The General
Special Screening - Ajyal Youth Film Festival 2015
Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton / Feature Narrative / United States of America / 1926 / 79 min / Black & White / Bluray / In Silent / English subtitles / N/A
Rated: Parental guidance is advised. Some material may be inappropriate for young children.
Synopsis
Considered one of the best action-adventure comedies of all-time, ‘The General’ stars silent-film-era icon Buster Keaton as Johnnie, a love-struck train driver. On the eve of the American Civil War, Johnnie rushes off to enlist in the Confederate Army to prove his worth to his fiancée, Annabelle. The slight-in-stature and far-from-strapping Johnnie is rejected, however, deemed a better help to the South working as an engineer on his locomotive, The General. The problem is, no one tells Johnnie why he is not allowed to fight for his cause.
Dejected, Johnnie tries to explain matters to Annabelle and her family, but no one wants to have anything to do with him until he is in uniform. A year later, Annabelle’s father is injured on the frontlines. While she is en route to see him – riding, of course, on The General – a Union spy hijacks the train and Johnnie jumps into action. A riveting chase sequence ensues, showcasing Keaton’s famous physicality as he pursues the captured train on foot, by car and even by bicycle. Taking back The General gives Johnnie the chance to fulfil his dreams of being a hero – and win back his girl.
Credits
- Director
- Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton
- Screenwriter
- Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman, Al Boasberg
- Producer
- Joseph Schenck, Buster Keaton
- Editor
- Buster Keaton, Sherman Kell
- Cinematographer
- Bert Haines, Devereaux Jennings
- Sales Company
- Park Circus
- Production Company
- Buster Keaton Productions
- Cast
- Buster Keaton, Marion Mack