Discover
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Edward Hearn
Assistant Director -
Buster Keaton
Director -
Al Boasberg
Adaptation -
Joseph M. Schenck
Producer -
Elmer Ellsworth
Camera Operator -
Glen Cavender
Second Unit -
Clyde Bruckman
Director -
Harry J. Wild
First Assistant Camera
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Andres Gomez 6/23/2021 3:57:45PM
Just amazing. Really, really impressive scenes with the railway engines and a physically incredible Keaton.
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CinemaSerf 6/6/2022 6:21:57PM
There's quite a lot going on here - it is certainly comedic, but there is also plenty of action and even some romance in this American Civil War story. Keaton ("Johnnie") has been deemed more important as a railroad engineer so was rejected as a soldier - but this causes his girlfriend "Annabelle" and her family to think he is yella'! When the Yankees concoct a plan to steal his engine "The General" whilst she is travelling on it; he must use all his wits and guile to get them both back and is soon caught being enemy lines where he learns of their dastardly plan to attack. Can he get back with his gal and tell his confederates of the Unionist plans? There is something about the quality of the images - they are pretty much prefect; even when the train in rattling along a-pace. There are loads of skirmishes supporting a properly constructed, and exciting, story with plenty of drama and sometimes some quite scary bits too, all jammed into just over an hour. The version I saw had been re-scored by Carl Davis and that added immeasurably to the pace and tension - and the romance - and helped create a superb piece of cinema.
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James 10/28/2023 12:50:59PM
This is Keaton’s masterpiece, a flawed one, yes. It’s not funny enough and the story could be developed more. But it is significant, flaws and all. The closest a film will ever get to flawed perfection.
Edward Hearn
Union Officer (uncredited)Frank Hagney
Confederate Recruiter (uncredited)Buster Keaton
Johnnie GrayEddie Foster
Union Railroad Fireman (uncredited)Joe Keaton
Union GeneralGlen Cavender
Captain AndersonAl St. John
Officer on Horseback (uncredited)Marion Mack
Annabelle Lee