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The General

Play trailer 1:43 Poster for The General 1927 1h 23m Comedy Action Adventure Drama War Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.
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The General

The General

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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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Critics Reviews

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Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting 05/27/2022
4.5/5
The Mad Max: Fury Road of its day. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm 05/13/2022
3.5/4
It’s hard to imagine Buster Keaton without trains. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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. See more Garrett B @gmoney637 Mar 4 100 years later, The General remains a timeless classic with funny and dangerous stunts. See more James G P @AlbertJay Dec 21 This movie is almost perfect. A classic for a reason. See more Pedro S @Salazar26ty Dec 5 Funny most of the time especially at the beginning but got incredibly repetitive. See more 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. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 3 Funny war in 1 hour and 23 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Buster Keaton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Read all reviews
The General

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Cast & Crew

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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

The General: Trailer 1 The General: Trailer 1 1:43 View more videos
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The General

The General (1927) The General (1927) View more photos

Movie Info

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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