Maybe I’m being overly cautious, but a part of me feels guilty for enjoying The General in 2024. The movie, first released in 1926, takes place during the Civil War and is based partly on an actual event. Its hero — a bumbling railroad engineer played by the silent film star Buster Keaton — is on the Confederate side, while the bad guys are all Union soldiers. Even though the war is central to the plot, which involves Keaton’s character chasing after a stolen train and stealing back, it’s more of a plot device than anything else. It’s a way for Keaton to showcase his brand of physical humor. Nonetheless, rooting for his character feels complicated today.
The General (1926)
The General (1926)
The General (1926)
Maybe I’m being overly cautious, but a part of me feels guilty for enjoying The General in 2024. The movie, first released in 1926, takes place during the Civil War and is based partly on an actual event. Its hero — a bumbling railroad engineer played by the silent film star Buster Keaton — is on the Confederate side, while the bad guys are all Union soldiers. Even though the war is central to the plot, which involves Keaton’s character chasing after a stolen train and stealing back, it’s more of a plot device than anything else. It’s a way for Keaton to showcase his brand of physical humor. Nonetheless, rooting for his character feels complicated today.