Movie · 1926 · Action, Adventure, Comedy, War, Romance, Drama · 1h 19m · NR · English
Curator score: 9.1/10 (214.3K ratings)
Buster drives "The General" to trainload of laughter.
Overview
During America’s Civil War, Union spies steal engineer Johnny Gray's beloved locomotive, 'The General'—with Johnnie's lady love aboard an attached boxcar—and he single-handedly must do all in his power to both get The General back and to rescue Annabelle.
Ratings
Curator score: 9.1/10
IMDb: 8.1/10
Letterboxd: 4.20/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
TMDB: 7.9/10
Director
Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton
Production
Joseph M. Schenck Productions, Buster Keaton Productions
Cast
Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Glen Cavender, Jim Farley, Frederick Vroom, Frank Barnes, Charles Henry Smith, Joe Keaton, Mike Donlin, Tom Nawn, Henry Baird, Joe Bricher, Jimmy Bryant, Sergeant Bukowski, C.C. Cruson, Jack Dempster, Keith Fennell, Budd Fine, Eddie Foster, Ronald Gilstrap
Where to watch
Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM Plus, Philo, FlixFling, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Kino Film Collection
Curator Review
Verdict
A landmark silent action-comedy with astonishing physical stunt work, crisp visual storytelling, and a surprisingly strong romantic throughline. Its Civil War setting is politically dated and morally compromised, but as a piece of cinematic craft it remains essential.
Best for
silent cinema fans
action-comedy viewers
film history enthusiasts
stunt and practical-effects devotees
romance-with-adventure audiences
Skip if
you want modern pacing and dialogue-heavy storytelling
you are sensitive to Confederate romanticization
you prefer historically progressive or politically neutral classics
silent films are an automatic turnoff
Overview
The General is one of the great demonstrations of what cinema can do without words. Keaton turns a simple chase premise into a machine of escalating gags, precision timing, and jaw-dropping physical danger, all staged with a clarity that still feels modern. The train action is the headline, but the film’s real achievement is how effortlessly it blends comedy, suspense, and romance into a single forward drive.
Worth noting
What keeps it from being an unqualified recommendation is the Civil War framing, which treats the Confederate side with a casualness that can be hard to ignore. That context matters, and it can complicate the experience even when the filmmaking is undeniable. Still, the film’s craftsmanship is so extraordinary that it remains a foundational work of action cinema.
Bottom line
If you love practical stunts, silent-era physical performance, or the feeling of a movie inventing the grammar of its genre in real time, this is indispensable. If you need your classics to be politically comfortable, this is a tougher watch. Either way, it’s a major film that earns its reputation.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Georgia Coley (5★) · 3086 likes
Mad Max: Fury Railroad
Julien Faddoul (5★) · 2578 likes
I'm not sure why people scoff at old movies. They are still new to those who have not seen them.
Wes (5★) · 1650 likes
i dont wanna hear jack shit about tom cruise's stunts in those mission impossible movies when buster keaton managed to do what he did in a film this romantic and grand that was released almost 100 years ago
CinemaVoid 🏴☠️ (4★) · 1198 likes
I’m having one helluva time watching confederate propaganda dressed as slapstick. Cinema is dangerous.
sarah (4★) · 1135 likes
Imagine escaping death this many times in one film.... The devil works hard, but Buster Keaton works harder.
1925 · Adventure, Comedy, Drama · 1h 35m · NR · Curator 9.3/10 (225.7K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, History Vault, Eternal Family, Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A classic silent comedy that balances broad humor, hardship, and romantic longing with unforgettable set pieces.
1928 · Comedy, Romance, Drama · 1h 12m · G · Curator 9.0/10 (83.7K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, FlixFling, Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Another essential silent comedy built on ingenious staging, chase energy, and the art of making danger funny.
1939 · Western, Adventure, Drama · 1h 36m · G · Curator 8.9/10 (149.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A foundational action-adventure with tightly controlled momentum, ensemble tension, and iconic movement through space.