The General (1926) starring Buster Keaton, Marion Mack
Johnnie loves his train (“The General”) and Annabelle Lee. When the Civil War begins he is turned down for service because he’s more valuable as an engineer. But, Annabelle thinks it’s because he’s a coward. Union spies capture The General with Annabelle on board. So, Johnny must rescue them both.
Review
Buster Keaton’s The General is one of the best comedies ever made. It’s set during the Civil War, telling the story of a young man in the Confederate South. Buster actually based The General on a true story — but don’t take it for history.
Setting the stage
from enlisting in the Confederate army.
Train engineer Johnnie Gray (Buster Keaton) is in Marietta, Georgia to see one of the two loves of his life. One is his fiancée Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), the other his locomotive, The General. Then the American Civil War breaks out. Johnnie hurries to be first in line to enlist in the Confederate Army… But he’s rejected because he is too valuable in his present job. However, he’s not told why he’s been rejected.
Dejected on being rejected, he runs into Annabelle’s father and brother. They beckon to him to join them in line. But since he’s already been rejected, he simply he walks away. This gives them the false impression that Johnnie does not want to enlist. Believing him a coward, Annabelle tells Johnnie that she will not speak to him again until he is in uniform.
One Year Later
A year passes, and Annabelle’s father has been wounded. She travels north on the railroad to see him, with The General pulling the train. When it makes a stop, the passengers get off for a quick meal. As previously planned, Union spies led by Captain Anderson use the opportunity to steal the train. Anderson’s goal is to burn all the railroad bridges he passes, preventing reinforcement and resupply of the Confederate army. Annabelle becomes an inadvertent prisoner of the Northern raiders.
Pursuit
Johnnie gives chase, first on foot, then by handcar, before reaching the station. He alerts the army detachment there. They board another train to give chase, with Johnnie manning the locomotive. But the flatcars aren’t hooked up to the engine and the troops are left behind. By the time Johnnie realizes he’s alone, its too late to turn back.
off the track
The Union agents try to shake their pursuer, including disconnecting their trailing car and dropping railroad ties on the tracks. As the duel continues northward, the Confederate Army is ordered to retreat and the Northern army advances. Johnnie finally notices he is surrounded, and runs into the forest to hide.
Behind Northern Lines
At nightfall, Johnnie stumbles upon the Northern encampment. Hungry, he climbs through a window to steal some food, but hides beneath the table when some officers enter.
Rescuing Annabelle
surrounded by Union soldiers
He overhears their plan for a surprise attack and that the Rock River Bridge is essential for their supply trains. He then sees Annabelle brought in; she is taken to a room under guard while they decide what to do with her. Johnnie manages to knock out both guards and free Annabelle and they escape into the rainy woods.
Stealing The General back
The next day, Johnnie and Annabelle find themselves near a railway station. Seeing The General, Johnnie devises a plan to warn the South. Sneaking Annabelle onto a boxcar, Johnnie steals his engine back. Two Union trains, set out after the pair, while the Union attack is launched. In a reversal of the first chase, Johnnie now has to fend off his pursuers. Finally, he starts a fire behind The General in the center of the Rock River Bridge to cut off the Union’s supply line.
Warning the Confederacy
of the General, trying to outrun the Union soldiers
Reaching friendly lines, Johnnie warns the Confederate commander of the impending attack. Meanwhile, Annabelle is reunited with her father. The pursuing Union train drives onto the burning bridge, which collapses. When Union soldiers try to ford the river, Confederate fire drives them back.
trying to cross the burning bridge
Happily Ever After
Afterward, Johnnie returns to his locomotive to find the Union officer whom he had knocked out in escaping earlier has now regained consciousness. He takes the officer prisoner and is spotted by the general leaving the locomotive with him. As a reward for his bravery, he is finally commissioned a lieutenant, and even given the captured officer’s sword.
commission, with Annabelle looking on
Returning to The General with Annabelle, he tries to kiss his girl but has to return the salutes of troops walking past. Johnnie finally uses his left hand to embrace Annabelle while using his right to blindly salute the passing soldiers while the screen fades.
and The General
Editorial review of The General courtesy of Amazon.com
Consistently ranked among the greatest films ever made, Buster Keaton s THE GENERAL is so brilliantly conceived and executed that it continues to inspire awe and laughter with every viewing. This Kino Ultimate 2 Disc Edition was mastered in HD from a 35mm archive print struck from the original camera negative. Rejected by the Confederate army as unfit, and taken for a coward by his beloved Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), young Johnny Gray (Keaton) is given a chance to redeem himself when Yankee spies steal his cherished locomotive.
Johnny wages a one-man war against hijackers, an errant cannon and the unpredictable hand of fate while roaring along the iron rails. Every shot has the authenticity and the unassuming correct composition of a Mathew Brady Civil War photograph, wrote film historian David Robinson, No one not even Griffith or Huston and certainly not Fleming (Gone With the Wind) caught the visual aspect of the Civil War as Keaton did.