Joseph frank keaton october 4, 1895 february 1, 1966, known professionally as buster keaton, was an american actor, comedian, film director, producer, screenwriter, and stunt performer. Jan 23, 2014 the pioneering genius of buster keatons 1926 silent film the general now on rerelease looks even more startling than ever. The railrodder english version by gerald potterton nfb. Why, joseph frank buster keaton s 1926 the general, unsung in its day but heaped with critical acclaim ever. The general 1926 original piano score by william p. Among its strongest admirers was orson welles, who stated that the general was cinemas highest achievement in comedy, and perhaps the greatest film ever made. None of the biographical material ive read has ever remarked on it, so i dont think so. The general is a curious beast, though, a hybrid action movie, comedy, war film and historical adventure. At times it feels strongly as if buster keaton wanted to make an american civil war epic, but no one would fund it without him turning it into a comedy. Hang your posters in dorms, bedrooms, offices, or anywhere blank walls arent welcome.
The general film pdf buster keaton s masterpiece and one of the greatest silent movies of all time was filmed in the cottage grove area in the summer of 1926. Buster keaton wanted to use the real locomotive the general in the movie which was at the louisville and nashville railroad depot in chattanooga, tennessee its in kennesaw, georgia now, but was unable to, and had to dress up another 440 locomotive instead. The general buster keaton 1926 celluloid wicker man. Many of keaton s films from the 1920s remain highly regarded, such as sherlock jr. Buster keaton the general 1926 silent movie action comedy. In restaging the true story of one man s journey behind enemy lines to reclaim his captured locomotive during the civil war, keaton stages a series of complex chases, using lumbering trains as comedic props. Find the perfect buster keaton the general stock photo. The general w buster keaton fullhd video dailymotion. What motion picture did no less an auteur than orson welles call the greatest comedy ever made, the greatest civil war film ever made, and perhaps the greatest film ever made. Buster keaton s the general from 1926 was a silent film that hilariously displayed the idea of love verging on obsession. His famous deadpan face spoke volumes about his constant struggle to survive in an increasingly mechanized 20th century world. Other silent actors might mug to get a point across, but keaton remained observant and collected. Equally wonderful was the obvious extensive cooperation of cn. Mar, 2020 buster keaton, american film comedian and director, the great stone face, known for his deadpan expression and his imaginative and often elaborate visual comedy.
The general, a thrilling comedy about the civil war, lifted buster keaton from the ashes of oblivion decades after his. It was inspired by the great locomotive chase, a true story of an event that occurred during the american civil war. Having never seen the latter, its a worthy companion to perhaps his most famous film. The general buster keaton film analysis senses of cinema. It is set during the american civil war 186165 and highlights the theme of personal redemption. One of the great masterpieces of cinema, buster keaton s the general combines inventive humor with terrific action and fine melodrama, all beautifully and carefully planned and photographed. Audiences and critics in the 1920ies did not appreciate this extraordinary masterpiece, but buster keaton always regarded the general as his best film. The general, starring and codirected by buster keaton, represented one of the peaks of the silent era in movies and one so elevated that its appeal has lingered well into the 21st century. Get an adfree experience with special benefits, and directly support reddit. The general, american silent comedy film, released in 1927, starring and directed by comedian buster keaton, and cited by many film historians as one of the greatest american movies. Buster keaton the general music score by angelin fonda harold lloyd 1922 grandmas boy.
A complete and remastered version of this movie was released on bluray by kino international in 2009. Nov 10, 2002 the greatest of the silent clowns is buster keaton, not only because of what he did, but because of how he did it. The general is an american silent comedy film released by united artists inspired by the great locomotive chase, which happened in 1862. The general buster keaton full length action movie. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. He is best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression that earned him the nickname the great stone face. The library of congress generally does not own rights to material in its collections and, therefore, cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material. Buster keaton was not the great stone face so much as a man who kept his composure in the center of chaos. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression that earned him the nickname the. Along with charlie chaplin and harold lloyd, keaton was a titan in the world of silent film comedy. Featuring new 2k restorations supplied by french distributor lobster films, this double feature of buster keaton s the general and three ages plays very well on bluray. The general, perhaps the greatest film ever made, and 20.
In films that combined comedy with extraordinary physical risks, buster keaton played a brave spirit who. This kino ultimate disc edition was mastered in hd from a 35mm archive print struck from the original camera negative. It is considered by fans and critics to be keaton still in top form, and it was added to the national. Guide, download movies, tv shows, free videos, watch. Why you really do need to see buster keatons the general.
Buster keaton plays johnnie gray, an engineer on the western and atlantic railroad whose train is called the general. In 1862, after spies steal his locomotive, the general, he wages a oneman battle to recover it. Who wouldve thought buster keaton was still active in the mid 1960s. It utilised some incredible stunts and good comical tricks, but i find it rather distasteful to make a comedy about the civil war. Harold lloyd made us laugh as much, charlie chaplin moved us more deeply, but no one had more courage than buster. A buster keaton creation that combines the classic form of his earlier manonaquest comedies with the visual heft of a civil war epic, the general isnt likely to be the favorite opus of the stars purist fans, but its the one with the trappings of ambition and historical poesy. T he pioneering genius of buster keaton s 1926 silent film the general now on rerelease looks even more startling than ever. Buster keaton, american film comedian and director, the great stone face, known for his deadpan expression and his imaginative and often elaborate visual comedy. When the civil war begins he is turned down for service because hes more valuable as an engineer. In september of 1925, one of buster keatons head gag writers, clyde bruckman, was doing some research on the civil war when he found a reprint of pittengers book which was retitled the great locomotive chase in 1893. The great classics josh jones is a writer and musician based in durham, nc. Of the three great american clowns of the silent era, charlie chaplin, buster keaton and harold lloyd, keaton has emerged, by and large, as the cinephiles favourite over chaplin, who was the greater star of his day and held the preeminent position in critics eyes for the first half of the last century. Buster keaton plays johnny gray, a southern railroad engineer who loves his train engine, the general, almost as much as he loves annabelle lee marion mack. The general, a thrilling comedy about the civil war, lifted buster keaton from the ashes of oblivion decades after his name and legacy were forgotten.
Preceding the show, these informational slides below prepared by the festivals artistic director anita monga, ran on a loop as people took their seats. From major comic situations to throwaway gags, the general always knows what to do. Nov 08, 2018 buster keaton s masterpiece and one of the greatest silent movies of all time was filmed in the cottage grove area in the summer of 1926. When union spies steal an engineers beloved locomotive, he pursues it. He made numerous short films as well as such feature films as three ages, sherlock, jr. Set during the american civil war, keaton plays the engineer of a steam locomotive stolen by union troops, who. Caricature shows silent film comedian, buster keaton, polishing a locomotive labeled general. None less movie authority than orson welles stated that buster keatons the general is the greatest comedy ever made, the greatest civil war. Bits of 1926 hollywood train wreck are still in row river the movie was the general, starring buster keaton.
As i watched the film, i was constatntly reminded of a pretalkie movie, keaton s the general from 40 years earler. And the general is his comedy masterpiece, and it truthfully gets funnier every time. The general, perhaps the greatest film ever made, and 20 other buster keaton classics free online. Rejected by the confederate army and taken for a coward by his. The general buster keaton 1926 silent film is having something of a renaissance at the moment. Though its doubtful whether the success of the artist will actually bleed through into the industry itself and create more silent film, the interest in it is currently the highest its been for decades. In a comical takeoff inspired loosely by a wellknown, true story of the civil war, johnnie gray buster keaton is a young locomotive engineer in the south at the outbreak of hostilities, devoted to his sweetheart annabelle marian mack and an engine nicknamed the general.
The general is one of the most revered comedies of the silent era. The general by clyde bruckman clyde bruckman, buster keaton. The cameraman was keaton s first film with metrogoldwynmayer. Buster keaton general software free download buster. Johnnie loves his train the general and annabelle lee. Consistently ranked among the greatest films ever made, buster keaton s the general is so brilliantly conceived and executed that it continues to inspire awe and laughter with every viewing. When the opening shots of the civil war are fired at fort sumter, johnny tries to enlist. The story was adapted from the memoir the great locomotive chase by william pittenger. The general is an epic of silent comedy, one of the most expensive films of its time, including an accurate historical recreation of a civil war episode, hundreds of extras, dangerous stunt sequences, and an actual locomotive falling from a burning bridge into a gorge far below. Joseph frank keaton october 4, 1895 february 1, 1966, known professionally as buster keaton, was an american actor, comedian, film director, producer. When he was three years old he got his right index finger caught in a clothes wringer and it was crushed and had to be amputated at the first knuckle. Buster keaton s the general, about a man and his engine, puts you in a world where the most comically inventive situation that could happen will happen. The selfdestruction of buster keaton factors which led. The film stars buster keaton who codirected it with clyde bruckman at the time of its initial release, the general.
Dec 05, 2017 when union spies steal an engineers beloved locomotive, he pursues it singlehandedly and straight through enemy lines. Jan 23, 2014 andrew pulver recommends buster keaton s 1926 silent actioncomedy film, the general. He seems like a modern visitor to the world of the silent clowns. According to a frequently repeated story, which may be apocryphal, keaton acquired the nickname buster at the age of about 18 months. The general 1926 starring buster keaton public domain movies. Buster keaton general software free download buster keaton. It featured scores by carl davis, robert israel and lee irwin. Jun 23, 2014 the general is a 1926 american silent comedy film released by united artists. The general 1926 buster keaton hd 720p and ad free youtube. Buster keaton love nest mp3 download at 320kbps high quality. How buster keaton filmed the general chaplinkeatonlloyd. The general, the story of a confederate railroad engineer and his beloved train, was one of keaton s most highly regarded films.
How buster keaton filmed the general chaplinkeaton. Of all the films about the american civil war, one towers above the rest, with a meticulous attention to historical detail, the grace of a poet and the compositional precision of the immortal matthew bradys photographs that documented the era. This is a delightful cd, giving what is perhaps the fullest presentation ever received for the music from one of the finest comedies ever made. Buster keaton movies app for android free download and. Download the general yts yify movies torrents download. Cut to the chase by marion meade highlighted the comedians background in an attempt to shed light on the performers demons. The general 1926 starring buster keaton internet archive.
With his athleticism, precision and comic timing, keaton. The cameraman is a 1928 american silent comedy directed by edward sedgwick and an uncredited buster keaton. The general is a civil war tale, the fictionalized account of an attempted hijacking of a confederate train called the general by union spies in 1862. Those of us who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s, when television was awash in classic movies milliondollar movie, shock theater. The wonderful gags of the founding father of visual comedy. Buster keaton johnnie gray marion mack annabelle lee glen.
The general is a 1926 american silent comedy film released by united artists. Union spies capture the general with annabelle on board. With his athleticism, precision and comic timing, keaton more or. The general by clyde bruckman clyde bruckman, buster. Find highquality buster keaton stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. When the opening shots of the civil war are fired at fort sumter, johnny tries to enlist and he is deemed too useful as an engineer to. Andrew pulver recommends buster keaton s 1926 silent actioncomedy film, the general. Sep 26, 2014 this entry was posted in buster keaton, the general and tagged buster keaton, cottage grove, how buster keaton filmed the general, keaton locations, keaton studio, san francisco silent film festival, silent comedians, silent comedies, silent movie locations, silent movies, the general, then and now. Inspired by the great locomotive chase, which happened in 1862, the film stars buster keaton who codirected it with clyde bruckman. Review of kinos 2008 ultimate 2disc edition of buster keaton s the general by jeremy mathews. It is filled with subtle and wonderful details that make it well worth devoting your full attention to watching.
Why buster keatons the general is the one film you should. Thats one reason his best movies have aged better than those of his rival, charlie chaplin. Search, discover and share your favorite buster keaton gifs. When union spies steal an engineers beloved locomotive, he pursues it singlehandedly and straight through enemy lines. This film finds hapless southern railroad engineer johnny gray buster keaton. Buster keaton s the general is not simply one of the greatest silent comedies ever made, it is one of the greatest films of any era. This film exhibited how love for objects, people, and a cause can make people transcend what was thought to be humanly impossible. Bits of 1926 hollywood train wreck are still in row river. In the words of avenue q, everybodys a little bit racist.
An actor friend named george pardey was present one day when the young keaton took a tumble down a long flight of stairs without injury. Inspired by the great locomotive chase, which happened in 1862, the film stars buster. Jan 19, 2020 buster keatons the general from 1926 was a silent film that hilariously displayed the idea of love verging on obsession. Silent film may or may not be your thing, but the work buster keaton demands to be seen, studied, and marveled at for its ingenuity. The general is buster keaton s most memorable work. Buster keatons the general from 1926 media essays essay. The general is a 1926 american silent comedy film released by united artists inspired by the great locomotive chase, which happened in 1862. But keaton had understatement, and keaton had a keen, almost prophetic sense in knowing that his jokes would still be funny 80 years later. The copies previously uploaded here were either incomplete or too blurry. When that world went a little mad, all buster keaton could do was stare and try to accept or outwit the madness. The picture stars buster keaton, marceline day, harold goodwin, and others. I had the honor of introducing buster keaton s 1926 masterpiece the general at the san francisco silent film festivals inaugural a day of silents festival held in 2014.
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