
The General fulfills my silent movie portion of the draft. To tell you the truth…I thought about 12 silent movies or as many that would fit the genres.
Buster Keaton was a little off kilter to his comedy peers. He was more subtle than Chaplin or Harold Lloyd. Keaton used non movement to his advantage. You would see him in a crowd easily. They would be moving along and his stillness would get your attention.
Chaplin had two rivals in comedy at the time. Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. Lloyd was more successful than Keaton but he was more of an actor playing a comedian on screen. Charlie and Buster were stage trained natural comedians and made some of the best comedies of the teens and twenties…and some would say all time.
Buster was an excellent filmmaker. I would put him over Chaplin in that regard. Buster didn’t fake stunts…he didn’t like cutting in at the last minute. He wanted the gag or whatever it was to be filmed in one shot and completely natural.
This is Buster Keaton’s civil war era masterpiece. It was released in 1927 to mediocre reviews. Keaton was ahead of his time and it caught the audience by surprise. This movie is now considered one of the best movies ever made. Buster wanted to make it look real to the era. He told his crew to make it so authentic that it hurt. This film is a reference point to some people to see what the Civil War looked like.
This film contained the most expensive shot in silent movie history. Buster had free rein on this movie and it showed. His budget was $750,000 dollars which was huge at the time for a comedy. Buster had a bridge built just to have a train go across it and crash. The single scene cost 42,000 in 1927 dollars. In today’s money that would be over half a million. But doesn’t it look great?

Buster made the movie in Cottage Grove Oregon. Animal House would be made there 51 years later. When World War 2 came, the train was pulled out of the creek bed and used for scrap iron. People say you can still find fragments around this site of the train.
This movie was based on a true story in the civil war known now as The Great Locomotive Chase or Andrew’s Raid.
The Great Locomotive Chase unfolded during the early years of the Civil War, an attempt by Union forces and sympathizers to destroy railroad infrastructure north of Atlanta, Georgia in hopes of eventually capturing the strategic city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The celebrity locomotive in what also became known as Andrews’ Raid was the Western & Atlantic Railroad’s General. The American Type 4-4-0 steamer was commandeered by James Andrews himself (leader of the raid) and used throughout the chase where he traveled northward from Atlanta causing as much damage as he could. Unfortunately, the hasty Union plans were too slow and disorganized to cause serious damage and most of those involved were eventually captured.
Buster made very few changes in the story. He kept his eye on details though. The cannon he used in the film was built to the specs of the Civil War Era.
When he shot the cannonball from the cannon railway car on the train to land in the locomotive… he kept trying different measures of powder to get it right until he had to use tweezers to get the right amount. He would do gags without camera trickery when he could. Below is the cannon shot… shot without cuts.

He worked for an independent producer Joseph Schenck so he had complete control of his movies. A little while after this movie lost money he had to go into the studio system and still managed to make a couple of great movies for MGM but after that, the studio would control everything he did which meant the quality of his movies took a nose dive.
Keaton was an incredible filmmaker. This movie is a true chase movie. Buster is either chasing the General (train) after it was stolen or being chased by the Union Army in the “Texas” until it crashes in the ravine.
If you have never seen a silent movie…this is a good one to start at…this one and The Gold Rush by Chaplin.
This is one I hope I will be able to see on the big screen one day.
It ranks #155 on the best movies ever on IMDB.
Cast
- Buster Keaton – Johnnie Gray, Director, Editor, Screenwriter
- Marion Mack – Annabelle Lee
- Glen Cavender – Capt. Anderson
- Jim Farley – Gen, Thatcher
- Fred Vroom – Southern General
- Richard Allen – His Son
- Joe Keaton – Union General
- Mike Donlin – Union General
- Tom Nawn – Union General
- Charles H. Smith – Mr. Lee, Screenwriter
- Ray Thomas – Raider
- Jimmy Bryant – Raider
- Ross McCutcheon – Raider
- Charles Phillips – Raider
- Anthony Harvey Raider
- Edward Hearn – Union Officer
- Budd Fine-Raider
- Frank S. Hagney – Recruiting Officer
Great pic, Max! The chase scenes are groundbreaking. Seriously, without Buster’s knack for raw camera work and ability to put the audience right there in the run, we wouldn’t have the chase scenes we see on film today, whether they are on foot, train, or car… (or truck a la Road Warrior). Such a brilliant silent film – one for all to see if you’re a true moviegoer 🙂
Thanks, Bernie…yea the complete film is one long chase either coming or going. That train crash is one of my favorite movie moments. It was worth the cost.
Interesting! When I saw the title I got it confused with ‘The Little General’ with Chaplin, don’t know I knew anything of this one.
You have probably seen the train crash scene before…it was epic.
Great movie- love Buster Keeton!
I do also. To me, Chaplin and Keaton were the Beatles and Rolling Stones of their time…
TMC a few months ago had a couple hour special on Keaton- most excellent.
I’ll try to find that Hans…the one that I swear by is a three part series called “A Hard Act To Follow”…which is one of my favorite docs of all time.
this was from 2018 done by Peter Bogdonavich- called The Great Buster.
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Here’s the deal Max. Filmmakers or film lovers should do themselves a favor and watch Buster. He did this in the 20’s. It’s easy to take for granted (I dont. It blows my mind). I revisit Keaton regular. So much going on. His acting style just grabbed me. The stoic deadpan. It’s a wonder he didnt kill himself. A head of his time. I love the mans work. I’m with you all the way on this one.
CB, his movie Sherlock Jr. still blows my mind today with the stunts and camera tricks he was able to turn…he was a human cgi machine.
All that and funny Max! ‘Steamboat Bill’ kills me.
Oh yea that house front falling man…no faking that.
Yeah. Plus I love the oldman in that. He is just disgusted with his son Buster.
I know what he looks like but not sure if I’ve seen any of his movies. You convinced me to borrow it so in a week or two will have a comment. Sounds like he was an entertainer before his time.
He was great Lisa…he made movies the right way…no shortcuts.
Is Bailey going to study him?
I’ll have to ask him if they have covered him yet…He does love the movies though…him and I have watched probably around 5 of his features.
I just meant on his own. Did I tell you my oldest son is back in college? In MI they have a “Frontliners” program where the state will pay for a 2-year degree (at least the tuition part of it.) He started last week, going for CIS.
Oh yes…he has watched his camera angles and the way he did trick photography with silent cameras.
No you didn’t tell me that. That is awesome. Isn’t that computer Security?
Cool with Bailey studying Lloyd’s work. Computer Information Systems
You know what? I’m in IT…I’m awful at acronyms…when asked on interviews…I cringe.
No worries, Max. I am just guessing that’s the acronym! I know it is with computers and its about information systems.
Lisa….there are 3 sets of documentaries on him…called A Hard Act To Follow
Here is the first one…its worth a watch if you ever get the time.
OK thanks, Max.
Good god! He wears me out just watching him.
Heh. I love this…”He came for dinner and stayed three years.”
I want that house with the crawl-thru floors and the wall flip.
That is a great short he did….Those three…they are 50 minutes long…are worth the watch. You will see him til the thirties making great films but MGM got his contract and “they knew best” NOT.
Overlords. Yeah. They ruin everything. Witnessing that now…
He does get redemption later on.
Brave soul. I wonder how many injuries he suffered. He was just fearless.
I had to laugh at him sitting on the train wheel bar.
I’d never heard of Harold Lloyd. In all the digging I did on old movies, I never stumbled across him.