Movie Cosmos - The General

Description:

During America’s Civil War, Union spies steal engineer Johnny Gray's beloved locomotive, 'The General'—with Johnnie's lady love aboard an attached boxcar—and he single-handedly must do all in his power to both get The General back and to rescue Annabelle.

Top Cast >

Buster Keaton

As Johnnie Gray

Marion Mack

As Annabelle Lee

Glen Cavender

As Captain Anderson

Jim Farley

As General Thatcher

Frederick Vroom

As A Southern General

Frank Barnes

As Annabelle's Brother

Charles Henry Smith

As Annabelle's Father

Joe Keaton

As Union General

Mike Donlin

As Union General

Tom Nawn

As Union General

Henry Baird

As Soldier (uncredited)

Joe Bricher

As Soldier (uncredited)

Jimmy Bryant

As Raider (uncredited)

Sergeant Bukowski

As Officer (uncredited)

C.C. Cruson

As Officer (uncredited)

Jack Dempster

As Raider (uncredited)

Keith Fennell

As Soldier (uncredited)

Budd Fine

As Raider (uncredited)

Eddie Foster

As Union Railroad Fireman (uncredited)

Ronald Gilstrap

As Union Soldier (uncredited)

Frank Hagney

As Confederate Recruiter (uncredited)

Ray Hanford

As Raider (uncredited)

Jack Hanlon

As Bit Part (uncredited)

Al Hanson

As Raider (uncredited)

Anthony Harvey

As Raider (uncredited)

Edward Hearn

As Union Officer (uncredited)

Hilliard Karr

As Soldier (uncredited)

Elgin Lessley

As Union General Who Gives Command to Cross Bridge (uncredited)

Louis Lewyn

As Soldier (uncredited)

Jackie Lowe

As Boy Who Follows Johnny (uncredited)

Billy Lynn

As Soldier (uncredited)

Ross McCutcheon

As Raider (uncredited)

Tom Moran

As Raider (uncredited)

Charles Phillips

As Raider (uncredited)

Red Rial

As Raider (uncredited)

Al St. John

As Officer on Horseback (uncredited)

Harold Terry

As Union Soldier (uncredited)

Ray Thomas

As Raider (uncredited)

Red Thompson

As Raider (uncredited)

James Walsh

As Soldier (uncredited)

Kenneth Hawley Ward

As Soldier (uncredited)

John Wilson

As Union Soldier (uncredited)

Jean Woodward

As (uncredited)

Top Crew >

Buster Keaton

Producer, Screenplay, Director, Editor, Stunts

Clyde Bruckman

Director, Screenplay

Devereaux Jennings

Director of Photography

Joseph M. Schenck

Producer

Bert Haines

Director of Photography

Harry Roselotte

Set Decoration

Sherman Kell

Editor

Fred Gabourie

Art Direction, Production Manager

Byron Houck

Camera Operator

Frank Barnes

Grip, Construction Foreman

Fred Carlton Ryle

Makeup Artist

Dal Clawson

Still Photographer

Earl Mohan

Stunts

Harry J. Wild

First Assistant Camera

Edward Hearn

Assistant Director

Glen Cavender

Second Unit

Elmer Ellsworth

Camera Operator

Harry Brand

Production Coordinator

Al Boasberg

Adaptation

William Pittenger

Book

Charles Henry Smith

Adaptation

Reviews:

Andres Gomez (10/10)

Just amazing.

Really, really impressive scenes with the railway engines and a physically incredible Keaton.

2016-02-26

CinemaSerf (8/10)

There's quite a lot going on here - it is certainly comedic, but there is also plenty of action and even some romance in this American Civil War story. Keaton ("Johnnie") has been deemed more important as a railroad engineer so was rejected as a soldier - but this causes his girlfriend "Annabelle" and her family to think he is yella'! When the Yankees concoct a plan to steal his engine "The General" whilst she is travelling on it; he must use all his wits and guile to get them both back and is soon caught being enemy lines where he learns of their dastardly plan to attack. Can he get back with his gal and tell his confederates of the Unionist plans? There is something about the quality of the images - they are pretty much prefect; even when the train in rattling along a-pace. There are loads of skirmishes supporting a properly constructed, and exciting, story with plenty of drama and sometimes some quite scary bits too, all jammed into just over an hour. The version I saw had been re-scored by Carl Davis and that added immeasurably to the pace and tension - and the romance - and helped create a superb piece of cinema.

2022-06-06

James (7/10)

This is Keaton’s masterpiece, a flawed one, yes. It’s not funny enough and the story could be developed more. But it is significant, flaws and all. The closest a film will ever get to flawed perfection.

2023-10-28