The General
with live accompaniment by Donald SosinInventive gags and meticulous stunt work make Buster Keaton's magnificent silent comedy a must-see on the big screen!
Johnnie Gray, rejected from Confederate army service because his job as an engineer is deemed too valuable, is mistakenly believed to be a coward by his girlfriend, Annabelle Lee. When Union spies steal his train with Annabelle aboard, Johnnie pursues them alone—first on foot, then in increasingly inventive ways—culminating in an epic, action-filled train chase through enemy lines.
Inspired by the real-life Great Locomotive Chase during the American Civil War, the film was shot with large-scale set pieces with hundreds of extras and full-sized trains. The major stunts were groundbreaking and often dangerous, showcasing Keaton's extraordinary physical comedy and meticulous planning. A seamless blend of comedy, action and romance, The General was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry and is widely considered one of Keaton's finest works.
D: Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman, US, 1926, 1h19m
Presented in 35mm with live accompaniment by Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton
Programmed as part of the Dartmouth Film Society series "Music and the Movies"
This film is also programmed as a prelude to The TEAM's Reconstructing, a devised theater piece coming to the Hop on April 2 & 3. This film, made with its lighthearted take on the Civil War era, is the product of a different time. It is interesting to consider the long-term impact films like this have, as we see some American political leaders today advocating for a simpler, sanitized version of this complex, violent and unjust chapter in our country's history.
Music and the Movies
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