Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton

USA | 1927 | 75mins | 35mm | Black & White

Generally regarded as one of the greatest of all silent comedies, The General is an imaginative masterpiece of deadpan Buster Keaton comedy, featuring what is unquestionably the greatest chase scene ever filmed.

The storyline is set during the American civil war and revolves around a single, daring yet careless Confederate train engineer who is in tenacious pursuit of his deeply-loved locomotive ‘The General’, as well as the woman he loves. His stoic, unflappable responses to endless calamities, and his inventive and enterprising use of machines and objects (ranging from water tanks to cowcatchers) provide much of the comedy.

At once a full-scale epic and wonderful comedy, Keaton confirms his place as the absolute top comedian of the silent era. The General is physical comedy refined to elegant perfection and is considered to be the last great comedy of the silent era.

Gary Baus (saxophone) and Aisling Smith (piano) will be accompanying The General with their original score for the film.

Winner FIPRESCI International Critics Prize – Venice International Film Festival, 2008