Overview
A thrilling adventure unfolds as a man races against time to save his beloved and his prized locomotive.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- deadpan
- kinetic
- playful
- classic movie night
- silent film screening
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a landmark silent comedy, praising its extraordinary train action, physical ingenuity, and Keaton's performance despite some reservations about its narrative development.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Johnnie's pursuit and defense of The General depend on elaborate engine maneuvers, bridge sequences, cannon fire, and physical gags.
Johnnie treats The General as one of his two great loves and repeatedly risks himself to recover it.
Johnnie is rejected for military service as an engineer, and Annabelle initially interprets that rejection as proof that he lacks courage.
Union espionage, military attacks, and enemy lines provide the stakes for Keaton's restrained physical comedy.
Films like The General, and why
Sherlock Jr.
Silent-era physical comedy built around ingenious stunts and a resourceful underdog.
Steamboat Bill, Jr.
Buster Keaton comedy combining romance, action, and meticulously staged mechanical spectacle.
Safety Last!
Classic silent comedy featuring escalating pursuit, elaborate stunts, and deadpan heroism.
Movie Details
- Directors
- Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton
- Release Date
- 1926-12-25
- Runtime
- 79 min
- Rating
- 7.9 / 10 (1468)
Cast
- Buster Keaton
- Marion Mack
- Glen Cavender
- Jim Farley
- Frederick Vroom
- Frank Barnes
- Charles Henry Smith
- Joe Keaton
- Mike Donlin
- Tom Nawn
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus, FlixFling, Cohen Media Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Kino Film Collection, Artiflix
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The General about?
- A devoted locomotive engineer turns a Civil War train theft into a breathtaking deadpan rescue mission.
- What is The General like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The General as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The General violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The General as mild.
- What did critics think of The General?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a landmark silent comedy, praising its extraordinary train action, physical ingenuity, and Keaton's performance despite some reservations about its narrative development.
- Which films are like The General?
- Films with a similar feel include Sherlock Jr., Steamboat Bill, Jr., and Safety Last!.
- How long is The General?
- The General runs 79 minutes.
- Where can I watch The General?
- In United States, The General streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus, FlixFling, Cohen Media Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Kino Film Collection, Artiflix.
