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Actors: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The General (1927) |
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In order to impress his girl (Marion Mack), a locomotive engineer (Buster Keaton) tries to enlist in the Confederate army. His request is refused. The army needs trains to transport troops to the front. The girl is unimpressed. Union soldiers infiltrate the Confederate lines and kidnap the girl. Our hero fires up his trusty locomotive, “The General”, and sets off in pursuit.
--John Reid, Resident Scholar
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Johnny Gray (Keaton), a train engineer in the Deep South, loves his locomotive, "The General," as much as his girl, Annabelle Lee (Mack). At the outbreak of the Civil War, he is first in line to enlist, but is turned away because he is more valuable to the South as an engineer. He is not told the reason, however, and Annabelle is sure he didn't even try out of cowardice. She says she will never speak to him until she sees him in uniform. Shortly thereafter, Union spies steal The General, and Annabelle happens to be aboard. Johnny must go deep into enemy territory in hot pursuit aboard a similar locomotive, The Texas, to reclaim both his loves. This 1927 classic, shot with much attention to authentic detail -- from locomotives to army uniforms -- is a little silly and tedious at times, but remains a great tale, with a majestic train wreck (which started a real forest fire during filming in Oregon!) at its climax.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The General (1927) |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 19th century
War impact on civilians/veterans
Yes
Kind of conflict:
- war (general)
- war, Civil
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- engineer
- blue collar
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) very skinny
- (man) average
Events of movie makes character more...
- aggressive
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
- blonde
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn wavey
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn curly
How much in movie?
- 40%
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- infantry soldier
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 20%
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Deep South
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting
- moving train
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- full of laughter
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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