There are moments, rare and situationspecific, but nothing frivolous. The general is a 1926 american silent comedy film released by united artists. What happened in 1927 events, fashions, pop culture and. It is almost a given at the start what will happen by the end. When union spies steal an engineers beloved locomotive, he pursues it singlehandedly and straight through enemy lines. 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. It was inspired by the great locomotive chase, a true story of an event that occurred during the american civil war. This area of oregon was chosen due to its geographic similarity to north georgia where the actual event occurred and availability of authentic steam locomotives from the civil war era.
The general is one of the greatest films ever made. The union plans to use the train to supply its soldiers in a sneak attack against the confederates. Shaws mother, who was born in piggs peak, swaziland, met his father while she was a nurse at a hospital in truro, cornwall. When done right it will give that extra bit of emotion the film needs to be really. He seems like a modern visitor to the world of the silent clowns. It is set during the american civil war 186165 and highlights the theme of personal redemption.
His films are marked by a macabre sense of humor and a somewhat bleak view of the human condition. When union spies steal an engineers beloved locomotive, he pursues it single handedly. The general buster keaton 1926 mgm buster keaton in the general 1926. The general is one love in the life of johnnie gray buster keaton. The story was adapted from the memoir the great locomotive chase by william pittenger. Robert archibald shaw was born on august 9, 1927, in westhoughton, lancashire, england, the eldest son of doreen nora avery, a nurse, and thomas archibald shaw, a doctor. The film stars buster keaton who codirected it with clyde. 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. This film turned actress clara bow into a major star, and led people to label her the it girl. 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. The general is an american silent comedy film released by united artists. Aug 28, 2001 the general was ed on 22 december 1926, and it played in several cities in oregon in early january 1927, but its scheduled december opening at the capitol theatre in manhattan was delayed until saturday, 5 february. Metropolis is a 1927 german expressionist sciencefiction drama film directed by fritz lang.
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. Rather, we are given long, beautiful setups which add tension while propelling the story. For silent comedies, we recommend the general, buster keatons 1927 comedy classic that uses comedy to tell a true civil war story of a stolen train and union spies. It 1927 the last year before the talkies took over, and so this is silent film drama at its most sophisticated. 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. This is a 1970 rerelease photo that carries the credit raymond rohauer, producer. Keatons effortless and amazing stunt abilities make this a most unforgettable film a classic in every sense of the word and a mustsee for all. A railway engineer caught up in the civil war makes good, and saves his girl from the enemy. The general buster keaton film analysis senses of cinema. The image book 2019 archive footage the general 1927 johnnie gray, directed by. The general 1926 starring buster keaton public domain movies.
This film has been enhanced using a video enhancement program that reduces noise and enhances video quality. Johnnie director and star buster keaton gets his train stolen by yankee spies, his exgirl annabelle marion mack aboard, and gives chase, in keatons 1927 masterpiece the general. When union spies capture johnnie with annabelle on board, johnnie the general must rescue both his loves. The general, american silent comedy film, released in 1927, starring and directed by comedian buster keaton, and cited by many film. As a matter of curiosity, when the general appeared in hotel. In 1862, after spies steal his locomotive, the general, he wages a oneman battle to recover it. Union spies pursue an engineer who chased them to recover his stolen train. It is certainly one of hollywoods best films about world war i, and one of the best wartime dramas in general. The general was ed on 22 december 1926, and it played in several cities in oregon in early january 1927, but its scheduled december opening at the capitol theatre in manhattan was delayed until saturday, 5 february. The general, a thrilling comedy about the civil war, lifted buster keaton from the ashes of oblivion decades.
The general 1927 cast and crew 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. This film is a true narrative, not the typical keaton style of stringing together slapstick visual elements for effect. A national catholic register videodvd picks film sdg. Buster keaton starred in the film and codirected it with clyde bruckman. Residences, workplaces, and recreational activities in muskogee, ok. The delay prevented keaton from making a personal appearance at the opening. Consider an opening sequence in the general 1927, his masterpiece about a.
The copies previously uploaded here were either incomplete or too blurry. This beautifully shot black and white caper film follows. A film projectionist longs to be a detective, and puts his meagre skills to work when he is framed. It was one of the few films that legendary swedish director mauritz stiller completed in hollywood. The film stars buster keaton who codirected it with clyde bruckman at the time of its initial release, the general. The silent film is regarded as a pioneering sciencefiction movie, being among the first. The silent film it was released to the general public during february. With buster keaton, marion mack, glen cavender, jim farley. The film starred clara bow, the embodiment of the modern flapper girl, and was a success with critics and the public. Theres no use trying to avoid exaggeration on this point. In 1927 the classic buster keaton silent film the general was filmed in and around cottage grove, oregon. Army war college, and placed under jurisdiction of deputy chief of staff for military operations, effective july 1, 1960, by general order 19, department of the army, june 16, 1960. Martin cahill was the most famous professional criminal in ireland in the 1980s and 1990s, known as the general for the militarylike control he had over his followers and for his careful planning. The general keaton and clyde bruckman, 1926, which he.
The other is annabelle lee marion mack, his girlfriend. One of keatons favorite films, the general is known for its masterfully composed action sequences and brilliant recreation, of the antebellum south. Yes, it has creaks and flaws from a more modern perspective. Set preferences and get ageappropriate recommendations with common sense media plus. His paternal grandfather was scottish, from argyll. Based on a true story, this civil war tale not only starred keaton, but was written and codirected by him as well. Hitchcocks first credited and completed feature film the pleasure garden 1925, uk was released in the us in 1926, but delayed for release in the uk until 1927 following the lodgers success. He is unaware that two small boys are following him, marching in.
With this in mind, the general is not overly funny. This area of oregon was chosen due to its geographic similarity to north georgia where the actual event. Comic genius buster keaton achieved an artistic milestone with the 1927 silent adventure the general. It featured scores by carl davis, robert israel and lee irwin. A recent movie called the general also exists but its a brutal uk mob drama, utterly unrelated to this one, and rated r. The film was released in greece as mitropolis on 4 april 1927.
Alfred hitchcock, englishborn american motionpicture director whose suspenseful films and television programs won immense popularity and critical acclaim over a long and tremendously productive career. Records of the war department general and special staffs. Buster keaton the general 1926 silent movie action comedy. Jan 24 alfred hitchcock releases his first film as director the pleasure garden, in england.
The film was notable as being hitchcocks first true film his first suspense film, his earliest film that survived in its entirety, and the first. Brilliantly filmed and fueled with classic physical comedy, the general captures buster keaton at his timeless best. It was a comeback of sorts for pola negri, whose transition from germany to hollywood was not as successful as it should have been. Buster keatons the general is one of the best comedies of the silent era when some of the best comedies were made. From the performances to the story to the groundbreaking stunts and cinematography, wings is a phenomenal film. The film was reedited to ten reels by channing pollack, julian johnson and edward adams, in the usa by paramount pictures corporation, with usa premiere 6 march 1927 in new york, new york, and general release on march 1927. The film was very loosely based on the famed 1862 great locomotive chase of the civil war. Immediately download the the general 1927 film summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching the general 1927 film.
A complete and remastered version of this movie was released on bluray by kino international in 2009. Though i found them, i also thought the transfer often looked better than anticipated. There are spies, an assassination and much skulking about the corridors of the titular hotel. It turned the very young clara bow from a movie star into a legend. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the general 1927 near you. Young martin carhill grew up in a milieu where crime was the main occupation. Complete version other version on is missing 1st 4 minutes union solders have stolen the general, a confederate train manned by johnnie gray, who was unable to enlist in the confederate army because he is needed as an engineer. Every sunday, film school rejects presents a movie that was made before you were born and tells you why you should like it. December 18, 1926 julian, is immediately followed by january 1, 1927 gregorian. Hollyfield was a dublin slum where the rejected, the derelict and the antisocial were housed. Keaton performed many dangerous physical stunts on and around the moving train, including. Peter bogdanovich on buster keaton, superheroes, television, and the effect of time on movies matt zoller seitz 201810 peter bogdanovich, film historian and filmmaker, talks about buster keaton, the subject of his new documentary.
Transferred to carlisle barracks, pa, effective april 15, 1951, by general order 41, department of the army, june 6, 1951. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. It is recognized by critics and movie afficionados as one of the greatest silent comedies of all time. 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. Erich pommer produced it in the babelsberg studios for universum film a. Though the film is apolitical, some viewers may object to the slaveowning confederate south as the good guys, even though this was the official, conciliatory outlook of hollywood pictures and, to some extent, most of american art, media, politics, and. Apr 06, 2020 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. Buster keatons the general in 1927 the classic buster keaton silent film the general was filmed in and around cottage grove, oregon. The picture was considered lost for many years, but a nitrate copy was found in prague in the 1960s. 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. Early in the film, keaton, dressed in his sunday best, walks to his girls house. Clair includes the general, a handful of other keaton sound features and several of his finest comedy shorts. A southern engineer chases after his train and girlfriend from northern spies.
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 tells the story of johnnie gray keaton, a tennessean railroad engineer who is pressured by his fiance, annabelle lee marion mack, to join the. Record group 165 18601952 bulk 18881948 overview of records locations table of contents 165. It was released to the general public on february 19, 1927.