The General (Silent) (DVD)

...watch able that once seen the images will stay with you for a very long time. I refer to film in this review, but the product is the DVD of the film. I cannot recall when I first saw this film. I have always liked the silent films, particularly slapstick comedy. Here you will find no smart one liners, or withering put downs. Here the humour is strictly visual. And you should remember that these films were made before most special effects. Here the ...
...novelty. Sound was still in the future as was colour, and as for CGI, well computers had not even been invented yet. Films were black and white and any accompaniment was by a piano player in the theatre. Technically we have come a long way since then. This film, The General, is arguably the best film made by Buster Keaton. The story is about a historical raid by union soldiers that took place in 1862. The film is based on these events but not completely. ...

Coloneljohn 21.12.2005 · Read full review
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Review of The General (Silent) (DVD)

...two things that are almost the same. This version of the story has a host of extras with the discs and those are why I bought this version. 2 hrs 24 mins worth. This DVD is coded region 2 so O.K. for U.K. DVD sets or universal sets. Very briefly, the film tells the story of the theft of a train and subsequent events. Buster Keaton is the engine driver, Jonnie Gray. The loves of his life are Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack) and his engine, The General. ...
...made a film in 1956, The Great Locomotive Chase, staring Fess Parker telling the story from the Northern point of view). This version has been restored frame by frame and a musical score added. The clarity has to be seen to be believed. It is as good as seeing the original film back in 1927. Or perhaps it's even better as you will be watching either on your computer or on a DVD player and you will be much closer to the screen and can thus see details ...

Coloneljohn 15.01.2006 · Read full review
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Review of The General (Silent) (DVD)

...Buster Keatons finest film . The story is based on reminiscences of the Civil War, William Pittengers ' 'The Great Locomotive Chase' in which the author, a northern soldier, recalls a daring raid which he had taken part in. in 1862. The story obviously had great attraction to Keaton;of a band of soldiers disguised as southerners making there way from Tenessee into Atlanta to sieze a train while it's passengers were still at breakfast.The object being ...
...forces with the union troops.along the way burning bridges and severing communications en-route,but despite delays, were overtaken , upon almost reaching there destination, by another borrowed locomotive which forced them to give up there prize.The men being apprehended and some, later, being eventually executed. Keaton was once asked why his film looked more authentic than ' Gone With The Wind ' to which he replied after a little thought ' Well' ...

zeroid 03.04.2005 · Read full review
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Review of The General (Silent) (DVD)