The General
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.
Cast
Our Take
The General is widely considered Buster Keaton's masterpiece, and by many critics one of the greatest films ever made, full stop. Keaton performed his own stunts, including sequences involving a full sized moving train, with no special effects trickery, which is part of why the physical comedy still holds up as genuinely impressive rather than dated.
It's loosely based on a real Civil War era locomotive chase, and while it did not do well on its initial release, its reputation has only grown over the decades. Like many silent films from this era, it fell into the public domain after its copyright was not renewed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The General really public domain?+
Yes, its copyright was not renewed after the required term, placing it in the public domain, which is why it can be freely downloaded and watched today.
Did Buster Keaton really do his own stunts?+
Yes, including dangerous sequences involving a full sized train, without stunt doubles or the special effects techniques available to filmmakers today.
Is The General based on a true story?+
It's loosely inspired by a real Civil War era train chase known as the Great Locomotive Chase, though the film takes significant creative liberties with the actual events.
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