The General (1926) – Film Review

Directors: Buster Keaton / Clyde Bruckman
Cast: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Glen Cavender
Certificate: U

By Sarah Morgan

Nepo babies. We hear about them a lot these days, particularly in showbiz circles. It’s difficult to pinpoint who could be described as the first of them, but maybe Buster Keaton could lay the claim.

His parents added him to their Vaudeville act when he was just three years of age; it was while performing with them that he learned many of the stunts that would become hallmarks of his later big screen career – the Keatons’ act, for instance, included young Buster being thrown into the orchestra pit or audience by his father, so he had to learn quickly how to fall safely.

Keaton made his screen debut in The Butcher Boy in 1917 and his ascent to fame was swift. He formed his own studio, making such classics as Our Hospitality, Sherlock Jr, Steamboat Bill, Jr, and, arguably the best of them all, The General.

“Prized locomotive”

Released in 1926, the last on that list was not, however, a big hit. Although it did respectably well at the box office, it cost so much to make (an estimated – and at the time astonishing – $750,000) that it struggled to break even on its release.

Nevertheless, in 1963, two years before his death, Keaton said of it: “I was more proud of that picture than any I ever made. Because I took an actual happening out of the… history books, and I told the story in detail too.”

The true tale in question was dubbed the Great Locomotive Chase, took place during the American Civil War and the screenplay was based on an 1889 memoir by William Pittenger, who served with the Union Army during the conflict, eventually winning the Medal of Honor.

Keaton co-wrote, co-directed, co-produced and stars as Johnnie Gray, a railroad train engineer who is passionate about two things – his fiancee Annabelle Lee and his prized locomotive, The General.

“Incredible set pieces”

When the war breaks out, Johnnie plans to join the Confederate forces, but is turned down; his failure also spells the end of his romance. However, when The General is stolen by Union troops, and Annabelle is kidnapped in the melee, Johnnie leaps into action and sets out to rescue them both.

The result is a masterpiece in stunt choreography with incredible set pieces, including an enthralling chase sequence – and remember, this was made in an age long before sophisticated special effects and CGI were de rigueur.

Thanks to a stunning 4K restoration, completed just in time for the film’s 100th birthday, it’s never looked better either. The special features, in particular video essays by Keaton biographer Imogen Sara Smith and critic and editor Luke Ryan, are crucial to understanding both the film’s driving force and the context in which the production was made by arguably showbiz’s first, and possibly most accomplished, nepo baby.

Sarah Morgan( Writer )

Sarah Morgan studied film journalism at post-graduate level with the BFI and has been writing about TV and film for PA Media’s newspaper, magazine and new media customers since 1996. She’s also written for a wide range of other publications, both online and in print, including the book Offbeat and Intermission magazine, and is a regular contributor to the Talking Pictures TV podcast. When she isn’t watching movies, she’s collecting and reading vintage crime and horror paperback books or, for her sins, watching her beloved Sheffield Wednesday.

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