Dana and Tom with 5x Club Member, Sarah Duncan (Sister of Tom, Daughter of Dana), discuss the silent action comedy, The General (1926) for its 99th anniversary: written and directed by Buster Keaton with Clyde Bruckman, Al Boasberg, and Charles Smith, cinematography by Devereaux Jennings and Bert Haines, music by William P. Perry, editing by Buster Keaton and Sherman Kell, starring Buster Keaton and Marion Mack.
Plot Summary: The General is a silent comedy set during the American Civil War, starring Buster Keaton as Johnnie Gray, a devoted railroad engineer who cares more about his locomotive, called The General, than anything else. When Union spies steal his train, Johnnie sets off on a daring chase through enemy territory, using quick thinking, physical comedy, and sheer determination to get it back. Along the way, Johnnie also tries to prove his courage to his sweetheart Annabelle Lee, played by Marion Mack, after being rejected by the Confederate Army.
Guest:
Sarah Duncan - Sister of Tom, Daughter of Dana
- @thenomadicarchaeologist on IG
- Previous Episodes: Zodiac, My Fair Lady, The Artist, Inglourious Basterds, The Great Dictator, Forrest Gump, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Knives Out, All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for The General
05:16 Welcome Back, Sarah Duncan
06:35 Relationship(s) with The General
13:08 Buster Keaton - Best Silent Era Action Star?
17:30 Plot Summary for The General
18:14 What is The General About?
21:27 Did You Know?
25:44 First Break
26:35 What's Happening with Sarah Duncan
27:21 Best Performance(s)
33:27 Best Scene(s)
38:34 Second Break
39:13 In Memoriam
41:29 Best/Funniest Lines
42:40 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy
47:47 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance
52:05 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty
57:50 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness
01:03:59 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability
01:07:01 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total
01:08:50 Remaining Questions for The General
01:11:51 Thank You to Sarah and Remaining Thoughts
01:16:18 Credits
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For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/the-general-1926-ft-sarah-duncan
For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list
Keywords:
The General, Buster Keaton, silent film, comedy, Civil War, film history, cinematic techniques, legacy, film analysis, classic movies, trains, classic, impact, significance
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