Set during the american civil war, keaton plays the engineer. The genius destroyed by hollywood 52 mins a documentary on keaton and his struggles working within the hollywood studio system. The train scene from buster keatons the general is the. I remember once acting, as the clown in alls well that ends well, for the famous producer neville coghill. The general, perhaps the greatest film ever made, and 20 other buster keaton classics free online. In september of 1925, one of buster keatons head gag writers, clyde bruckman, was doing some research on the civil war when he found a reprint of pittengers book which was retitled the great locomotive chase in 1893. Buster agrees to pose as a murderer to throw off the police while.
Between 1920 and 1929, buster keaton created a peerless run of feature films that established him as arguably the greatest actordirector in the history of the movies. The general buster keaton film analysis senses of cinema. Directed by gerald potterton, buster keaton, john spotton. It is also one of the finest, and has appeared on many 10bestfilms lists. Time out spearheading the bfis buster keaton season is this 4k restoration of his 1926 masterpiece, a jawplunging blend opt physical dexterity and bravura moviemaking. Listed classics that have been colored or edited will have to carry notices. Anyone who can appreciate silents wont be disappointed. Buster keaton wanted to use the real locomotive the general in the movie which was at the louisville and nashville railroad depot in chattanooga, tennessee its in kennesaw, georgia now, but was unable to, and had to dress up another 440 locomotive instead keaton performed many dangerous physical stunts on and around the moving train, including jumping from the engine to a. Buster keaton full movies with misic 19171928 youtube. Roscoe walks out of the freezer wearing a fur coat, then does some clever cleaver tossing. A film projectionist longs to be a detective, and puts his meagre skills to work when he is framed.
The general s engineer, johnny grey keaton, spends the first half racing after iton foot, handcar, bicycle, and another trainand, once he has stolen it back, the second half in flight. Buster keatons the general 4k restoration official us trailer. Buster keaton in the goat 1921 colorized silent movie color. Set during the civil war and based on a true incident, the film is also an authentic looking period piece, bringing the scope and realism of. The collection contained 4k restorations of both films with new scores. The basic film is busters, and i used to enjoy his films even on old vhs tapes where music sounded cranked through a tin can and you could barely make out keatons amazing face.
The general 1926 starring buster keaton internet archive. The general was buster keatons favorite film because it offered him the opportunity to utilize the full range of his scriptwriting, athletic stunt work and other creative talents. Buster keaton was not the great stone face so much as a man who kept his composure in the center of chaos. The general 1927 the film most consider keatons masterpiece, and for good reason.
The general became keatons masterpiece, joining charles chaplins the gold rush 1925 as one of the greatest silent comedies ever made. Joseph frank keaton october 4, 1895 february 1, 1966, known professionally as buster keaton, was an american actor, comedian, film director, producer, screenwriter, and stunt performer. See more ideas about silent film, comedians and silent film stars. Viewing busters work has come a long way, and there are few films greater than. Its nice to have a quick reference to buster s shorts as the art of buster keaton scattered the films over 10 dvds so that you could not just pop in a dvd and watch the shorts in succession. Buster keatons masterpiece and one of the greatest silent movies of all time was filmed in the cottage grove area in the summer of 1926. Set during the american civil war, keaton plays the. The train scene from buster keatons the general is the most expensive scene in silent film history. Its the one i most often return to, mainly because all of his greatest traits are on display. The two headed spy1958jack hawkinsgia scalaeric schumanfelix aylmer duration. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours.
With buster keaton, jimmy durante, ruth selwyn, thelma todd. Of all the films about the american civil war, one towers above the rest, with a meticulous attention to historical detail, the grace of a poet and the compositional precision of the immortal matthew bradys photographs that documented the era. Nov 21, 2019 the general 1926 with buster keaton is an american classic silent film period. The scene stealers, buster keaton and ed wynn 1962. Consider an opening sequence in the general 1927, his masterpiece about a southern railway engineer who has only two loves in his life his locomotive and the beautiful annabelle lee. He pursues them and his train into union territory, overhears a group of union generals planning an attack across a certain railroad bridge, and decides to repossess his train and bring it and his girlfriend back south.
Buster keaton great director profile senses of cinema. We are told at the beginning of the film that buster has two loves. The wonderful gags of the founding father of visual comedy. He went on to garner immense popularity earning the epithet the great stone face for his physical comedy that became his trademark. Every now and then on the criticwire network an older film gets singled out for attention. Buster keatons timeless 1926 silent the general is the perfect chase moviesee it and gasp. He is best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression that earned him the nickname the great stone face. The new score from joe hisaishi is a joy, and really compliments the film. How buster keaton filmed the general chaplinkeatonlloyd film. I had the honor of introducing buster keatons 1926 masterpiece the general at the san francisco silent film festivals inaugural a day of. The general, american silent comedy film, released in 1927, starring and directed by comedian buster keaton, and cited by many film historians as one of the greatest american movies. Preceding the show, these informational slides below prepared by the festivals artistic director anita monga, ran on a loop as people took their seats.
The sequences where mr keaton is operating the train, and running back and forth performing impossible physical feats, are unequalled in cinema. These are the films of american actor, comedian, and filmmaker buster keaton. This release follows volume 1, which contained the general and steamboat bill, jr. Review of kinos 2008 ultimate 2disc edition of buster keatons the general by jeremy mathews. It was inspired by the great locomotive chase, a true story of an event that occurred during the american civil war. It is set during the american civil war 186165 and highlights the theme of personal redemption. A 1957 film biography, the buster keaton story, starring donald oconnor as keaton was released. In restaging the true story of one man s journey behind enemy lines to reclaim his captured locomotive during the civil war, keaton stages a series of complex chases, using lumbering trains as comedic props. Buster keaton the general hd complete film in colors. Joe and myra were vaudevillian comedians with a popular, everchanging variety act, giving keaton an eclectic and interesting upbringing.
Keatons use of the locomotive is one of unparalleled gall, as he exhibits every bit of acrobatic skill and grace crawling up over and below this prop throughout the film. The general, one of several buster keaton movies to make it to the library of congress national film registry this one in 1989, is truly keatons movie epic. Why buster keatons the general is the one film you should watch. Buster keaton was comedian and film director who starred in silent films in the 1920s. Keaton s use of the locomotive is one of unparalleled gall, as he exhibits every bit of acrobatic skill and grace crawling up over and below this prop throughout the film. Why you really do need to see buster keatons the general. A brief overview of buster keaton original story of the general release of the general accolades for the general trivia related to the general quotations about the general. This thursday at 7 pm, university of chicago doc films will screen the general, buster keatons most famous comedy. Apr 06, 2020 the general, american silent comedy film, released in 1927, starring and directed by comedian buster keaton, and cited by many film historians as one of the greatest american movies. There is also keatons last film, the railroader, almost a follow up to the general. Buster keaton the general 1926 silent movie action comedy.
The general is by far the most famous of the comedy features in which buster keaton starred, and in several cases directed or codirected, between 1923 and 1928. The greatest of the silent clowns is buster keaton, not only because of what he did, but because of how he did it. He seems like a modern visitor to the world of the silent clowns. He made numerous short films as well as such feature films as three ages, sherlock, jr. The general was buster keaton s favorite film because it offered him the opportunity to utilize the full range of his scriptwriting, athletic stunt work and other creative talents. Joseph frank keaton was born on october 4, 1895 in piqua, kansas, to joe keaton and myra keaton. The screenplay, by sidney sheldon, who also directed the film, was loosely based on keaton s life but contained many factual errors and merged his three wives into one character.
With buster keaton, harold goodwin, matthew betz, bud jamison. Keaton s civil war epic the general 1926 kept up his momentum when he gave audiences the biggest and most expensive sequence ever seen in film at the time. The film stars buster keaton who codirected it with clyde bruckman at the time of its initial release, the general. The story was adapted from the memoir the great locomotive chase by william pittenger. Modern day film scholars liken the story and effects to christopher nolan inception 2010, for its high level concept and groundbreaking execution. Buster keaton, american film comedian and director, the great stone face, known for his deadpan expression and his imaginative and often elaborate visual comedy. Academy honorary award winning famous yesteryear american actor, comedian, filmmaker, screenwriter, and stunt performer buster keaton began his journey in the entertainment industry as a child artist. Why buster keatons the general is the one film you should. Buster keaton, who produced and directed the film, plays johnnie gray, the engineer of the general, whose sweetheart annabelle lee, played by marion mack, rejects him when he fails to enlist in. After literally walking to canada from england, buster takes a crosscountry trip across canada on a railway motorcar speeder.
Buster keaton wanted to use the real locomotive the general in the movie which was at the louisville and nashville railroad depot in chattanooga, tennessee its in kennesaw, georgia now, but was unable to, and had to dress up another 440 locomotive instead. The general by clyde bruckman clyde bruckman, buster. The general is a civil war tale, the fictionalized account of an attempted hijacking of a confederate train called the general by union spies in 1862. When hollywoods history talks about handmade films, the general is a literal example. Buster keaton, who produced and directed the film, plays johnnie gray, the engineer of the general, whose. It is set during the american civil war 186165 and highlights the theme of. The general, as roger ebert describes it, is an epic of silent comedy, one of the most expensive films of its time, including an accurate historical recreation of a civil war episode, hundreds of extras, dangerous stunt. Keatons heroism and stunts in any of his movies are always amazing to watch, but often they are almost too outsized for the ordinary world in which they take place. The copies previously uploaded here were either incomplete or too blurry. The general is a 1926 american silent comedy film released by united artists. Why, joseph frank buster keaton s 1926 the general, unsung in its day but heaped with critical acclaim ever since. Sep 06, 2016 in the movie, a stubborn confederate train engineer named johnnie has his beloved locomotive, the general, stolen by union spies with his girlfriend on board. In films that combined comedy with extraordinary physical risks, buster keaton played a brave spirit who.
How buster keaton filmed the general chaplinkeaton. Some of buster keatons great, deathdefying stunts captured. The cohen film collection also has a third volume set to release august 2o, 2019. Keaton held the film up to the light to edit it, rather than using a machine. A timid professor inherits a large sum of money and decides to fund a terrible musical. Together they represent a true master at his peak, and the masters of cinema series is proud to present all three films from. It had a heck of a reputation to live up to, and did not disappoint. In 1862, after spies steal his locomotive, the general, he wages a oneman battle to recover it. Buster keaton the general the colorized version youtube. Buster keaton plays johnny gray, a southern railroad engineer who loves his train engine, the general, almost as much as he loves annabelle lee marion mack. With buster keaton, marion mack, glen cavender, jim farley.
Volume 2 is a new and improved release of sherlock jr. Jul 14, 2014 every now and then on the criticwire network an older film gets singled out for attention. Early in the film, keaton, dressed in his sunday best, walks to his girls house. The general keaton and clyde bruckman, 1926, which he considered his favourite, was keatons last independently produced film and in many ways presents the apotheosis of his style. He is unaware that two small boys are following him, marching in. The general 1927 the film most consider keaton s masterpiece, and for good reason. Many of keatons films from the 1920s remain highly regarded, such as sherlock jr. Lauded by film critics over the years as the greatest of buster keaton s films, if not the greatest comedy ever made, this film is one that i have wanted to see for a while. Nov 18, 2008 the generals engineer, johnny grey keaton, spends the first half racing after iton foot, handcar, bicycle, and another trainand, once he has stolen it back, the second half in flight. The general tells the story of johnnie gray keaton, a tennessean railroad engineer who is pressured by his fiance, annabelle lee marion mack, to join the. Five stars for buster keaton s shorts presented together in one 3dvd set and in chronological order. I had the honor of introducing buster keaton s 1926 masterpiece the general at the san francisco silent film festivals inaugural a day of silents festival held in 2014. A distant, speeding train approaches the camera, and stops with a closeup of keaton who has been sitting on the front of the train. Thats one reason his best movies have aged better than those of his rival, charlie chaplin.
There are various documentaries regarding the filming, restoration andrescoring of the film. The great classics josh jones is a writer and musician based in durham, nc. High quality buster keaton inspired tshirts by independent artists and designers from around the world. The general was buster keatons favorite film because it. Other silent actors might mug to get a point across, but keaton remained observant and collected. Harold lloyd made us laugh as much, charlie chaplin moved us more deeply, but no one had more courage than buster. The general is an american silent comedy film released by united artists inspired by the great locomotive chase, which happened in 1862. Buster keaton on wagon train 58 mins an audio recording of a then 63 year old buster keaton in conversation with television writer bill cox. I know silent films can be very taxing with organ music sound track, flickering picture, washed out images and reading of the frequent dialogue cards flashing up on the screen every few minutes to keep you on the.
The generals engineer, johnny grey keaton, spends the first half racing after iton foot, handcar, bicycle, and another trainand, once he has stolen it back, the second half in flight. Buster keaton s the general is not simply one of the greatest silent comedies ever made, it is one of the greatest films of any era. Buster keaton 19171928 full movies with musicd playlist. In the earliest days on stage, they traveled with a medicine show that included family friend, illusionist harry. A bullet for the general western, full movie, english, classic film watchfree. The generals reputation, along with keatons, however, was resuscitated in the 1950s. When union spies steal an engineers beloved locomotive, he pursues it singlehandedly and straight through enemy lines. Jan 25, 2017 a complete and remastered version of this movie was released on bluray by kino international in 2009. Oct 21, 2019 this short contains one of keaton s more memorable images. Andrew pulver recommends buster keatons 1926 silent actioncomedy film, the general.