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The General (U) + live accompaniment by Guildhall Jazz Musicians

Silent Film and Live Music

The General

Regarded by many as Buster Keaton’s greatest achievement, and reportedly his own personal favourite, The General is equal parts comedy and action-adventure.

Buster Keaton stars as Johnnie Gray, a locomotive driver in the American South during the civil war. When his favourite engine, ‘The General’, is stolen by Yankee spies with his on-again-off-again girlfriend Annabelle aboard, Keaton gives chase in another engine, ‘The Texas’.

Shot using real engines on real locations, the choreography – of the chase scenes especially – is nothing less than jaw-dropping. The slapstick too, is some of the best of Keaton’s career, and the pacing as breathless as that of today’s thrillers. 

US 1926 Dir Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman 75 min Silent Digital presentation

Presented in partnership with The London International Mime Festival

With the support of the Independent Cinema Office and BFI, awarding funds from The National Lottery

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