew up in a milieu where crime was the main occupation. Screenings of this silent film will be illuminated with a live musical score performed by photoplay organist, jay warren. Buster keaton, clyde bruckman not only is it considered buster keatons greatest film, it is also widely recognized as one of the true masterpieces of american cinema. Metropolis, german silent film, released in 1927, featuring director fritz lang s vision of a grim futuristic society and containing some of the most impressive images in film history. Buster keaton, who produced and directed the film, plays johnnie gray, the engineer of the general, whose sweetheart annabelle lee, played by marion mack, rejects him when he fails to enlist in. National catholic register arguably the greatest of buster keatons silent comedies, the general begins with a single, brilliantly sustained premise and works it into an engaging story that combines edgeofyourseat excitement, stunningly conceived stunts and sight gags, spectacular set pieces, touching sentiment, and a rousing finale. The general is one of the greatest films ever made. The general says, that bridge is not burned enough to stop you, and my men will ford the river.
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