Ajyal Film Festival 2023

All Films

The General

Special Screening

Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton / Feature Narrative / United States of America / 1926 / 79 min / Black & White / Bluray
In Silent / English subtitles
Interests: Action, Comedy, Adventure
N/A

Synopsis

Considered one of the best action-adventure comedies of all-time, ‘The General’ stars silent-film-era icon Buster Keaton as Johnnie, a love-struck train driver. On the eve of the American Civil War, Johnnie rushes off to enlist in the Confederate Army to prove his worth to his fiancée, Annabelle. The slight-in-stature and far-from-strapping Johnnie is rejected, however, deemed a better help to the South working as an engineer on his locomotive, The General. The problem is, no one tells Johnnie why he is not allowed to fight for his cause.

Dejected, Johnnie tries to explain matters to Annabelle and her family, but no one wants to have anything to do with him until he is in uniform. A year later, Annabelle’s father is injured on the frontlines. While she is en route to see him – riding, of course, on The General – a Union spy hijacks the train and Johnnie jumps into action. A riveting chase sequence ensues, showcasing Keaton’s famous physicality as he pursues the captured train on foot, by car and even by bicycle. Taking back The General gives Johnnie the chance to fulfil his dreams of being a hero – and win back his girl.

Credits

Director
Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton
Screenwriter
Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman, Al Boasberg
Producer
Joseph Schenck, Buster Keaton
Editor
Buster Keaton, Sherman Kell
Cinematographer
Bert Haines, Devereaux Jennings
Sales Company
Park Circus
Production Company
Buster Keaton Productions
Cast
Buster Keaton, Marion Mack

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