The General (1926)

Directors:

Clyde Bruckman
Buster Keaton

Writers:

Buster Keaton (written by) and
Clyde Bruckman (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

5 February 1927 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | War | Action

Tagline:

Love, Locomotives and Laughs

Plot:

When Union spies steal an engineer's beloved locomotive, he pursues it single handedly and straight through enemy lines.

Plot Keywords:

General | Confederate | Train | Spy | Escape

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Marion Mack	...	Annabelle Lee
Glen Cavender	...	Captain Anderson
Jim Farley	...	General Thatcher
Frederick Vroom	...	A Southern General
Charles Henry Smith	...	Annabelle's Father (as Charles Smith)
Frank Barnes	...	Annabelle's Brother
Joe Keaton	...	Union General
Mike Donlin	...	Union General
Tom Nawn	...	Union General
Buster Keaton	...	Johnny Gray
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Henry Baird	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Joe Bricher	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Jimmy Bryant	...	Raider (uncredited)
Sergeant Bukowski	...	Officer (uncredited)
Capt. C.C. Cruson	...	Officer (uncredited)
Jack Dempster	...	Raider (uncredited)
Keith Fennell	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Budd Fine	...	Raider (uncredited)
Eddie Foster	...	Union Railroad Fireman (uncredited)
Ronald Gilstrap	...	Union Soldier (uncredited)
Frank Hagney	...	Confederate Recruiter (uncredited)
Ray Hanford	...	Raider (uncredited)
Jackie Hanlon	...	Boy Who Follows Johnny (uncredited)
Al Hanson	...	Raider (uncredited)
Anthony Harvey	...	Raider (uncredited)
Edward Hearn	...	Union Officer (uncredited)
Boris Karloff	...	Union General (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Hilliard Karr	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Elgin Lessley	...	Union General Who Gives Command to Cross Bridge (uncredited)
Louis Lewyn	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Jackie Lowe	...	Boy Who Follows Johnny (uncredited)
Billy Lynn	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Ross McCutcheon	...	Raider (uncredited)
Tom Moran	...	Raider (uncredited)
Charles Phillips	...	Raider (uncredited)
Red Rial	...	Raider (uncredited)
Al St. John	...	Officer on Horseback (uncredited)
Harold Terry	...	Union Soldier (uncredited)
Ray Thomas	...	Raider (uncredited)
Red Thompson	...	Raider (uncredited)
James Walsh	...	Soldier (uncredited)
John Wilson	...	Union Soldier (uncredited)
Jean Woodward	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Directed by
Clyde Bruckman
Buster Keaton

Writing credits
Buster Keaton		(written by) and
Clyde Bruckman		(written by)
Al Boasberg		(adaptation) and
Charles Henry Smith		(adaptation) (as Charles Smith)
William Pittenger		book "Daring and Suffering: a History of the Great Railroad Adventure" (uncredited)
William Pittenger		memoir "The Great Locomotive Chase" (uncredited)
Paul Girard Smith		writer (uncredited)

Produced by
David H. Shepard	....	video producer (2003 alternate version) (as David Shepard)
Buster Keaton	....	producer (uncredited)
Joseph M. Schenck	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Joseph M. Schenck	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
The Alloy Orchestra		(2003 alternate version)
Carl Davis		(1987)
Joe Hisaishi
Robert Israel		(1995 alternate version) (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Bert Haines		(photographed by)
Devereaux Jennings		(photographed by) (as Dev Jennings)

Film Editing by
Buster Keaton		(uncredited)
Sherman Kell		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Fred Gabourie		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Harry Roselotte		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Bennie Hubbel	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
J.K. Pitcarin	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Fred C. Ryle	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Lou Anger	....	production supervisor (uncredited)
Fred Gabourie	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harry Barnes	....	first assistant director (uncredited)
Glen Cavender	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Edward Hearn	....	assistant director: Oregon (uncredited)

Art Department
Frank Barnes	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
Jack Coyle	....	carpenter (uncredited)
William Ernshaw	....	bridge timber crew (uncredited)
Al Gilmour	....	production buyer (uncredited)
Mike Graves	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Bert Jackson	....	property master (uncredited)
H.L. Jennings	....	bridge and dam construction (uncredited)
George E. Potter	....	bridge timber contractor (uncredited)
Billy Wood	....	chief draughtsman (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jack Little	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Buster Keaton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Earl Mohan	....	stunt double: Tom Moran (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Denver Harmon	....	lighting effects
Frank Barnes	....	grip (uncredited)
Dal Clawson	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Elmer Ellsworth	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Denver Harmon	....	chief lighting technician (uncredited)
Byron Houck	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Byron Houck	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Ed Levy	....	assistant chief lighting technician (uncredited)
William Piltz	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Melbourne Spurr	....	publicity photographer (uncredited)
Harry J. Wild	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bennie Hubbel	....	assistant wardrobe (uncredited)
J.K. Pitcarin	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Fred C. Ryle	....	assistant wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Harry Barnes	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Sherman Kell	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Robert Israel	....	music arranger: 1995 alternate version
Robert Israel	....	music director: 1995 alternate version
William P. Perry	....	composer: new piano score
James C. Bradford	....	music compiler (uncredited)
Nic Raine	....	orchestrator: Carl Davis (uncredited)

Other crew
Fred Gabourie	....	technical director
Joseph M. Schenck	....	presenter
Lou Anger	....	production accountant: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Dr. Axley	....	first aid (uncredited)
Harry Brand	....	production coordinator (uncredited)
Harry Brand	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Betty Cavender	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Glen Cavender	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
John W. Considine Jr.	....	assistant production coordinator (uncredited)
Jack Dempster	....	engineer (uncredited)
Christine Francis	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Dr. Frost	....	first aid (uncredited)
Wesley G. Gilmour	....	production accountant: Oregon (uncredited)
L.L. Graham	....	production assistant: Oregon (uncredited)
Bob Holmes	....	production assistant: Oregon (uncredited)
Bert Jackson	....	location manager (uncredited)
Ralph Land	....	chef (uncredited)
Fred A. Lowry	....	brakeman (uncredited)
George E. Potter	....	caterer (uncredited)
Viola Riddle	....	cook: Mr. Keaton (uncredited)
Willie Riddle	....	assistant: Mr. Keaton (uncredited)
Dee Wright	....	wrangler (uncredited)
Fred Wright	....	chief mechanic (uncredited)
Fred Wright	....	fire fighter (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Buster Keaton Productions
• Joseph M. Schenck Productions (A United Artists Production)

Distributors

• United Artists (1927) (USA) (theatrical)
• Radio Films S.A.E. S.A. (1962) (Spain) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Cineteca S.A. (1972) (Spain) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Andrés Vicente Gómez Montero (1982) (Spain) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Image Entertainment (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Marathon Music & Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Kino Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Divisa Home Video (2003) (Spain) (DVD)
• 1More Film (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Delta Expedition (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Stadtkino Verleih (2005) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Raymond Rohauer (1955) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Aikman Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Catcom Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Eureka Entertainment (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Kino Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• LS Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Madacy Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2006) (New Zealand) (DVD)
• Navarre Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Passport International Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Rohauer Collection (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Thames Video Collection (1987) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Anderson & Middleton  catering (uncredited)
• Arcade Theater  screening facilities (uncredited)
• Cameo Music Service Corp.  music publishing (uncredited)
• Film Preservation Associates  special contents copyrighted by (1995 alternate version)
• Screen Time Images  film restoration (uncredited)
• Western Costume Company  costumes (uncredited)
• Western Costume Company  wardrobe (uncredited)

Runtime:

Australia:107 min | Spain:80 min (1982 version) | Spain:83 min (1962 version) | USA:75 min (2003 alternate version)

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White (Sepiatone)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Portugal:M/6 (DVD rating) | UK:U | South Korea:All (2002) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Australia:G | Norway:7 (original rating) | Norway:A (re-rating) (2004) | Portugal:17 (director's cut) | Sweden:Btl | USA:Unrated | West Germany:6 | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Cottage Grove, Oregon, USA

Company:

Buster Keaton Productions

Trivia:

In the scenes with the opposing armies marching, Keaton had the extras (which included Oregon National Guard troops) wear the uniforms of the Confederacy and march in one direction past the camera, then he had them change uniforms to the Union blue and had them march past the camera in the other direction.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Keaton is chasing the General in the Texas, during most of the chase the engine has a sliding hatch in the cab roof, but just before Keaton abandons the Texas, the roof changes to a smooth roof without a hatch, and slightly different shape, obviously meaning he changed engines.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Annabelle's brother: Fort Sumter has been fired upon.
Mr. Lee: Then the war is here.
Annabelle's brother: Yes, dad, and I'm going to be one of the first to enlist.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 2 ou 3 choses que je sais d'elle (1967)

The only silent to ever make me really laugh out loud.

Buster Keaton is simply awesome, only he could pull off a film like this. Everything about it was superb, while his other films made me laugh, this is the only silent to make me laugh so hard my sides hurt. And it never gets tiresome, no matter how many times you watch it, making it a great cinema experience.