If you ask anyone who has heard of Buster Keaton to name one
of his films then chances are they’ll say The
General. By far his most famous film, Keaton stars as railroad engineer
Johnnie Gray on the eve of the American Civil War. Johnnie has two loves in his
life; his girl Annabelle (Marion Mack) and his engine, The General. When war is
declared Johnnie rushes off to enlist in the Confederate Army only to be turned
away as he is too important on the railroad. Annabelle doesn’t believe him
though and says she doesn’t want to see him until he’s in uniform. Meanwhile a
Northern spy plots to steal a Southern train in order to cut communications
before a big offensive. With Annabelle onboard, Johnnie has to save his two
loves at once.
It is true that The General is Keaton’s most famous work and
is generally considered to be his best. For me though this is not the case.
While I admire much of it and enjoyed it, the film is more of a drama-comedy
than his earlier comedy-dramas and it is these that I prefer.
