The General

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Cast & Crew

Buster Keaton
Johnny Gray

Marion Mack
Annabelle Lee

Glen Cavender
Union Capt. Anderson, Chief Spy

Jim Farley
Gen. Thatcher

Joe Keaton
Union General

Frederick Vroom
Confederate General

Charles Smith
Annabelle's Father

Frank Barnes
Annabelle's Brother

Mike Donlin
Union General

Tom Nawn
Union General

Clyde Bruckman
Director

Buster Keaton
Director

Clyde Bruckman
Writer (Adaptation)

Al Boasberg
Writer (Adaptation)

Buster Keaton
Writer

William Pittenger
Writer (Book)

Charles Smith
Writer

Paul Girard Smith
Writer

Joseph M. Schenck
Executive Producer

Buster Keaton
Producer

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Critic Reviews for The General

Audience Reviews for The General

• Apr 29, 2018

  Very simply a genius execution, filled with variety, purpose, and most of all, humor, as the diminutive hero does his utmost to stand amongst the big boys as wartime calls. Unbelievable stuntwork, of course, that'll have you wondering aloud, but as well, a treatment of the heroine that only some eighty years ahead of its time. A train as the third major character, two armies battling it out, and a train crash that couldn't've been faked. Simply incredible stuff.
  Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
• Oct 14, 2017

  There are some truly wonderful scenes in this film, which is full of adventure, comedy, and some pretty impressive stuntwork on moving trains by Buster Keaton and the other actors. The premise is that Keaton, a train conductor, has volunteered to fight for the South at the outset of the Civil War, but been turned down. When his train is stolen by Union soldiers, he immediately gives chase, on foot, then a handcar, briefly a bicycle, and then finally another train, not knowing quite yet that his girlfriend (Marion Mack) was inadvertently also kidnapped. In one of the memorable early scenes, Keaton is sitting on the connecting rod of the locomotive, lost in thought, when it starts up, bobbing him up and down. In another, he packs a cannon on his train with a massive charge, and as its angle slowly descends before firing, it appears he's going to blow himself up, until his train at the last minute hits a curve and he nearly hits his intended target. It's just wonderful. There is also of course the scene with a Union train going out onto a burning bridge which then collapses, one of the most iconic (and expensive) scenes of the era. In addition to those "big" moments, there are also innumerable little things Keaton does which highlight his genius. He is just so lovable and talented. He uses one of the large railroad ties intended to derail him to knock another off the track, as his train is moving. When he's hiding under a table surrounded by Union officers, he's subtly kicked and jostled in funny ways. As he makes his escape with Mack, he stuffs her into a large sack that he had emptied of shoes, only to lose his own shoe in the process and struggle to locate it. I also thought I saw bits of Woody Allen in the scene where he urges her to be quiet, only to knock things over and make noise himself. Ambitious, awe-inspiring, influential, clever, and still funny 90+ years later. Is it the best ever? I don't know, I liked 'The Cameraman' (1928) even more, but still - damn good.
  Antonius B Super Reviewer
• Mar 12, 2017

  The General is Buster Keaton's most memorable work. It utilised some incredible stunts and good comical tricks, but I find it rather distasteful to make a comedy about the civil war.
  

  Sylvester K Super Reviewer
• Dec 28, 2014

  The only problem is that Keaton was in the wrong side of the war.
  Lucas M Super Reviewer

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