{"id":23952,"date":"2012-02-11T19:55:31","date_gmt":"2012-02-12T02:55:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=23952"},"modified":"2021-02-03T01:18:11","modified_gmt":"2021-02-03T08:18:11","slug":"general-the-1926","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=23952","title":{"rendered":"General, The (1926)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Don&#8217;t enlist him; he is more valuable to the South as an engineer.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Poster-300x229.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"229\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23955\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Poster-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Poster-128x98.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Poster-1024x784.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Poster.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nDuring the Civil War, an accomplished train engineer (Buster Keaton) is denied entry into the Confederate Army, much to the dismay of his girlfriend (Marion Mack), who mistakenly believes he is too cowardly to enlist. Soon he becomes an unintentional hero when he rescues Mack from his hijacked train, and foils Union plans for an attack.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Buster Keaton Films<\/li>\n<li>Civil War<\/li>\n<li>Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Historical Drama<\/li>\n<li>Silent Films<\/li>\n<li>Spies<\/li>\n<li>Trains and Subways<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary, like so many others, refers to this Civil War-era slapstick classic as &#8220;Buster Keaton&#8217;s masterpiece and, as such, one of our two or three greatest comedies&#8221;. Telling the &#8220;simple&#8221; story &#8212; almost entirely &#8220;centered on train chases&#8221; &#8212; of &#8220;Johnnie Grey, conductor of the General&#8221;, whose &#8220;two loves are his engine and lovely Annabel Lee (Marion Mack)&#8221;:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Mack.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Mack-1024x757.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"473\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Mack-1024x757.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Mack-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Mack-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Mack-768x567.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Mack-365x270.png 365w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Mack.png 1371w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; it &#8220;features a dazzling number of sight gags, some spectacular Keaton acrobatics&#8230;, and&#8230; ingenious use of the frame&#8221;. Peary notes that &#8220;as usual, Keaton is a sweet fellow and it&#8217;s a delight watching this tiny, unmuscular civilian pull off one heroic act after another while soldiers on both sides accomplish nothing&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p>Peary spends the remainder of his review pointing out something most other critics haven&#8217;t noted (or don&#8217;t agree with): the fact that &#8220;the relationship between Keaton and Mack is wonderfully romantic&#8221;. He argues that &#8220;her well-intentioned but ridiculous attempts to help in their escape effort both exasperate him and reinforce his love for her&#8221;, and calls out in particular the somewhat astonishing moment &#8212; you&#8217;ll likely give a start at its modernity and authenticity &#8212; when &#8220;he playfully strangles her, then kisses her&#8221; as she demonstrates tremendous ineptitude while &#8220;helping&#8221; him select wood for the engine&#8217;s fire. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Strangle.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Strangle-1024x773.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"483\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Strangle-1024x773.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Strangle-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Strangle-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Strangle-768x580.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Strangle-358x270.png 358w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Strangle.png 1371w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This scene &#8212; along with countless others in which he demonstrates a truly astonishing level of dexterity and quick-thinking savvy &#8212; make him a silent-film &#8220;hero&#8221; we&#8217;re delighted to see in action. In sum, this one is, as Peary calls it, &#8220;marvelous in every way&#8221;, and deserves its ranking as one of the best American films. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Watch for the impressive burning bridge sequence, which cost $42K, making it <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tcm.com\/this-month\/article\/1203|0\/The-General.html\">&#8220;the most expensive single shot in silent film history&#8221;<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Burning-Bridge.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Burning-Bridge-1024x759.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"474\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Burning-Bridge-1024x759.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Burning-Bridge-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Burning-Bridge-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Burning-Bridge-768x569.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Burning-Bridge-364x270.png 364w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Burning-Bridge.png 1377w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fun use of trains as a comedic element<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Trains2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Trains2-1024x761.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Trains2-1024x761.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Trains2-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Trains2-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Trains2-768x571.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Trains2-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Trains2.png 1373w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many truly incredible physical stunts and set pieces<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Stunt.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Stunt-1024x762.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Stunt-1024x762.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Stunt-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Stunt-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Stunt-768x571.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Stunt-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/General-Stunt.png 1381w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as arguably Keaton&#8217;s masterpiece. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0017925\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1927\/02\/08\/archives\/the-screen-a-civil-war-farce.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/great-movie-the-general-1927\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.filmsite.org\/gene.html\">Greatest Films Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.digitallyobsessed.com\/displaylegacy.php?ID=10141\">Digitally Obsessed Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/326469\/the-general#articles-reviews?articleId=1203\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/the-general-1\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t enlist him; he is more valuable to the South as an engineer.&#8221; Synopsis: During the Civil War, an accomplished train engineer (Buster Keaton) is denied entry into the Confederate Army, much to the dismay of his girlfriend (Marion Mack), who mistakenly believes he is too cowardly to enlist. Soon he becomes an unintentional hero when he rescues Mack from his hijacked train, and foils Union plans for an attack. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Buster Keaton Films Civil War&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=23952\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23952"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23952\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68234,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23952\/revisions\/68234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}