KEATON B-GENERAL/PLAYHOUSE/COPS (DVD) DVD

The General
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). 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 be a soldier. All Johnny knows is that he's been rejected, and Annabelle, thinking him a coward, turns her back on him. When Northern spies steal the General (and, unwittingly, Annabelle), the story switches from drama and romance to adventure mixed with Keaton's trademark deadpan humor as he uses every means possible to catch up to the General, thwart the Yankees, and rescue his darling Annabelle -- for starters. As always, Keaton performs his own stunts, combining his prodigious dexterity, impeccable comic timing, and expressive body language to convey more emotion than the stars of any of the talkies that were soon to dominate cinema. ~ Emru Townsend, All Movie Guide

Cast Buster Keaton as Johnnie Gray Marion Mack as Annabelle Lee Glen Cavender as Capt. Anderson Jim Farley as Gen, Thatcher Fred Vroom as Southern General Richard Allen as His Son Joe Keaton as Union General Mike Donlin as Union General Tom Nawn as Union General

Crew Clyde Bruckman - Director Buster Keaton - Director J. Sherman Kell - Editor Buster Keaton - Editor Fred C. Ryle - Makeup Devereaux Jennings - Cinematographer Bert Haines - Cinematographer Joseph M. Schenck - Producer Al Boasberg - Screenwriter Charles Smith - Screenwriter Buster Keaton - Screenwriter Clyde Bruckman - Screenwriter Fred Gabourie - Technical Director Harry Barnes - Additional Editing William Pittinger - Book Author

The General
Buster Keaton perfectly balanced romance, action and comedy in his most admired film and personal favorite, a Civil War story about an engineer and his eponymous locomotive. Based on a true incident involving a hijacked Confederate train, Keaton strove to make the film as authentic as possible, shooting on location in Oregon to get the proper track gauge and sinking an actual locomotive engine at the film's climax (in reportedly the most expensive single take for a silent film). The lighting and composition recall Matthew Brady's Civil War photographs, while tracking shots following Keaton's locomotive adventures further displayed his technical expertise. The train became Keaton's supreme comic prop in the two intricately devised, and narratively mirrored, chase sequences involving his efforts to elude Union pursuers; the humorous business accompanying Keaton's retrieval of the General, and girlfriend, sent up romantic fantasies and war heroics. The effort seemed to be for naught when The General received negative reviews in 1927 and failed to make a profit. The General's reputation, along with Keaton's, however, was resuscitated in the 1950s; The General became Keaton's masterpiece, joining Charles Chaplin's The Gold Rush (1925) as one of the greatest silent comedies ever made. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
 

Library of Congress, U.S. National Film Registry (winner) Telluride Film Festival, Film Presented (nominated) Toronto International Film Festival, Film Presented (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: Subtitle Options: Sound Processing: Additional Features: none specified MPAA Rating: DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: Content Length: 116 min Part of Series: The Art of Buster Keaton   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 0. Chapter Selections 1. "The General" Opening Titles [2:31] 2. A Courtship [3:03] 3. First in Line [7:49] 4. Trouble at Big Shanty [2:09] 5. Johnnie to the Rescue [7:10] 6. Staying on Track [5:20] 7. Into Enemy Territory [3:47] 8. Lost, Cold and Hungry [4:33] 9. Escape in the Night [4:08] 10. Taking the Train [4:41] 11. In Pursuit [5:01] 12. Slowing Them Down [5:06] 13. Drastic Measures [2:02] 14. The Rock River Bridge [2:53] 15. The Yanks Are Coming! [3:12] 16. Battle at Rock River [4:04] 17. Take Aim [2:17] 18. Heroes of the Day [4:08] 19. Alone at Last [1:00] 20. "The Playhouse" Opening Titles [2:46] 21. The Keaton Minstrels [3:47] 22. Backstage Antics [3:44] 23. Monkey Business [4:47] 24. Zooave Guards [3:24] 25. That's Entertainment! [4:43] 26. "Cops" Opening Titles [1:58] 27. A Good Businessman [4:07] 28. Transportation Trouble [3:54] 29. Policemen on Parade [3:29] 30. Massive Manhunt [4:45]