The General (1926)

The General (1926) — Overview and what to expect Set during the American Civil War, The General follows Johnnie Gray, a devoted railroad engineer whose two great loves are his locomotive (the eponymous “General”) and his sweetheart Annabelle Lee. When Union spies seize the train with Annabelle aboard, Johnnie single‑handedly pursues them across enemy lines to rescue both his engine and his girl. What begins as a personal mission turns into a daring sequence of chases, escapes and clever sabotage as Johnnie outwits the enemy and races to warn the Confederates of a looming threat. If you watch this film you’ll experience a masterful blend of action, adventure and deadpan comedy. It’s a silent, black‑and‑white picture built on visual storytelling: long, thrilling train chases, spectacular physical stunts, meticulous timing, and inventive gags performed with Buster Keaton’s famously stoic presence. The stakes feel real — there’s genuine suspense and peril — but the film’s comedy and Keaton’s calm resourcefulness keep it buoyant. Viewers tend to come away impressed by the scale and inventiveness of the sequences, moved by the simple romantic throughline, and entertained by some of the finest physical filmmaking of the silent era.

Actors: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Glen Cavender

Directors: Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton

Runtime: 67 min

Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy

8.3 /10 8.1 /10 8.2 /10