Among the finest comedies of all time, it wears its greatness lightly.
The General (1927)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:36
Fresh:33
Rotten:3
Average Rating:8.8/10
Theatrical Release:03-02-2006
Synopsis: The two things engineer Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) loves most in the world are his Southern belle sweetheart and his locomotive. When Northern spies steal the latter, the intrepid Confederate... The two things engineer Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) loves most in the world are his Southern belle sweetheart and his locomotive. When Northern spies steal the latter, the intrepid Confederate single-handedly takes on the entire Union army in order to get it back. Against a backdrop of magnificently photographed Civil War battle scenes unfolds one of the great chases in movie history. Set almost entirely aboard moving trains, Keaton's THE GENERAL is physical comedy refined to elegant perfection and widely considered to be the actor-director's greatest film. [More]
Starring: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Charles Smith, Frank Barnes
Starring: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Charles Smith, Frank Barnes, Joe Keaton
Director: Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman
Director: Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman
Reviews for The General
Spectacular chases, fires and explosions are captured with fluid camerawork. There are no stunt doubles for Keaton and of course no digital effects.
Amongst the greatest of all silent comedies, The General isn't just important, it's bloody hilarious.
Only superlatives will do to describe Keaton’s hilarious Civil War dramatic comedy.
Newcomers will doubtless be surprised at the excellent pacing of the action.
Keaton proves as endlessly clever and athletic as his screen surrogates...chock-full of hilarious sight gags, including bits of business that incorporate moving trains, cow-catchers, a bear (and bear trap), and a misbehaving cannon. [Blu-ray]
The General isn't likely to be the favorite opus of the star's purist fans, but it's the one with the trappings of ambition and historical poesy
Begins with a single, brilliantly sustained premise and works it into an engaging story with edge-of-your-seat excitement and stunningly conceived stunts and sight gags.
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