It seems to me the modern movie fan is afraid of silent films – and foreign films, and many films from the pre-Star Wars era. This is, of course, their prerogative. However, they must know that in their exclusion of a century’s worth of filmmaking, these moviegoers are willfully painting themselves into a cultural corner. Put simply, the modern movie fan is missing out on the best art the medium has to offer. There is nothing wrong with watching and enjoying contemporary cinema, but I find it difficult to understand why one would opt to deprive themselves of so much enrichment and history on a voluntary basis.
Which brings me to The General. Yes, it is a silent film made nearly 100 years ago, but it would be a mistake to equate silence or age with boredom. The General is a rapid-fire action-adventure movie whose thrills rival anything released since. Set primarily on real, moving trains and starring one of the greatest comedic actors of all time, The General is non-stop gold from start to finish. The gags, the stunts, and the story are all brilliant, with Keaton’s Great Stone-Faced determination leading the charge. It’s a sight to be seen, and you should make it a point to do so (you can probably find a copy through your local library – that’s what I did).
Keaton stars as Johnnie Gray, a train engineer who loves his locomotive, The General, and his sweetheart, Annabelle Lee. When the Civil War breaks out and Johnnie is denied the chance to fight, his gal (Marion Mack) assumes he’s a coward and gives him the old heave-ho. The truth is, the draft board thought he’d be more useful to the cause in his current capacity, they just forgot to tell him. After Union spies steal his beloved General with the intent to sabotage southern railroad lines, he gives chase in all manner of modes, including by foot, bicycle, and even another train. What follows is one of the most thrilling chases the motion picture industry has ever captured.
I won’t defend Keaton’s decision to make the Confederates the heroes of the story, but The General is based on true events and at the time their “Lost Cause” was seen by many as a valiant effort. Back then, audiences tended to see the losing side more sympathetically, which seems strange when put under the modern microscope. It should be noted that The General doesn’t take a revisionist stance like Birth of a Nation or Gone with the Wind. It’s a comedy first and foremost – and that’s where it should stand. There are no depictions of happy slaves or gentle plantation owners and the Ku Klux Klan does not save the day. It’s Keaton, his train and his darling, and his desperate attempt to rescue both – and not much more. However, no matter how much I enjoyed the film despite Keaton’s choice of beaux idéals, the discussion of Hollywood’s glamorization of the Lost Cause – in any era – is an important one that should not be quieted. Thankfully, the wonderful story and its outrageous telling outweigh any politics contemporary thinking may attach to it.
Interestingly, the production was denied access to both the town of Marietta, GA where the story originated and the real General train, housed in a museum in Chattanooga, TN. The townspeople and curators didn’t want anything to do with a comedy about the Civil War.
With breathtaking scenic vistas (Oregon stands in for Georgia) and deliberate destruction, TheGeneral is a beautiful picture. Its cameras catch the landscapes in startling detail (it was 1926, remember), giving it a refinement like a haunting Civil War photograph. Technically speaking, The General is a marvel of neat tricks and risky behavior. Misfiring cannons, exceptionally dangerous stunt work, and ingenious camera operations all add up to one hell of a ride. Keaton was a master of timing and pacing and his results speak for themselves. He delivers some of the most daring and clever stunts ever performed and does so with a deadpan expression that borders lunacy if you catch it just right. And let’s not forget the climax. In the most expensive shot in silent film history, Keaton and his crew set fire to a train bridge over an expansive river gorge. They then blew up the bridge as a train crossed it and we watch as it crashes below. The scene captured is a remarkable spectacle of property damage and catharsis. There were no special effects used. Just a man, a train, and a lot of wild ideas.
James is a writer, record collector, wrestling nerd, and tabletop gamer living with his family in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the North Carolina Film Critics Association, and contributes to The Daily Orca, Razorcake Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Asheville Movies.