Search - The General on DVD

Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1927 DVD Release: 10/26/1999 Format: DVD - Black and White Edition: Restored/Remastered,Special Collection SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 56 mins Studio: Image Entertainment Members Wishing: 2 Genres: Comedy, Adventure Comedy, Slapstick See Also: The General, The General, The General, The General, The General, The General [Blu-ray]

Buster Keaton plays Johnny Gray, a Southern railroad engineer who loves his train engine, The General, almost as much as he loves Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack). When the opening shots of the Civil War are fired at Fort Sumter, Johnny tries to enlist -- and he is deemed too useful as an engineer to be a soldier. All Johnny knows is that he's been rejected, and Annabelle, thinking him a coward, turns her back on him. When Northern spies steal the General (and, unwittingly, Annabelle), the story switches from drama and romance to adventure mixed with Keaton's trademark deadpan humor as he uses every means possible to catch up to the General, thwart the Yankees, and rescue his darling Annabelle -- for starters. As always, Keaton performs his own stunts, combining his prodigious dexterity, impeccable comic timing, and expressive body language to convey more emotion than the stars of any of the talkies that were soon to dominate cinema. ~ Emru Townsend, All Movie Guide

Buster Keaton - Johnnie Gray
Marion Mack - Annabelle Lee
Glen Cavender - Capt. Anderson
Jim Farley - Gen, Thatcher
Fred Vroom - Southern General

Image Entertainment teams up with Kino Video to present the DVD for one of the greatest comedies, The General, starring the stone-faced Buster Keaton. Presented in its original full-frame aspect ratio, the image shows its age, and really could use more restoration. The black-and-white photography shows all the blemishes, scratches, and dust, which is a shame considering this is such an acclaimed title. The sound, which consists of an orchestrated score, is entirely adequate with a mono soundtrack split over two channels. As for extras, as is often the case with Image, there isn't much. A real plus though, in place of any addition supplements, are two short films starring Keaton, The Playhouse, which runs 23 minutes, and the highly amusing Cops, at a brisk 18 minutes long. Though overall the disc doesn't amount to much, there is no question of the importance of this film. Therefore, until a better DVD comes along (if that ever happens), this might just be as good of a treatment this film will get. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide