Film Review 1 - The General

            The General, a 1926 silent film directed by Clyde Bruckman and Buster Keaton, revolves around a train engineer who insists on enlisting during the civil war to satisfy his fiancée and her family. The film stars co-director Buster Keaton in an epic adventure, involving great stunt work from Keaton himself and awesome set pieces.

In the film, Buster plays Johnny, a train engineer who returns home to visit his fiancée. Upon arrival in his other love, his train ‘The General’, war erupts in town, forcing Johnny to enlist to satisfy his worried and honorable Fiancée. However, persistent as he is, he won’t be enlisted, disappointing his love and her father. This plot sets the basis for the film, acting as a nice background for the true stars of the show, the comedy, the stunt work, and Buster Keaton himself.

Buster does a fantastic job portraying Johnny, the brave but clumsy train engineer. Keaton’s stunt work during the latter half of the film is top notch, pulling off being funny as well as impressive. He is able to keep the audience entertained for the entire film, with his great physical gags as well as his distinct expressions and acting style. The supporting cast all do their jobs well, being neither impressive nor bland. Johnny’s fiancée however does do a good job adding to the comedy as well as acting as a major part of the plot, useful in her ability to keep things from being repetitive. The set pieces and stunts in the film cannot be understated, with Buster and his train keeping audiences on the edge of their seats for the majority of the film, thanks to the large budget and Buster’s bravery as an actor. The climax of the film is truly a spectacle as well, without trying to give it away I’ll just say that it again, involves a train.

 In closing, I can strongly say I enjoyed the film. It is very well done in its mixture of Comedy and Adventure elements, as well as its strong cast, score and direction. I never felt bored during the film, nor did I ever feel like it came off as trying too hard; it was just right.