The General

         As a student who groaned when my Film Studies teacher revealed that we would be watching another silent movie,  I was pleasantly surprised by The General. The Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman film was released and distributed in 1926 by United artistes. Although it wasn't too popular following it's immediate release, it is now considered to be a major classic of the silent era. 

          The protagonist, Johnnie Grey, a train engineer, has come to visit the love of his life, Annabelle Lee. He arrives just in time to hear of the news that the American Civil War has started. To please Annabelle, he hurries off to enlist in the army, but when the men at the registration counter find out that he is a train engineer, they think that he is far more useful doing that job. Annabelle doesn't believe this story and vows never to speak to him until he is in uniform. Johnnie then continues to work with the other love of his life, his engine. Its when the union spies steal Johnnie's train that the plot gets exciting. Coincidentally, Annabelle happens to be on the train, on her way to visit her injured father. Unaware that she is aboard the stolen train, Johnnie peruses the thieves on his own. After an eventful and entertaining train chase Johnnie is left with the challenge of returning Annabelle safely and warning the army about information he happened to overhear.

             Compared to some modern day story lines it was not the most complex yet, but it was a good thing for, it is very difficult to follow a story with too many elements, especially without the aid of sound. The slight use of foreshadowing and the comic, suspenseful and exciting moods of the story made it an entertaining production. Though it was not the most realistic plot line, Buster Keaton's character made it more believable in that once Jonnie was introduced I agreed that his crazy, inventive and spur-of-the-moment actions matched his personality. 

The Mr. Bean/Inspecter Clouseau-esque comedy that Buster Keaton brought to this movie defiantly added a lot to the story. It would not have been half as entertaining without his unusual character and his effective portrayal. He proved that the lack of facial expression can be as, if not more, effective in making an audience laugh. Not only did he use his body and facial language, he was also very resourceful when it came to using the props or location to create comedy. Being that it was the best acting that I had seen in a silent film so far it was quite refreshing.

  

Obviously, being used to the technology of the twenty first century, I can say that I've seen better, but all in all I was still impressed. The effects, like fire, gun shots and rain themselves were realistic enough, the costumes were appropriate and although the music became bit repetitive, especially during the long train chase, it no doubt went with the story line.  The technical elements went together nicely, especially since Buster Keaton used so many of the props and surroundings to create comic situations.

I would recommend this movie to all viewers, even if they don't have much interest in silent films. Although it may not be a film I'd watch over and over again, its defiantly worth a look. People of all ages can take something different away from this movie, whether its the comedy, Buster Keaton's movie making style or just the story!