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. Although buster keaton is the star of this film, he is listed last in the onscreen credits. 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. 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. After establishing its characters with speed and efficiency in the start keatons johnny gray is utterly besotted with both his train and his girl. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or instore pickup. The civil war adventureepic classic was made toward the end of the silent era. A railway engineer caught up in the civil war makes good, and saves his girl from the enemy. It is set during the american civil war 186165 and highlights the theme of. The one star is out of pity, that a classic movie is sold like this. The general 1927 is an imaginative masterpiece of deadpan stoneface. He seems like a modern visitor to the world of the silent clowns. The general is a classic film and deserves much better than this dvd can offer.
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. If a minus mark was available then presentation of this film deserves it. The general is a 1927 american silent comedy film released by united artists based upon the great locomotive chase from 1862. The general is one of the greatest films ever made. It utilised some incredible stunts and good comical tricks, but i find it rather distasteful to make a comedy about the civil war. Marion macks annabelle lee is strong but playful, the rest of the movie is taken up by a series of. Today, keatons dauntingly ambitious and remarkably accomplished 1927 comedy is universally recognized as one of the enduring classics of the silent era. This film is a true narrative, not the typical keaton style of stringing together slapstick visual elements for effect. Theres no use trying to avoid exaggeration on this point.
Buster keaton in the general 1926 buster keaton and charles henry smith in the general 1926. The general premiered on december 31, 1926 in two small theaters in tokyo, japan. There are moments, rare and situationspecific, but nothing frivolous. The general says, that bridge is not burned enough to stop you, and my men will ford the river. With buster keaton, marion mack, glen cavender, jim farley. Bits of 1926 hollywood train wreck are still in row river. 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. Infobox film the general is a 1927 silent comedy released by united artists based upon the great locomotive chase from 1862. The films sets were borrowed from the hunchback of notre dame 1923. Young martin carhill grew up in a milieu where crime was the main occupation. 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 confederates surprise the union army, and a fight begins. The first page provides a cast and crew list and a backgrou. When the civil war breaks out he enlists as a soldier, but it is decided that he is too valuable as an engineer. 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. The film is based on events from americas civil war. The study guide can be used for study in an english or film studies class. 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. December 18, 1926 julian, is immediately followed by january 1, 1927 gregorian. No silent moviemaker ever engaged with the machinery of modern life as resourcefully as buster keaton did.
Rather, we are given long, beautiful setups which add tension while propelling the story. Remade in 1956 as the great locomotive chase starring fess parker. To see many other historical photos, including several more from this movie, click here. 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. A recent movie called the general also exists but its a brutal uk mob drama, utterly unrelated to this one, and rated r. 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. 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. Every sunday, film school rejects presents a movie that was made before you were born and tells you why you should like it. The picture was considered lost for many years, but a nitrate copy was found in prague in the 1960s. Bits of 1926 hollywood train wreck are still in row river the movie was the general, starring buster keaton. 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. The general is a 1926 american silent comedy film released by united artists. Thanks to cottage grove historical society for making this image available. 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, american silent comedy film, released in 1927, starring and directed by comedian buster keaton, and cited by many film. The film flopped when first released but is now regarded as the height of silent film comedy. 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. This film has been enhanced using a video enhancement program that reduces noise and enhances video quality. Hollyfield was a dublin slum where the rejected, the derelict and the antisocial were housed. The general is one love in the life of johnnie gray buster keaton. 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. It is set during the american civil war 186165 and highlights the theme of personal redemption. With this in mind, the general is not overly funny. Jan 24 alfred hitchcock releases his first film as director the pleasure garden, in england.
When union spies steal an engineers beloved locomotive, he pursues it singlehandedly and straight through enemy lines. 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. How buster keaton filmed the general chaplinkeaton. The general je americka crnobijela nijema komedija iz 1927. Read the full synopsis of the general, 1927, directed by buster keaton, with marion mack, glen cavender, jim farley, at turner classic movies. When union spies steal an engineers beloved locomotive, he pursues it single handedly and straight through enemy lines. The general may hold a claim on being the first action comedy, or at least the first great one. 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. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the general 1927 near you.
Check out the official the general 1926 trailer starring buster keaton. The general was an original selection to the library of congress national film registry in 1989. A film about the french generals youth and early military career. Rotwang rudolf kleinrogge and his robotic invention brigitte helm in fritz langs silent film classic metropolis 1927. The general buster keaton film analysis senses of cinema. Buster keatons the general, arguably the first actioncomedy epic, merits special consideration as a far more significant failure. 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. Consider an opening sequence in the general 1927, his masterpiece about a. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. 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. Buster keaton starred in the film and codirected it with clyde bruckman. He is unaware that two small boys are following him, marching in.
It was released to the general public on february 19, 1927. The image laserdisc and kino video release feature an orchestral score by carl davis. Early in the film, keaton, dressed in his sunday best, walks to his girls house. When union spies capture johnnie with annabelle on board, johnnie the general must rescue both his loves. Bits of that locomotive are still being picked out of the river where the bridge once was. Screenings of this silent film will be illuminated with a live musical score performed by photoplay organist, jay warren. 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. 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. The general is a 1927 american silent film comedy from buster keaton.
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