The most expensive "General" in the silent film era is also one of the most classic comedies.

Brendon 2021-12-09 08:01:20

If it weren't for the black-and-white images and silent dialogue, it would be hard to believe that this is a 1927 movie. The only 70 minutes of viewing experience is left unfinished. As a master who stood at the top of comedy movies at the same time as Chaplin, he has completely different performance characteristics from most comedians who make audience laugh by making faces. The famous critic Karen Jain wrote: “In the hysteria of the comedy, he is a static, skinny, and always troubled center.” Buster Keaton was born in a song and dance acrobatics. The family who made a living, the painful experience of being thrown around on the stage since childhood became the basis of his wonderful action stunts in the movies. "The General" may not be his best work, but it is definitely one of his most classic works. If you have not heard of him, then watching this excellent movie will surely make you fall in love with this movie history. The most elegant comedy master on the planet. The movie tells the story of an American Southern train driver who has only two loves in his life-his locomotive and the beautiful Annabella Lee, and the story revolves around these two loves. Keaton always maintains enough elegance and calmness in his films. Both the content of his movie and his unique performance style will make you suspect that he seems to be a visitor from the future. At the beginning of the movie, Johnny Gray, played by Keaton, went to his sweetheart's house in beautiful clothes. On the way, he did not find the two children following behind and Annabella Lee herself. At the door, he tidied up and knocked on the door, and suddenly found that his sweetheart was behind. If it is another comedian at this time, he will express his surprise in a very exaggerated way, but he only shows a little bit of happiness, not even an obvious smile, this may be what he is called "cold face" Let’s show the concrete expression of "Laughing Craftsman". His movies are never shot for the purpose of creating jokes, he is just doing what he thinks should be done seriously, and the reason why his movies are so funny is that he just happens to be in trouble constantly. The main part of "General" is during the American Civil War. The train driver Johnny Gray regained the train after the enemy stole his train and escaped to his hometown after hearing important information and helped himself defeat the enemy to win The story of love. The film’s reconstruction of historical scenes during the Civil War, dangerous stunts, a large number of extras, and footage of a real train falling from a burning bridge made it the most expensive movie of the time. The most exciting part of the movie is the chase scene between two opposite trains on the same track. The scene is limited. And the repetitiveness of the content did not affect Keaton's performance at all. He used one after another with clever comedy sections to make the audience feel that the film was humorous and boring. These classic sections that have been imitated by countless movies will not feel outdated even if they are recollected 100 years later, and those dangerous and wonderful stunts. It is even more admirable. Due to technical limitations at the time, Keaton needed to perform all dangerous performances himself without using a stand-in. This performance style, Jackie Chan, can be said to be carried forward. One such shot was Johnny Gray sitting in the front of the train in order to clean up the wooden slats thrown by the EFF on the track. He used the wooden slats in his hand to hit another wooden slat with unparalleled precision. You must know that it is very dangerous when shooting. It is very possible that the wood will hit you in the face. But this kind of dangerous performance scenes can be seen everywhere in Keaton's films, such as a house falling towards him, and he just passed the window and it was all right, grabbing a high-altitude clock with his bare hands, and so on. Movies are so impressive that they have become classic shots everywhere. The scene of sitting in a daze on the train after being misunderstood by my sweetheart is still the most melancholy scene I feel. The scene of seeing my sweetheart through a cigarette-burned hole under the enemy’s table is also unforgettable. In the end, I was forced to salute and choose between the soldiers. The scene of the sweetheart saluting while kissing also makes people laugh...The grand war scene, the intricate layout, the dangerous stunts, and the ruthless irony of the narrow heroic view make "The General" more than just one An expensive film, but a comedy classic that will not go by over time. When it comes to silent films, especially comedies, many people may have seen Chaplin's works. Regarding Chaplin, Keaton said: "Chaplin’s tramp is a idler, but he has a logic of idler. He is cute, but he steals things whenever he gets the chance. And this little guy of mine is a Honest laborer.” If you can watch a 1927 work that perfectly blends factors such as love, action, war, adventure, and comedy through the introduction, I believe it is also an unusual movie-watching experience. And this unique experience would make you fall in love with an equally unique comedy master. If you like my article, you can like it! The grand war scenes, the intricate layout, the dangerous stunts, and the ruthless satire of the narrow hero view make "The General" not only an expensive film, but a comedy that will not go by over time. classic. When it comes to silent films, especially comedies, many people may have seen Chaplin's works. Regarding Chaplin, Keaton said: "Chaplin’s tramp is a idler, but he has a logic of idler. He is cute, but he steals things whenever he gets the chance. And this little guy of mine is a Honest laborer.” If you can watch a 1927 work that perfectly blends factors such as love, action, war, adventure, and comedy through the introduction, I believe it is also an unusual movie-watching experience. And this unique experience would make you fall in love with an equally unique comedy master. If you like my article, you can like it!

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Extended Reading
  • Eliane 2022-03-27 09:01:06

    Hahahahaha, Keaton, you're the greatest comedy star of all time, without a tie.

  • Angel 2022-03-26 09:01:05

    9 points. In 1926, it was possible to make such a film, jumping on the train and chasing. In the silent film era, what I saw were basically Chaplin-style street comedies or German video studio films. It was the first time I saw such a big scene.

The General quotes

  • [last title card]

    Title: Heroes of the day.

  • Annabelle Lee: Aren't you going to enlist?