• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Casa Bouquet

let your joy bloom

  • Home
  • About
  • Culture
  • Home-making
  • Education
  • Travel
  • Style
  • Series
You are here: Home / Culture / The General Buster Keaton gem: Lisa’s Home Bijou

The General Buster Keaton gem: Lisa’s Home Bijou

March 12, 2018 by Lisa Grable Leave a Comment

Film Festival: Silent Greats

In The General (1926), Buster Keaton brings a serious Civil War true story to the screen while using the pathos and single-mindedness of his character, along with spectacular special effects, to amuse and entertain the audience. The General has trains, war, and a love story: a little something for everyone.The General stars the great Buster Keaton in a Civil War tale. Action, romance, stunts, and comedy! Must see for film buffs. Lisa's Home Bijou: The General (1926) Buster Keaton, one of the most beloved of silent comedians, was known as “The Great Stoneface” due to his demeanor. He used his great athleticism to perform amazing stunts that added a frantic comic element to his films.

The General is a trusty steam engine of the Western and Atlantic Railroad. Johnnie Gray (Buster Keaton) is the railroad engineer who lovingly cares for and runs this wonderful locomotive. Johnnie and the General spend their time running between Marietta, Georgia and Tennessee.general-johnnie In the spring of 1861, Johnnie visits his girlfriend in Marietta, Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack.) As a token of his love he gives Annabelle a photo of himself with the General. During his visit, the Civil War breaks out when Fort Sumter is fired upon. Annabelle’s father and brother rush to enlist and Annabelle wants Johnnie to join up too.general-annabelle The recruiters decide that Johnnie is more valuable to the war effort as an engineer than as a soldier. Unfortunately the recruiters don’t explain this to Johnnie, they just won’t let him enlist. He leaves Marietta in disgrace. Annabelle won’t see him anymore since he’s not in military uniform.

general-recruiter
The General stars the great Buster Keaton in a Civil War tale. Action, romance, stunts, and comedy! Must see for film buffs. Lisa's Home Bijou: The General (1926)

A year passes while Johnnie faithfully runs the trains. He gets a chance to prove his loyalty to the cause when a Union saboteur hatches a plan to steal the General and its train. Johnnie realizes the train has been stolen just in time to begin pursuit in another locomotive, the Texas.general-texas

“At Big Shanty we will steal the train while the passengers and crew are at dinner, and proceeding North we will burn every bridge, cutting off the supplies of the army now facing you.” –Anderson

It turns out that Annabelle is traveling on the stolen train. She is on her way to Tennessee to visit her wounded father. The saboteurs kidnap her. Now Johnnie has the most important mission of his life — saving his two greatest loves, the General and Annabelle.general-saboteurs The Union saboteurs plan to vandalize the track all the way from Georgia to Tennessee. This cuts off one of the South’s main arteries. Johnnie manages to doggedly stay on their tail and foil each attempt with his wit, athletic agility, and his pure luck.general-water-stop The General was not very well received in its own time, and today’s viewer will wonder why. There is fine attention to detail throughout the film with the costumes, the trains, locations, and the even pacing and blending of the absurd and the serious. The filmography and special effects for the long chase scenes are especially well executed. The music on the streaming version uses piano and fiddle with lots of folk tunes to accompany the action.

This is a must-see on many levels: for Buster Keaton fans, students of silent film, Civil War buffs, train enthusiasts, and lovers of stunts and special effects. The General has a little something for everyone.

Resource links for The General

  • http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0017925/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
    • The General (1926) from IMDb
  • http://www.filmsite.org/gene.html
    • See the wonderful poster from the movie at AMC filmsite
  • https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-films-of-buster-keaton
    • The films of Buster Keaton from Roger Ebert
  • https://www.kennesaw-ga.gov/our-history/
    • Our History from city of Kennesaw, Georgia
  • https://www.eugenecascadescoast.org/cottage-grove/
    • Visitor information for Cottage Grove, Oregon, the filming location
  • https://silentology.wordpress.com/2017/02/19/the-third-annual-buster-keaton-blogathon-celebrating-100-years-of-buster/
    • Celebrating 100 years of Buster from Silent-ology

This is an update of a review that appeared originally in RETRO magazine, Nancy Eaton, editor.

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.


SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Share this post:
error
fb-share-icon
Tweet
fb-share-icon

Filed Under: Culture, Movies Tagged With: 1926, Buster Keaton, Civil War, classic films, comedians, Lisa's Home Bijou, silent films, The General, trains

Previous Post: « Smoothie recipes healthy nutricious delicious
Next Post: Mai tai rum cocktail out of this world classic »

Reader Interactions

What are your thoughts? Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hey, I’m Lisa

Lisa Grable, Casa BouquetI’m an educator, grandmother, classic movie fan, sewer and crafter, and I love Hawaii. Read more about me …

Subscribe for email updates

Don't miss a post! Receive an email when new posts are published. Get freebies!

Please follow & like us :)

Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
Instagram
Follow by Email
RSS

Amazon

Zoom hula classes from Kanoe Miller

Kanoe Miller hula classesKanoe Miller teaches 5 week hula sessions on Zoom. Kanoe dances at the Hale Kulani in Waikiki and began her hula studies with Maiki Aiu Lake. Call or email to register. Times listed are Hawaii Standard.

More in Lisa’s Home Bijou

vintage movie theater sign

Recent Posts

summer cash giveaway

Summer Cash Giveaway 07.23 – 08.23.2022

College preparation at the end of high school includes planning, tips, and checklists. Entrance tests, applications, financial aid, and more!

6 tips for college preparation – applying, FAFSA

ice cream maker giveaway

Ice cream maker giveaway 06.18.22 – 07.18.22

travelon bag giveaway

Travelon bag giveaway 05.14.22 – 06.14.22

Posts by Category

Casa Bouquet parties

Over the Moon

Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party
Wonderful Wednesday
Thursday Favorite Things

Featured series

Casa Bouquet pie recipes series.
College planning posts for middle and high school students. Download free checklist, cost calculation, and career interest worksheets. Resource links!

Copyright © 2022 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework · Design by Stephanie Jones

 

Loading Comments...