He is deeply disappointed when he is not allowed to enlist as the south values his skills on the railway more highly than his potential as a soldier. Watch the general online stream full movie directv. Consider an opening sequence in the general 1927, his masterpiece about a. When the civil war breaks out he enlists as a soldier, but it is decided that he is too valuable as an engineer. Time passes and union spies hatch a plot involving johnnies engine, the general. I thought the movie is about some military general. 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. A movie, like this copy of the ingenious the general, may be oversaturared. It is set during the american civil war 186165 and highlights the theme of personal redemption. Furthermore, a silent movie may have a soundtrack that does not appeal to all tastes. Check out the official the general 1926 trailer starring buster keaton. When northern spies steal the general and, unwittingly, annabelle, the story. 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 film is based on events from americas civil war.
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. Very few movies come as close to perfection as buster keatons the general. 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. Annabelle is again a prisoner in the baggage car, the general is again hijacked, and. Released february 5th, 1927, the general stars buster keaton, marion mack, glen cavender, jim farley the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 23 min, and received a score of out of 100 on. The civil war adventureepic classic was made toward the end of the silent era. 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 is challenging because it doesnt flaunt its virtues. The general is by far the most famous of the comedy features in which buster keaton starred, and in several cases directed or codirected, between 1923 and 1928. In 1862, after spies steal his locomotive, the general, he wages a oneman battle to recover it. He poses for annabelle and is enlisted as a lieutenant. 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. Take the movies most famous shot, of a train crashing through a burning bridge, for which keaton built a real bridge and destroyed a real train. The copies previously uploaded here were either incomplete or too blurry.
In the second half of the film, johnnie must return over the same territory with the same landmarks and variations on earlier gags that he already covered in the first half of the film. It is also one of the finest, and has appeared on many 10bestfilms lists. Sep 26, 2014 you can read all about filming the general in my keaton film locations book silent echoes. The general 1927 the best movies in cinematic history. Most of it is constructed around a pursuit as relentless as any bourne blowout, involving a confederate. Gray cloth printed in dark blue on the spine and upper board. Movie critic roger ebert calls the general an epic of silent comedy, one of the most expensive films of its time. Buy the general movie posters from movie poster shop. The general, american silent comedy film, released in 1927, starring and directed by comedian buster keaton, and cited by many film.
Based on the book daring and suffering by william pittenger,one of the train raiders, the movie includes hundreds of extras, dangerous stunt sequences and an actual locomotive falling from a burning bridge into a gorge far. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. The general sees buster keaton playing johnny gray, the driver of the train the general, in love with a girl, annabelle lee marion mack. How buster keaton filmed the general chaplinkeaton. Metropolis is a 1927 german expressionist sciencefiction drama film directed by fritz lang. If a minus mark was available then presentation of this film deserves it. 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. The general 1927, action adventure comedy released in english language in theatre near you in mumbai.
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. 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. 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. Johnnie loves his train the general and annabelle lee. After a brief explanation, the general has johnnie remove the uniform that does not belong to him, as annabelle and her father watch. 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 general is a 1926 american silent comedy film released by united artists. The general is a 1927 romantic comedy directed by and starring buster keaton. 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. Union spies capture the general with annabelle on board. The silent film is regarded as a pioneering sciencefiction movie, being among the first. During the civil war, young engineer johnnie gray buster keaton works on a train in the south that he has lovingly. Schenck as a united artists picture a farcical novel with an historical background based on buster keatons comedy spectacle film of the same name, inspired by a glorious exploit of the american civil war, wherein a lad chased a. When the opening shots of the civil war are fired at fort sumter, johnny tries to enlist and he is deemed too useful as an engineer to be a soldier.
He seems like a modern visitor to the world of the silent clowns. Early in the film, keaton, dressed in his sunday best, walks to his girls house. Buster keatons the general is one of the best comedies of the silent era when some of the best comedies were made. 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 confederate army. Watch the general starring buster keaton in this comedy on directv. Were your movie poster source for new releases and vintage movie posters.
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 view the tcmdb entry for the general 1927. The general is a 1927 american silent film comedy from buster keaton. Buster keaton plays johnny gray, a southern railroad engineer who. Buster keaton the general 1926 silent movie action comedy. When union spies capture johnnie with annabelle on board, johnnie the general must rescue both his loves. The general is an american silent comedy film released by united artists. Erich pommer produced it in the babelsberg studios for universum film a. The general then gives him an officers coat and the yankees surrendered sword. My introductory speech buster had the time of his life making the general. How buster keaton filmed the general chaplinkeatonlloyd. Essentially a chase film, the general tells the civil warera tale of stoic young confederate railroad engineer johnnie gray keaton, whose precious train is.
The general photoplay edition 1927 novelization by joseph warren illustrated with scenes from buster keatons comedy spectacle presented by joseph m. Much has been said about buster keatons favorite movie, the general, long recognized as a masterpiece. Nov 18, 2008 the general belongs to at least three movie genres. The general 1927 stream and watch online moviefone. The general premiered on december 31, 1926 in two small theaters in tokyo, japan. Why you really do need to see buster keatons the general. Not only do they steal the general while johnnie and the passengers are off the train having dinner, but they kidnap annabelle who was still on board. 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. The general 1927, action adventure comedy released in english language in theatre near you in.
Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the general 1927 near you. This is not only an incredibly inventive and fastpaced silent comedy. Buster keaton starred in the film and codirected it with clyde bruckman. Rotwang rudolf kleinrogge and his robotic invention brigitte helm in fritz langs silent film classic metropolis 1927. Screenings of this silent film will be illuminated with a live musical score performed by photoplay organist, jay warren. Joseph warren general illustrated with scenes from the photoplay 1927 ebay. No library should set out to include incomplete copies of the items they offer. Boorman enlivens the general with a number of scenes, like that one, that play against the con ventions of crime movies. When the civil war begins he is turned down for service because hes more valuable as an engineer. 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 belongs to at least three movie genres. The film flopped when first released but is now regarded as the height of silent film comedy. Apparently, i was amazed when it turned out about some.
The general is an epic of silent comedy, one of the most expensive films of its time, including an accurate historical recreation of a civil war episode, hundreds of extras, dangerous stunt sequences, and an actual locomotive falling from a burning bridge into a gorge far below. It is recognized by critics and movie afficionados as one of the greatest silent comedies of all time. Johnnie pursues the general in another engine, the texas. And quite a brave one for that matter, when the beginning describes him as a legend. The general 1927 is an imaginative masterpiece of deadpan stoneface. The general 1927 cast and crew cast photos and info. 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. One of keatons favorite films, the general is known for its masterfully composed action sequences and brilliant recreation, of the antebellum south. Jan 01, 2020 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.
The one star is out of pity, that a classic movie is sold like this. When he stops by to visit his southern belle, her father and brother are just heading off to enlist in the confederate army to fight the north and in order to keep his girl happy, johnny goes off to enlist too. Johnnie takes annabelle to the general, and they sit together on the siderod. A film projectionist longs to be a detective, and puts his meagre skills to work when. Not that the story of a poor shopgirl falling for her rich employer was anything new by 1927, bow could play that role in her sleep, but it came complete with one of the best publicity campaigns. The general buster keaton film analysis senses of cinema.
Set preferences and get ageappropriate recommendations with common sense media plus. It is set during the american civil war 186165 and highlights the theme of. 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 civil war adventureepic classic was made toward the end. He and gleeson, both of whom were denied the oscar nominations they deserve.
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