In 1861 on the eve of the Civil War, against the breathtaking backdrop of mountains and pine forests in an extreme longshot, engineer Johnnie Gray (Buster Keaton) serves as the proud engineer in the cab of the Western and Atlantic Flyer RR Company's Southern locomotive, The General He fastidiously flicks dust from the ledge of the cab window, next to his assistant I had the honor of introducing Buster Keaton's 1926 masterpiece The General at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival's inaugural "A Day of Silents Festival" Preceding the show, these informational slides (below) prepared by the festival's Artistic Director Anita Monga, ran on a loop as people took their seats Although Keaton had to travel 900 Buster Keaton starre The General is an American silent comedy film released by United Artists inspired by the Great Locomotive Chase, which happened in 1862
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