![]() ![]() In what must have been a huge spectacle for the time, Keaton employed hundreds of extras and used them in both Union and Confederate uniforms, creating encampments, cavalry units, and horse-drawn supply trains. The film was shot on a real railroad during the steam era and uses equipment that looks like it could have come right out of the Civil War, along with the trackside structures and equipment. The trains are as much the stars of the movie as the actors. It's nerve-wracking to watch some of the stunts, knowing that there was a real element of risk involved.įor someone who is a railfan (as I am) or a Civil War buff (as I am by association), this movie is a real must-see. The comedic elements are intertwined with real suspense, all carried out with impeccable timing. There are amazing action sequences shot using real steam engines and rolling stock as he first pursues his stolen engine into enemy territory, then finds his kidnaped love interest and rescues her, leading finally to another sequence of amazing railroad escapades as they attempt to escape with his engine and warn the South of an imminent Union attack. Set in the Civil War, loosely based on actual events, "The General" is the story of a young Southern engineer (Buster Keaton) who gets caught up in heroic feats when Union spies steal his locomotive - and his girl friend (Marion Mack). Otherwise, you owe it to yourself to see it at least once in your life. If you can't answer "Yes" to any of the above, then this is a film you can skip. Is it worth watching a brilliant comedian at the top of his form? Is it worth watching amazing action sequences pulled off without a single computer effect or stunt doubles? Is it worth looking at great physical comedy that also includes some bits of rather sly humor? Is it worth looking at what was a huge epic for its day, with hundreds of extras in full regalia instead of CGI fakery? Is it worth watching actors give effective performances and create credible characters without the benefit of speech to convey their emotions? Is it worth seeing a movie that depicts a vanished era made at a time when it was still recent memory? At a time when movies are being revolutionized by technology once again - 3D spectaculars with massive amounts of computer generated effects - how can a silent film in black and white from 1927 possibly be worth watching? Well, that depends. ![]()
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