The General

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1:43

The General

1927

1h 23m

Comedy

Action

Adventure

Drama

War

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

63 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

One of the most revered comedies of the silent era, this film finds hapless Southern railroad engineer Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) facing off against Union soldiers during the American Civil War. When Johnny's fiancée, Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), is accidentally taken away while on a train stolen by Northern forces, Gray pursues the soldiers, using various modes of transportation in comic action scenes that highlight Keaton's boundless wit and dexterity.

Critics Consensus

Brilliantly filmed and fueled with classic physical comedy, The General captures Buster Keaton at his timeless best.

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

05/27/2022

4.5/5

The Mad Max: Fury Road of its day.

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Kate Muir

The Times (UK)

09/23/2014

5/5

In these times when all risk is assumed by CGI effects, Keaton's squealing funny, exquisitely timed, death-defying leaps are all the more breathtaking.

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

01/23/2014

5/5

The film boasts the most sustained passages of virtuoso slapstick genius Keaton ever shot, and an unflagging momentum that lets it get away with being a reel longer than most of his best-known pictures.

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Tom Hutchinson

Radio Times

07/22/2024

5/5

Keaton's genius lay not just in the nuts and bolts of invention, but in the creation of an endearing character.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

04/08/2023

... a masterpiece, one of the finest silent films ever made and one of the great film comedies of all time.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

05/13/2022

3.5/4

It’s hard to imagine Buster Keaton without trains.

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Belle M.

@belovedbels Apr 28

A classic film for the silent film era! Very comedic and impressive stunts!!

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Beau L

@beauluna Mar 4

My first Buster Keaton watch and I enjoyed it! The plot was pretty simple but nonetheless had me invested in the story. Every single train stunt was both inventive and terrifying to watch, seeing Keaton be extremely close to harm if the timing was even slightly miscalculated. That being said, I feel the film could've been cut down by twenty minutes or so, many of the comedy sequences ran on for a bit too long and lost my attention.

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Garrett B

@gmoney637 Mar 4

100 years later, The General remains a timeless classic with funny and dangerous stunts.

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James G P

@AlbertJay Dec 21

This movie is almost perfect. A classic for a reason.

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Pedro S

@Salazar26ty Dec 5

Funny most of the time especially at the beginning but got incredibly repetitive.

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Marta B

@RT01164245 Oct 3

This simplicity of the plot makes this movie stand the test of time. The comedic plots, though complicated in execution, offer a fun glimpse into how physical comedy can add to the overall plot. I would suggest this film to anyone interested in viewing more silent films.

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Clyde Bruckman

Director

Buster Keaton

Director

Buster Keaton

Johnny Gray

Marion Mack

Annabelle Lee

Glen Cavender

Union Capt. Anderson, Chief Spy

Jim Farley

Gen. Thatcher

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The General: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

One of the most revered comedies of the silent era, this film finds hapless Southern railroad engineer Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) facing off against Union soldiers during the American Civil War. When Johnny's fiancée, Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), is accidentally taken away while on a train stolen by Northern forces, Gray pursues the soldiers, using various modes of transportation in comic action scenes that highlight Keaton's boundless wit and dexterity.

Director: Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton
Producer: Buster Keaton, Joseph M. Schenck
Screenwriter: Clyde Bruckman, Al Boasberg, Buster Keaton, William Pittenger, Charles Smith, Paul Smith
Distributor: Image Entertainment Inc., Radio Films S.A.E.S.A. [es], Cineteca S.A., Madacy Entertainment Group Inc. [us], Andrés Vicente Gómez Montero [es], Reel Media International [us], United Artists, Kino Video, Thames Video Collection, Republic Pictures, Aikman Video, LS Video
Production Co: United Artists, Buster Keaton Productions Inc. [us]
Genre: Comedy, Action, Adventure, Drama, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 5, 1927, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2016
Runtime: 1h 23m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)