The General (1926) ft. Sarah Duncan
- Thomas Duncan
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Guest:
Sarah Duncan - Sister of Tom, Daughter of Dana
Cast:
Buster Keaton, Writer/Director/Editor
Clyde Bruckman, Writer/Director
Al Boasberg and Charles Smith, Co-Writers
Devereaux Jennings and Bert Haines, Cinematography
William P. Perry, Music
Sherman Kell, Editor
Buster Keaton as Johnnie Gray
Marion Mack as Annabelle Lee
Glen Cavender as Union Captain Anderson
Jim Farley as General Thatcher
Frederick Vroom as a Confederate general
Charles Smith as Annabelle's father
Frank Barnes as Annabelle's brother
Joe Keaton as a Union general
Mike Donlin as a Union general
Tom Nawn as a Union general
Background:
The General wide released in the US on February 5, 2027, making this its 99th anniversary.
On a budget of $750,000, The General is estimated to have grossed $1 million in ticket sales although the breakout of receipts was more gloomy in the moment.
It also failed to please critics at the time with many claiming it to be unfunny, unable to stay in a particular lane, and a general flop.
Nevertheless, in the decades afterward, it has received widespread critical acclaim as a seminal work of the silent era.
The General was a favorite film of American filmmaker Orson Welles. Welles said that The General was "the greatest comedy ever made, the greatest Civil War film ever made, and perhaps the greatest film ever made.”
In the decennial Sight & Sound poll of the greatest films ever made, international critics ranked The General #8 in 1972 and #10 in 1982.
In the 2012 poll, it was ranked #34 by the critics and 75th by the directors.
Dave Whitaker of DavesMovieDatabase, a film aggregator site that combines other lists with box-office, ratings and awards, lists The General as the 99th-greatest movie of all time, the 21st-greatest comedy, and the 3rd-greatest silent film.
The film was recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:
In 1989, The General was selected for preservation (in the initial class) in the United States National Film Registry.
The General currently holds a 92% among critics on RT, an 81 score on Metacritic, and a 4.2/5 on Letterboxd.
Plot Summary: The General is a silent comedy set during the American Civil War, starring Buster Keaton as Johnnie Gray, a devoted railroad engineer who cares more about his locomotive, called The General, than anything else. When Union spies steal his train, Johnnie sets off on a daring chase through enemy territory, using quick thinking, physical comedy, and sheer determination to get it back. Along the way, Johnnie also tries to prove his courage to his sweetheart Annabelle Lee, played by Marion Mack, after being rejected by the Confederate Army.
Did You Know:
Buster Keaton wanted to use the real locomotive "General", which was at the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St Louis Union Depot in Chattanooga, TN. The railroad initially permitted him to do so, even providing him with a branch line to film on, but when it became known that the film was to be a comedy, the railroad withdrew permission, and Keaton had to look elsewhere.
The first try at getting the cannonball to shoot out of the cannon into the cab caused the ball to shoot with too much force. To cause it to shoot into the cab of the engine correctly, Buster Keaton had to count out the grains of gunpowder with tweezers.
The final battle scene sparked a small forest fire around the river. Buster Keaton, his crew, and the extras stopped filming to fight the fire.
This film was selected into the National Film Registry in 1989 (the first year of inductions) for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Ironically, by 1950s, all prints of the film had been lost; in 1952, actor James Mason having purchased Keaton's old house found a copy in a hidden cupboard, after which copies and viewings could recommence. (And similarly of Keaton's film, "Our Hospitality", too.)
Because of the critical and financial failure of this film, producer and head of United Artists Joseph M. Schenck sold Keaton's contract to MGM - and Buster would never again have complete creative control over his films.
Best Performance: Buster Keaton (Writer/Director/Editor/Johnny)
Best Secondary Performance: Sound Effects Team/Cinematography/Marion Mack (Annabelle)
Most Charismatic Award: Buster Keaton
Best Scene:
Enlistment Office
Cannon Fodder
Escape from the House
Evading the Union
Final Battle
Favorite Scene: Cannon Fodder/Escape from the House
Most Indelible Moment: Cannon Fodder/Evading the Union/Final Battle
In Memorium:
Chuck Negron, 83, American singer (founding member and lead singer of Three Dog Night)
Lamonte McLemore, 90, American singer (member of The 5th Dimension)
Brad Arnold, 47, American singer (lead singer of 3 Doors Down) and songwriter ("Kryptonite", "Here Without You")
Best Lines/Funniest Lines:
Johnnie Gray: [to the recruiter who rejects him] If you lose this war, don't blame me.
Captain Anderson: This girl was in the baggage car when we stole the train, so I thought it best to hold her.
Johnnie Gray: Three men stole my General. I think they are deserters.
Annabelle Lee: Did Johnnie enlist?
Her Brother: He didn't even get in line.
Her Father: He's a disgrace to the South.
The Stanley Rubric:
Legacy: 6.17
Impact/Significance: 4.17
Novelty: 8.17
Classic-ness: 7.5
Rewatchability: 5.17
Audience Score: 8.8 (84% Google, 92% RT)
Total: 39.98
Remaining Questions:
How did neither of them have injuries from the bear trap?
Does Johnny marry Annabelle?
How long before Johnny is killed in battle?
Did they ever fish the train out of the river?
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