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

61 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.

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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

May 27, 2022

4.5/5

The Mad Max: Fury Road of its day.

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Kate Muir

The Times (UK)

Sep 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)

Jan 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

Jul 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

Apr 8, 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

May 13, 2022

3.5/4

It’s hard to imagine Buster Keaton without trains.

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Janav S

@TheCoolJ92781 Sep 15, 2026

One of the most famous timeless masterpieces in cinema history, Buster Keaton revolutionized film with The General. While probably not for modern audiences, it's got a beautiful narrative and great cinematography.

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Drew D

@Roadwarrior52 Jul 28, 2026

Very innovative and interesting in its stunt work.

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Jayden C

@RT79235533 May 20, 2026

I found the general to be a film that flowed well, especially due to the absence of dialogue. The subtitles and expressions were more than enough to understand and relate.

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Adonis J

@RT06083614 May 16, 2026

The shots in this movie are pretty

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Belle M.

@belovedbels Apr 28, 2026

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

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Beau L

@beauluna Mar 4, 2026

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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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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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)

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