The General (film)
"The General" is a silent film released in 1926, directed by and starring Buster Keaton, a notable figure in 1920s comedy. The film is inspired by real historical events from the American Civil War, focusing on a Union train theft in Georgia in 1862 and the ensuing pursuit by Confederate forces. Keaton plays Johnnie Gray, the engineer of the titular locomotive, who attempts to rescue his girlfriend after the train is stolen while he is at the controls. Throughout the film, he showcases his distinctive deadpan humor and physical comedy through a series of daring stunts involving the train and its surroundings.
Despite its ambitious blend of drama and comedy, "The General" faced criticism upon release, leading to its initial failure at the box office. This setback had significant repercussions for Keaton's career, diminishing his creative control and contributing to personal struggles in later years. However, over time, "The General" has been reevaluated and is now regarded as a classic of silent cinema, earning a place in the National Film Registry for its artistic and cultural significance. The film is celebrated for its innovative use of visual comedy and dramatic storytelling, reflecting Keaton's talent as a filmmaker.
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Subject Terms
The General (film)
Identification: A silent film about the theft of a train during the Civil War
Directors: Clyde Bruckman and Buster Keaton
Date: 1926
The General showcases the diverse acting, writing, and directing talents of Buster Keaton, one of the brightest comedy stars of the 1920s. The movie, which premiered just as talking pictures were coming into vogue, proved a critical and commercial failure at the time of its release. The unfavorable reaction to The General adversely affected Keaton both personally and professionally.
The General is based on historical events. In 1862, Union commandos stole the titular locomotive in Georgia and rode it north, pursued by Confederates. During the hundred-mile chase, the Northerners sabotaged rails, burned bridges, and cut telegraph lines between Atlanta and Chattanooga, two Confederate strongholds targeted in Union campaign plans. Deep in enemy territory and running out of fuel, the men abandoned the train and fled but were rounded up and put on trial. Several were hanged as spies, and the rest were imprisoned.
Keaton adapted the events of the incident as a vehicle for his unique brand of visual comedy. In the movie, he plays Johnnie Gray, engineer of the General. Johnnie tries to enlist in the Confederate infantry to please his girlfriend, only to be refused, as he is more valuable in his current occupation. When the train is then stolen with Johnnie at the controls and his estranged girlfriend onboard, he gives chase, recaptures the General, rescues the girl, and heads south, followed by a trainload of angry Yankees. He arrives home in time to alert the Confederate command to imminent attack. An accidental hero, Johnnie is made an officer and regains his girlfriend’s affections.
The General gave Keaton ample opportunity to display his trademark deadpan expression, maintained even in the midst of a series of physically demanding stunts. He used the train and track themselves as props, leaping and climbing all over the locomotive, taking pratfalls over railroad ties, and performing last-second switchovers to avoid head-on collisions. He also employed numerous train-related objects, including an axe, the cowcatcher, a mobile cannon, and the boxcars and their contents, for humorous sight gags. One highlight of the movie is a spectacular scene in which a real locomotive crashes through a burning bridge into a river.
Impact
Despite Keaton’s best efforts, The General was a costly flop: too dramatic for slapstick, too flippant for drama. His judgment in question, Keaton soon lost creative control of his independent productions and became a studio player. In the 1930s, he sank into alcoholism while suffering through two painful divorces. No longer in demand for the lead roles that had made him famous, he played mainly support and cameo roles for the remainder of his career. Modern critics consider The General a silent-film gem, however, and the Library of Congress entered it into the National Film Registry in 1989.
Bibliography
Smith, Imogen Sara. Buster Keaton: The Persistence of Comedy. Chicago: Gambit, 2008.
Sweeney, Kevin W., ed. Buster Keaton: Interviews. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2007.