Directors: Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman
Screenplay: Al Boasberg, Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton, Charles Smith
Starring: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack
Country: USA
Running Time: 79 mins
Year: 1926
The General (1926) is an indisputable comic masterpiece. A hundred years on since its original release, there is little I can add to the pantheon of glowing reviews for silent comedian Buster Keaton’s tale of locomotive chaos in the American Civil War. So, I am going to focus mostly on what sets this new 4K package apart.
Keaton, the Great Stone Face, plays Johnnie Gray, a train engineer who becomes embroiled in the civil war when his train ‘The General’ is stolen by enemy soldiers, the northern Union Army, who want to burn railroad bridges and cause havoc for the southern Confederates, the heroes of this tale (yes, unfortunately).
And, lo and behold, those Union scallywags have also abducted his girl Annabelle. Johnnie must save the day, and the girl! This steam-powered 1860s-set tale comes packed with awesome stunts and set pieces, while also feeling more authentic and dramatic in tone than most comedies.
Eureka is releasing the film as part of its Masters of Cinema series, from a 4K digital restoration by the Cohen Media Group, presented in a new Dolby Vision HDR (HDR 10 compatible) grade. It comes with a score by Carl Davis and an absolute treasure trove of special features – Eureka has packed in more than two hours’ worth of new content to complement this brilliant movie.
It’s a huge step up from prior 1080 HD releases and well worth the upgrade. The success of this restoration is that it draws the eye to the striking black and white photography on display. I was taken aback by the beauty of the footage on this viewing – a quality of the filmmaking I hadn’t acknowledged beforehand.
The far more pronounced and distinctive colour gamut of the 35mm picture, the deeper blacks, the finer contrast of the dark and light shading, provide a rich depth to the image, accentuating the romantic elements of the drama. It also draws the eye towards the backdrop and flawless production design, all the finer details of the war going on while Keaton is in the forefront performing his comedic japes.
There’s also a key section where the film plays with darkness and light as Keaton and his damsel in distress Annabelle are roaming through the dark and stormy forest. The richer black depths of the colour palette give this scene a real flair.
This clear and crisp restoration brings a quality of picture befitting of this awesome production with its astonishing visual storytelling. If any classic film deserved a 4K restoration, it’s indeed this one. Plus, Davis’ 1860s inspired orchestral score absolutely sings through the speakers.
It’s not only wonderful film to watch back – and bask in Keaton’s athleticism and comedic prowess – it’s also a great silent comedy to introduce people to the genre, due the grandeur and simplicity of its design. The 4K picture elevates the experience, giving Keaton’s journey an immersive quality. The perfect pairing of great storytelling and visual mastery.
Film:
Special Features:
- Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring package design by Nick Wrigley [2000 units]
- Limited edition booklet featuring archival material and essays by critic Philip Kemp and animator Richard Haynes [2000 units]
- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation from a 4K digital restoration, presented in a new and exclusive Dolby Vision HDR (HDR 10 compatible) grade
- Score by Carl Davis
- New audio commentary by film historian David Kalat
- New video essay on The General by Imogen Sara Smith, author of Buster Keaton: The Persistence of Comedy (2008)
- New video essay on locomotives in the films of Buster Keaton by film critic and editor Luke Ryan
- Interview with film scholar Peter Kramer
- Introduction by Orson Welles
- Introduction by Gloria Swanson
- Tour of Filming Locations featurette
- Video Tour archival featurette
- Home movie footage
David Kalat audio commentary: Kalat is a film commentator I always look forward to listening to. Here, he doesn’t disappoint, and once again seems to be in his element behind the microphone. Kalat’s commentary has a wry, tongue-in-cheek tone and he explores the film from a variety of refreshing angles. He speaks about the key figures who worked with Keaton that greatly influenced the picture, like his co-director, producer and lead actress. The film’s mark on pop culture. The “WHYs” behind the movie.
Kalat is a master storyteller who has remarkable talent of weaving in and out of topics, while timing his commentary perfectly as the action unfolds on the screen. Comparing Keaton to another comedic actor, he states: “Buster Keaton’s comedy was dry as a martini, [Red] Skelton is wet like a slobbery dog kiss.”
Imogen Sara Smith’s The General video essay (25mins): A fantastic video essay. Smith delves into the film’s shot composition, unpacking the “functional beaty” of Keaton’s movies. She also explores the nature of Keaton’s creativity and what influenced him. There are some great clips of a young Keaton’s in his early film appearances with his mentor Fatty Arbuckle.
Luke Ryan on locomotives in the films of Buster Keaton video essay (52 mins): This extensive video essay feels like it expands on the previous one. It provides an in-depth look at Keaton’s film history, focusing on his relationship with locomotives. It features some stunning clips of Keaton in colour, taken from Buster Keaton Rides Again made in the 60s, and behind the scenes clips of him grumbling about the shoot.
Ryan speaks about real story behind the movie, Andrews Raid in 1862 which was published as story in The Great Locomotive Chase. He then goes into why Keaton made certain changes to the narrative, like shifting the focus to the Confederacy. He also speaks about how key stunts and set pieces were conceived and achieved. Plus, a fantastic look at his post silent career. This is a must watch for a budding Keaton fan.
Limited edition booklet: Densley packed 40-page booklet with some great images. Kemp’s essay provides a decent overview of Keaton’s career with some illuminating details. Shaun the Sheep animator Haynes provides a highly entertaining essay, comparing traits of the animated work with the physical comedy of the silent era, focusing on the work of Keaton. The booklet also features a couple contemporary reviews of the film, from Kinematograph Weekly and the New York Time. It’s amusing to read how dismissive these are of the picture, which a hundred years later is viewed as a masterpiece.
Peter Kramer interview (42 mins): Excellent interview filmed by the BFI in 2016. Kramer contextualises why The General was a failure on release. He speaks about Keaton’s level of success and why the audience would have found the picture problematic.
Eureka has also bundled a range of fantastic archival extra features.
Orson Welles’ 12 minute intro is reliably charming and features clips from Keaton short films. Gloria Swanson’s two minute intro is stylish and of its time. The four minute filming locations featurette has some amazing behind the scenes stories about the location. There’s also an in depth 18 minute video tour archival featurette, which goes into the real life story behind The General. There’s also one minute of home movie footage featuring Keaton in behind the scene shots.
Disc/package:
Eureka is releasing The General in 4K as part of its Masters of Cinema series on 18th May, 2026.