Buster Keaton, a master contemporary with Chaplin, Reivew on The General

The scene of the film is huge and magnificent, and the layout is exquisite and reasonable. The film successfully combines factors such as love, war, adventure, and comedy. The most important thing is that it satirizes the narrow view of heroes at the time. It can be said that this is Buster Keaton’s most influential film. The film once competed for the first Oscars. Unfortunately, Hollywood was obsessed with the chase of "sound movies", so no one paid attention to this. The "silent" film, although "General" has zero Oscar records, it is generally believed that his success far exceeds that of the award-winning film "Wings" (Wings 1927).
The film was shot in 1927, but the wonderful design of the scene surpassed the limit of time. In particular, the shot of the train going down the mountain in the film only took 6 weeks of shooting time. It can be said to be an improvisation. What is even more amazing is the complicated juggling scenes. On the railroad tracks, the two trains used various techniques to encircle, chase, and intercept. There are roadblocks on the railroad tracks and desperate pursuit. Although the film does not have the wonderful rendering of modern blockbusters, it is possible that a straw or puddle may cause the consequences of a car rollover. It is this simple and realistic plot design that makes the audience more convinced, psychologically and the protagonist to go through the thrilling test of life and death.
Transfer from Baidu

View more about The General reviews

The General pictures