The General (1926): Masters of Cinema

Co-director of South West Silents James Harrison explores the new release by Eureka Entertainment's Masters of Cinema of a Buster Keaton classic, maybe the classic. Plus a chance to win a copy!

Whenever it comes to the ‘ultimate work’ of Buster Keaton, there are three key elements. ‘The Figure’, ‘The Landscape’ and ‘The Machine’. When looking at Keaton’s work each one of these elements comes into effect.

His ‘Figure’. Buster Keaton (Joseph Frank Keaton) himself is the first key element. Of course it has to be, otherwise, how would it work without the great physical figure of the Buster Keaton (lets throw in the great Stone Face element here as well I guess). This physical figure was something which was developed early on in Keaton’s career. In fact, he was an infant when he was thrown (literally) onto and off the stage with his family’s vaudeville troupe. That physical aspect of Keaton’s figure easily materialised onto the screen when film came calling for Buster.  

The ‘Landscape’ is another element, but it is an element which comes later in Keaton’s career. Unlike the studio based exploits that Keaton found himself making with Roscoe Arbuckle, Keaton took his work out of the studio and into the great American landscapes beyond when he got the chance. See the jump when it comes to his final Arbuckle film, The Garage (1920) and his first own film, One Week (1920) or The High Sign (1921). Keaton’s ‘figure’ persona reacts to the landscape as a backdrop and the landscape is most certainly a backdrop for Keaton’s characters.

In fact, it is vital that Keaton’s figure is the foreground; this enables the showcasing of the physical abilities of our hero. And he is most certainly is the hero. As this is a figure overcoming the landscape and world which surrounds him. You can find it in films such as The Scarecrow (1920), The Boat (1921), The Paleface (1922), Cops (1922) and The Balloonatic (1923). When watching these films you begin to realise that Buster Keaton is the first Superman.

Then there is the third element, which is introduced in the later part of Keaton’s cinematic career. First it was an early train in 1923’s Our Hospitality, then a ship with The Navigator (1924) and other pieces of mechanical transport appears, a tram, a motorcycle, a car, then comes another train; but not any old train. But the master of all trains. The General!

It is hard think of any more important trains in the history of cinema than The General. Yes, there is the Orient Express, Hogwarts Express, The Polar Express. But not one of these seems more personal and also loveable than The General (ok, maybe Thomas the Tank Engine). And yet, The General doesn’t say anything, she is the one true love of Buster Keaton’s hero and in so many ways, our one true love of cinematic steam trains as well.

Keaton’s 1926 masterpiece The General, and it really is a masterpiece, is a film very hard not to stop watching. We’ve all been there, that random film which is making another appearance on some Freeview action themed channel or ITV 28.

And yet, silent film and specifically The General, hardly gets any air time. A film which most certainly should get more appearances than some of the films that make up the schedules on late night feckless channels.

So, thank Christ then for Euerka’s Master of Cinema UHD release. Yes, this isn’t the first time The General has appeared under the Masters of Cinema banner (that was back in 2019; number 172-174) and not even Keaton’s (three different volumes of his work has appeared over the years) but this new release is a must for 4K fans.  

This new release, in 4K UHD is just perfect. The film looks amazing, the sound (a previous score by Carl Davis) is a perfect accompaniment and the extras, a new audio commentary by film historian David Kalat, a new video essay on Keaton and The General by Imogen Sara Smith with some of the old-school extras thrown in as well including inductions by Orson Welles and Gloria Swanson really do enhance one of the true great films of the silent era.

Is this the ultimate Buster Keaton film? Yes! Is this the ultimate silent comedy film?  Yes! Is this probably one of the ultimate American film (or film overall) of all time?! I will leave you to decide that. But I’m hoping you might be able to decide after watching this new release. It would be hard not to smile even if the ‘Great Stone Face’ Buster Keaton probably isn’t going to.    

The General is title number #173 in Eureka's The Masters of Cinema series and is available via the label's website.

Thanks to the Eureka team we have a brand new copy The General (1926) up for grabs; just send us your answer to the question below via our contact page by midnight on Friday 29th May to be in with a chance. Good Luck!

Question: Which Billy Wilder film noir does Buster Keaton make a cameo during a card game on New Years Eve?