By Steven Suskin
*
Keep in mind, this was not some throwaway production using whatever sets and props were hanging around on the back lot. The Civil War was only 60-odd years back when Keaton made his film, the same vintage as a film about World War II would be today — meaning that at least some old-timers had lived through the time. Experts consider "The General" one of the most authentic visual reproductions of the War, often comparing it to Matthew Brady's contemporary photographs; so we are seeing something more than just canvas and tinsel.
Kino gives us not one nor two but three soundtracks, a theatre organ score by Lee Erwin and full scores by Carl Davis (my preference) and Robert Israel. There is a piece on the original General — the historic Civil War train, sitting around in a museum in Kennesaw, GA — and another describing the filming locations in Oregon. (Keaton's plans to film near Chattanooga were scuttled when his hosts discovered that he intended to make light of their hallowed rebellion.) Also included are introductions to the film by Orson Welles and Gloria Swanson — not together! — and a montage of train gags from Keaton's films.
(Steven Suskin is author of the forthcoming "The Sound of Broadway Music: A Book of Orchestrators and Orchestrations" (Oxford) as well as "Second Act Trouble," "Show Tunes," and the "Opening Night on Broadway" books. He can be reached at Ssuskin@aol.com)
28 Dec 2008
Fans of Buster Keaton's 1926 classic The General [Kino] — and that must include just about anyone in today's audience who has seen it — have a treat in store for them, as Kino has now released what they are calling the "Ultimate 2 Disc Edition" of that marvelous comedic thrill ride. The new release, they tell us, has been "mastered in HD from a 35mm Archive print struck from the original camera negative." The results are pretty exceptional, given the usual condition of reissues of 80-year-old silents. Most of the existing releases of "The General" start with poor prints, which understandably diminish the film's impact. Here we have a film in near pristine condition, color tinting and all. Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton), his beloved but trying Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), and his even more beloved locomotive live again.
THE DVD SHELF: Meryl Streep in "Mamma Mia!," and Buster Keaton's "The General"
Keaton and his "General" are priceless, and Kino has once again done right by one of the treasures in its archives. "Love, Locomotives & Laughs" say the original ads, and they sure got it right.
