The General ( USA - 1926 )

Eighty-five minutes of laugh riot                                                                                                 .

Language : English - Silent 

Country: USA

Director: Buster Keaton - Clyde Bruckman

Starring : Buster Keaton, Marion Mack 

Year : 1926

Comedy, a genre which is preferred by most of the filmmakers and also most sought after by audiences though out the world. Being one of the earliest genres, it wasn't easy in the silent era. Charlie Chaplin became a master in silent comedy, his films are world famous, his tramp silhouette is recognized by almost all movie goers, but what about Buster Keaton, not may know him, unless you are a movie-buff. He can do what Charlie Chaplin didn't do- mixing comedy with breath taking stunts, like Jackie Chan. FilmBulb is pleased to present the film “The General” (if you haven’t heard it). 

Buster Keaton

Plot

The story is set in 1860’s US civil war (between south and union) on the southern lines. Johnny Grey (Buster Keaton) is an Engine (train) driver. 

Annabelle, Johnny’ love, expects him to enlist in the Southern army and fight for the cause, but he is rejected by the recruiter because as an engineer he can be worth more than a soldier for the South.

The opposition Union troops plan a surprise attack on the South. They hijack his train (Engine – The General) to dismantle the tracks and communication (History – The Union won the civil war because of their grip in transportation and communication). Johnny persuades his quest to get back his engine, later he comes to know that his love Annabelle is also taken with the train accidentally. The rest of the story revolves around his adventures to get the engine and his love back.

Amazing Stunts
Hilarious is the least word that I can use, this film is more than the word. When Buster mixes comedy with stunts it is literally LOL. 85-minutes of laugh riot. The use of trains in action sequences is amazing. Laughs seem to emerge from almost all scenes, even in dialogues through the inter-title card, sample below, Johnny says when kicked out of the recruiter office.

A snapshot from The General

This film is not to be missed if you are a movie maniac.

Trailer of The General

Full Movie link in Youtube:- Link

Check out FilmBulb' other silent movie reviews - Tabu: A Story of South Seas ( 1931 ) | The Last Laugh ( 1924 )