It was interesting watching it with you this time because we watched a version with a score I had never experienced before. The symphonic score used in this version made the film (for me) feel more epic and dramatic than I am used to (the score I've seen it with before emphasized the comedy). This is a good reminder that when watching silent films (which often didn't have scores when they were released because someone usually played the music in the actual theater), it is important to get the version with the right score that emphasizes what you want emphasized.
Also, here are some cool thoughts I found on the internet about this film:
"Comedy, too, could be epic in the silent era, and nowhere is that more evident than in Buster Keaton’s magnum opus, “The General.” The film is so huge, in fact, that Keaton threatens to be lost in the magnitude of its train chases and individual gags that rival the signature accomplishments of Keaton’s earlier features and shorts. One can almost understand, then, how the film baffled critics and audiences alike upon its initial release, a Keaton movie too big for Keaton. Now, it is the delicacy of the thing, how each set piece logically flows and how Keaton coordinates his own and his actors’ movements to fit within a vast, moving canvas, that wins out, and like so much death-defying silent comedy, it is as engaging as a “How did they do that?” feat of impossibility as it is a work of ingenious wit" (http://www.film.com/movies/best-silent-films-on-netflix-instant).
So, when you comment on The General below, remember that you need to write three full paragraphs and follow these instructions:
1) Answer BOTH of the following questions:
- Name at least one moment of The General that is very indicative of Buster Keaton's style.
- Which film do you feel had more dangerous stunts: The General or Safety Last? Explain.
2) Answer TWO of the following questions:
- What did you think of the score of The General that we experienced in class? Did you feel it fit well with the film? Why or why not?
- What was your favorite scene in The General? Explain.
- Like Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton was a very financially successful filmmaker during the silent era. Why do you feel people liked films like The General so much?
- Or ... respond to something someone else's has written in a civil and loving manner. Provide three reasons to back up your response.
(Note: if you were not in class to watch The General, you can watch it on Netflix. If you don't have Netflix and can't find The General anywhere, you can watch an alternative feature-length film made by Buster Keaton. Still answer the questions above but about the alternative film. Be sure to tell us in your comments what film you watched.)
Buster Keaton seems to be a parkour guy except he's in the 1920s era. One of the scenes that really shows that and signifies that's who he is would have to be the part on the train. The part where he's chasing that one girl because she got kidnapped. The way he was kinda jut parkouring everywhere on the train I think would be a perfect example of him. The General also beat Safety Last in stunts because their was way more parkour in The General than Safety Last.
ReplyDeleteI think that people started liking movies like The General as well as several others because films became movies which actually gave it a story. Having more ideas and thoughts in a movie makes it better so I feel whoever made it put more of that stuff into it. Female actresses started coming around in movies too, showing their names in the beginning credits which was huge.
I think my favorite scene in The General was the train cannon. When Buster loaded it and lighted it I kinda felt like eventually something would happen. It did finally happen and backfired. This scene just was one of those scenes that really popped out to me and I felt like it symbolized something deep. Along with just how things can go so wrong so fast this scene was really great and deep man!
I love the description of Buster Keaton as a "parkour guy". That is so true!
DeleteGood work writing three paragraphs and answering all the questions!
Buster Keaton grew up preforming dangerous stunts with his parents, and as he got more into motion picture he became the ‘master of stunts’. This talent is given the spotlight in the great train chase scene, showing Keaton jumping from car to car in various ways, dodging obstacles and all done while on a moving train.
ReplyDeleteThe General had more dangerous stunts by far. Keaton was filmed doing all of his stunts on an actual moving train, while in Safety Last, Harold Lloyd would only have been climbing up about two to three stories at a time, with the background projected on a screen, and safety equipment below him, however effective it may have been in the early 20th century.
To be completely honest, I wasn’t fond of the score in this film in the slightest. Keaton specialized in doing comedies and the score ruined that concept. Even in the great train chase scene, where things are supposed to take more of a dramatic turn, the film still had a great deal of comedy in those moments which wasn’t emphasized by the score, and rather muted to bring out the dramatic side of the movie. Along with that, the music was too busy for what was happening on screen. I often found myself distracted by the music rather than paying attention to what was happening in the film.
It would be hard for me to choose a single scene to call my favorite, rather I like the similarities between multiple scenes where Keaton’s character does everything right on accident, and everything wrong when he tries. I thought that was the most entertaining aspect of the character.
Thanks for the full three paragraphs and for answering all of the questions.
DeleteI like the way you articulated your dislike of the music. You expressed your reasoning very well. I think that the aspect of doing the right things on accident that you described is something Keaton does a lot in his movies.
Buster keaton was a stunt devil for pretty much all of his life, so the first moment that reminded me of his style was when he was doing stunts in front of the train. I remembered instantly when i saw that, that he did the most stunts out of the trio that we are learning about. Another moment that reminded me of his style technically wasn't a 'moment.' It was throughout the entire movie that i realized he had basically no facial expressions, he pretty much had only one face throughout the entire thing.
ReplyDeleteI honestly think that The General had more dangerous stunts. The thought of climbing a super tall building is super terrifying, but he wasn't ACTUALLY climbing an entire building. In The General, buster keaton was really doing things for the film in front of a moving train. He had to sit on the front of the train for a scene just in time, or he may have been badly injured. My favorite scene in the general was when he was throwing all of these things off of the train to keep the other train from reaching his. It just kept me on suspense, and entertained.
I think people liked buster keatons films because of his style. They were funny, but they don't seem like they're trying too hard to seem humorous. Not only that, but he did alot of dangerous stunts and NAILED them. It was just plain entertaining with all of the stunts and suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed this film. (:
Erin Allgood
Your first paragraph is very well articulated. You did a great job of describing Keaton's style and then showing how that style was present in THE GENERAL.
DeleteGood work writing three paragraphs. Also, good work answering all the questions.
One scene that was very indicative of his style was when he would have to go in front of the train to move an obstacle out of the way so he could get by. And when they set the bridge on fire and he got stuck on the other side then jumped and missed and went into the river. I think that The General had more dangerous stunts because he was working with an actual train and a lot of things could have gone wrong with that.
ReplyDeleteI think people liked his films so much because he was risky and funny. He did a lot of dangerous stunts and did them well. He made entertaining original movies and was the really daring. He's witty and funny.
I think the score was okay. I'm not a fan of classical music and stuff like that but it kind of went along with the movie. I also think that this had more dangerous stunts because of the bridge scene and when all the horses and people were running at them when they warned them of the enemies coming for a surprise attack.
DeleteThis movie had funny moments, and romantic moments. It was dangerous and risky but he pulled it off and didn't die so that's good. One of my favorite scenes was when he found put the girl in the bag and then threw her in and they were like throwing things all in there and then he stole the train. When she was getting out through the hole that he put in the train it was really funny and dangerous because it was moving and they could have fell and like got injured really badly if not killed.
Good work writing three paragraphs! I agree with you that people like Keaton because of the risks he took. That is impressive and adds something to appreciate when you watch his films.
DeleteGood work answering all the questions.
When you talk about what moments were indicative of Keaton's style, I appreciate that you do a good job of describing what moments you're referring to. Please also articulate what aspects of Keaton's style they portray.
buster keaton is kind of like his own stunt double i guess, like the part were he lit the canon and had to move out of the way that looked like it would be really scary especially if he had a certain time limit but thats what i thought was indicative to buster keatons style and to compare the general to saftey last i don't know between climbing that tall building and standing in front of a cannon i would probably say the general cause it had more stunts
ReplyDeletemy favorite scene in the general was when bust keaton was dropping things off the train because the other train had to keep stopping so people could get off and move them and busters train kept moving and that put him ahead and then he got off and bent the rail so it would throw the the other train off track even more and made there goal even harder to reach. But any way that was my favorite scene of the movie "The General"
I think people liked the movie "The General" because it was a really good movie it had action comedy and romance in one movie, the action was in parts like standing in front of cannons jumping on moving train comedy kind of played its part when he was sitting on the side of the train and it started to move and then romance played its part when he went to rescue her and at the end they had a happy ending and kissed while he soluted the other soliders
Good job writing three full paragraphs.
DeleteI also like that you refer to Buster as "Bust Keaton". It's like his abbreviated gangster name or something.
Good work answering all of the questions.
Buster Keaton is amazing at parkour, the part that I feel shows his talent the most is when he is the other train wen then girl gets kidnapped by the soldiers from the north. He was able to move and jump with such precision that it seemed like it just came so naturally to him. The General, in my opinion has much more dangerous stunts. The fact that he was on a moving train jumping all over the train, on and off of it was just amazing to me.
ReplyDeleteThe score wasn't really good to me, I found myself confused multiple times during the film. It just made it really hard for me to know what the film was supposed to be making feel. There were some parts were I could till the it was comedy but most of the time i have mixed feeling about it. So to me the score just didn't seem to fit quite as well as I wish it had.
My favorite seen by far was when Buster had gotten into the house and was hiding under the table. It was one part that i found very funny, watching him try and not be found while al the men were sitting around the table talking. Every time they readjusted them self, and when he almost sneezed and he had to stop himself. Also when he snuck into the window to save the girl and he was trying to be quiet. i laughed so had when he kept telling the girl to be quiet and he was making noise. The film really was amazing i just wish that the score had been different
Good job following directions: full three paragraphs and you answered all the questions.
DeleteI agree with you on your opinion about the music.
Buster Keaton, what a daredevil. The scene that really shows us his style is when he is facing away from the train, and instead of grabbing the train he holds on to a moving car. The timing had to be perfect for him to get that. Not many people can pull that of, and his first intention was to grab on to the train!
ReplyDeleteAlthough Safety Last made me feel more what the character felt, the crazier stunts were done in The General. The train was a real train. It was actually in movement when he moved from one part of the train to the other. I mean, they blew up an actual train! It can't get more dangerous than that.
The score for The General played well with the movie. It really made the movie come alive in some scenes. I really loved the particular moment when the score followed his movements while he sat on the wheel rails of the train. His success has to come with that Stone Cold face he always has. He really owns that, along with his crazy stunts.
/Gerson Monago
I can tell from your answer that you know Keaton's style. Good work writing three paragraphs and answering the questions about Keaton's style, the comparison between his and Lloyd's stunts, the score, and your favorite scene.
DeleteIt's good to see you sticking up for the score when earlier commenters were against it. Way to stick up for your opinion and using specific examples to back it up.
Buster Keaton did many stunts throughout his lifetime and it shows in The General when he is running around on the train while it is moving around or when he riding on the train wheels. I think that The General was more dangerous. Climbing a building is very dangerous but they used techniques and things so the actors remained safe. Working with massive trains that weighed tons and tons and have multiple moving parts that are dangerous makes it a bit more hazardous.
ReplyDeleteI think people liked The General so much because it stayed funny while having a serious undertone of things like the civil war. So it keeps you pulled in because it is interesting but will make you laugh the whole way through. Buster Keaton can also play a likable character in his movies no matter what. For example in The General he is helping the confederacy in the civil war and you still want him to win.
My favorite scene in The General was when he was throwing the supplies out of the back of his train to stop the union soldiers from catching up. It was very funny but kept the scene serious because of the worry that they were going to get caught.
Tigger Payne 2nd
It really is nice when a film can keep you laughing while also telling a story with weight to it. I appreciate the way you brought this up in your post.
DeleteGood work writing a full three paragraphs and answering the questions.
The General
ReplyDeleteBuster Keaton is known as the stone face of comedy. I think a prime example of this is when Mr. Keaton is presented with the lieutenant's uniform and he doesn’t smile at all, but he still looks so honored. He’s also known as a master of stunts, and he definitely lives up to the title in this film. Safety Last! had good stunts but you could tell they were in a studio, so Harold Lloyd was probably only a few feet from the ground so he wasn’t in any real danger. Buster Keaton told his crew on The General “...You don’t cut unless I say so, or I die…” he was literally willing to risk his life for his film to have amazing stunts.
My favorite scene in The General by far is the very last scene when Mr. Meaton is trying to kiss his girlfriend (?) and soldiers keep walking by so he has to salute them. I love the brief expression of frustration only for a light bulb to be turned on and he slides his maiden over to the side so he can kiss her and salute. I think this is hilarious because he’s so serious through the entire process.
I think people enjoy Buster Keaton films because they’re full of action, comedy, drama, and romance. The score with the Netflix version of this film made the film sound very intense and serious, but doesn’t ruin the comedy in it. What more could you ask for in a film?
The General
ReplyDeleteBuster Keaton is known as the stone face of comedy. I think a prime example of this is when Mr. Keaton is presented with the lieutenant's uniform and he doesn’t smile at all, but he still looks so honored. He’s also known as a master of stunts, and he definitely lives up to the title in this film. Safety Last! had good stunts but you could tell they were in a studio, so Harold Lloyd was probably only a few feet from the ground so he wasn’t in any real danger. Buster Keaton told his crew on The General “...You don’t cut unless I say so, or I die…” he was literally willing to risk his life for his film to have amazing stunts.
My favorite scene in The General by far is the very last scene when Mr. Meaton is trying to kiss his girlfriend (?) and soldiers keep walking by so he has to salute them. I love the brief expression of frustration only for a light bulb to be turned on and he slides his maiden over to the side so he can kiss her and salute. I think this is hilarious because he’s so serious through the entire process.
I think people enjoy Buster Keaton films because they’re full of action, comedy, drama, and romance. The score with the Netflix version of this film made the film sound very intense and serious, but doesn’t ruin the comedy in it. What more could you ask for in a film?
(The last post looked weird so I fixed it)
I agree that the paragraphing in this post looks better :) I appreciate your attention to readability. It helps me a lot!
DeleteGood job answering all the questions in the directions and writing a full three paragraphs.
I'm glad you enjoyed that last scene so much. It's pretty great.
Something I noticed (and was looking for.) was his 'serious expression.' While still portraying just enough facial and quite a few physical reactions to engage the audience, his signature lack of foremost assertion gives his movies (i feel) a sense of greater wonder and lets you engage yourself deeper with your imagination. This left me feeling satisfied and amused as all of the familiar characteristics came flowing back to make this wonderful and hearty film.
ReplyDeleteIn 'The General', Keaton, preforms what I think to have been more dangerous stunts than in 'Safety First.' My reason being is that he was doing these stunts on a moving train, and any number of even the smallest stunts could've killed him. In fact (Quoting Josh here!) He was said to have stated that he wanted to keep the camera rolling unless a stunt had killed him.
My favorite scene had to have been when Keaton and his girl were on the train trying to escape, and she is put to work putting firewood into the engine. When she finds the piece of wood with the hole in it and throws it overboard, the look he gave her had me dying of laughter, i couldn't contain myself, twas totes fab! Other than that I'm not sure why I liked it so much it was just very enjoyable to me!
Honestly, I think the reason why so many people liked his films was because he was able to contain his composure, and able to do dangerous things that some people maybe wished they could do. (I know I certainly wish I could do half the cool things he did!) There really is a beauty in danger, something that has you anticipating whats gonna happen next, splashing the comedy bits keeping it lighthearted also puts in for an enjoyable time. But what I really think got people, was the underdog effect, people could really connect with an all american underdog just trying to get the girl and start a life.
All in all I would recommend this film to anyone, it was very amazing and i enjoyed it a bunch!
~Chibi
I like your comment about Buster's stonewall face bringing a sense of wonder. I hadn't ever really thought this way before but I think I felt that in my gut. I've always had a certain special love for Buster Keaton and I think this may be part of the reason why.
DeleteI appreciate how well you articulate your thoughts in this post. You don't just write three paragraphs, you go beyond that to fully express what you have to say about each of the four questions you answer.
And I like what you say about how Keaton keeps his composure while doing dangerous things. I think the fact that he keeps that stonewall face while doing such risky stunts is part of what makes him magical!
I just really appreciated the way your post helped me think about Buster Keaton in ways I never had before. Keep that up in other blog comments!
DeleteHe did stunts and never changed the expression in his face. Or how he would ride around the wheels on the train. I would say that The General had more dangerous stunts then Safety lasts because i think that it was a real train in Busters movie and i don't think it was real when Harold Lloyd climbed the walls in Safety lasts. So i would Say The General was more dangerous.
ReplyDeleteBuster Keaton did A lot of stunts in his movies. I don’t remember who told me in class but someone said that Buster wouldn’t stop filming even if he died. They said that he broke like a collar bone i think and that he didn’t even notice until years later. I loved how he did that and i find that pretty amazing.
My favorite scene in this movie was around the end when he was trying to kiss the girl and trying to solute the other soldiers at the same time.
So what he did was he went to the other side and started kissing her and just kept putting his hand up and down. Another part was when he tried shooting the cannon at the bad guys. It just ended up falling in the front of his train. I think that people liked Buster Keaton’s films because they where hilarious and it just has a good story to it. I really like Buster Keaton, i really like the other two comedians to. I never really tried watching black and white films because i thought they are boring. But now that i have this class with Josh and Will, i find these movies really interesting and it makes me want to give all silent films a chance instead of judging them right away.
I AM SO GLAD YOU'RE BROADENING YOUR PERSPECTIVES! WIN! YES! YES! YES!
DeleteAnd good job writing three paragraphs and answering all the required questions.
Buster is the stone face of comedy. he never once smiled not even when he was with his girl. But he did have a lot of emotion and you could see his emotion with out him smiling. he also is the stunt king he is always doing dangerous stunts. for example when he was on the train he was always moving around and doing a lot of things that could get him killed. like sitting on the front of the train.
ReplyDeletesafety last has a lot of fun and cool stunts but the general had more. not only did the general have more stunts the stunts were more dangerous too. over all the general was the best of the two for stunts. moving around on a moving train beats any stunt in safety last.
my favorite scene from the general would have to be the scene when he is trying to enlist in the army and they don't want him. Its funny and entertaining to watch. He wants in so bad that he pretends to be someone else he even tries stealing someone else's paper. He went through great lengths the get enlisted but he failed every time.
I feel like the music did not go very well with the film. the film was ment to be funny! the music made it seem very serious. Times that were once funny became serious. i would have loved this film a hundred times more if the music was ment for a comedy
Three full paragraphs: check. Two required questions answered: check. Two other questions answered: check.
DeleteI think I will pick a different score the next time I show this film to a class.
On my opinion of what i noticed from this film that captured buster keatons style to me, was the part where he notices the train had been stolen, and chased after it. the fact that the relentlessness of this mans desire to get this train back reminds me
ReplyDeleteof reasons to admire other peoples and my own desires.
i believe the general has way more daring stunts than safety last, because he was walking around jumping on a moving train doing all kinds of stuff with plenty of opritunitys to fall off and get injured of even killed, and keeping his stone face all the way through it it just astonishes me.
i think why people then like films like these so much is that these were extremley exciting to them and i still think they truly are and genuine. these films are completley fasinating that even back then movies have been awesome.
my favorite scene was when he was stand around the cannon and everyone else around him was getting picked off one by one and hes just completley oblivious to what is happening swing his sword and the blade breaks off and hits the sharpshooter.
this movie was the perfect mixture of comedy tragedy and drama, just a brilliant film, took over as one of my favorite movies i have ever seen. buster keaton once again fails to disapoint.
-Liam Wood Period 2
Three full paragraphs: check. Two required questions answered: check. Two other questions answered: check.
DeleteYou say that "Buster Keaton once again fails to disappoint". Have you seen many other Keaton films? Which ones?
Keaton really is the master of being oblivious in a funny way. I love it!
The thing that reminds me of buster keatons style in this movie is when he is jumping from train car to train car detaching them to go faster and loose the other trains. This really shows the side of him that doesn't care if he gets hurt.
ReplyDeleteThe general definitely had more danger in it because he was jumping from train to train running falling doing alot of dangerous things. But in safety last there was only a bit of those scenes the main one was when he was climbing the building and that was mostly effects and wasn't as intense.
My favorite scene in the general was when he got promoted this scene was really heart warming it added the emotion in silent films that I really never felt before. The reason people like this movie is because it was really intense it had depth in the way buster portrayed himself on screen.
Jacob Belcolori
Three full paragraphs: check. Two required questions answered: check. Two other questions answered: check.
DeleteOne thing that makes your post stick out from the rest is that most people picked a funny scene for their favorite scene but you picked a heart-warming one. I think that all three of the silent comedians' work really shines the most when they are not only being funny but also communicating deep human emotion.
Pretty much the whole thing because he does not have expressions when hes in movies. I think that safety last had more dangerous stunts because he climbed a twelve story building. My favorite part was when they said that they might out numbered and it they figured out that its only one guy.
ReplyDeleteim not good at writing essays
Graded.
DeleteIn the movie The General Buster Keaton had a straight face during the whole flick he never smiled or frowned he just had a stone face, even when they showed a photo of him and his train he wasn't smiling and that was one of his trade marks. I just love how in these situations he just has the same face it really makes the stuff he gets into so much funnier. I feel like The General was more dangerous then Safety Last because Buster was hopping around on trains that were actual moving! Like on my list of things I wouldn't want to do is running on top of a moving train.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite scene was the part was when they were on the track trying to fix it after it was broke and they stood for like ever. While buster was running around lighting the tracks on fire and just blocking them off more. Or I really liked the part when the army people were like is that your inform and he was no, and I just felt so scared that they would get mad at hi, then he becomes General and I was just so relived
I feel like the reason why people liked it back when it was made is the same reason why the class liked it, because it was just a good movie. It was funny, it had love, and thrill. It kept me on the edge of my seat.
Graded.
DeleteOne moment of The General that is very indicative of Buster Keaton's style was when he was tossed the small piece of wood and just looked at it and threw it straight back with a completely straight face. He was very well known for his deadpan style of comedy.
ReplyDeleteI feel The General had more dangerous stunts than Safety Last. Although safety last had the dangerous task of climbing a tall building I believe that the risk of falling in front of the train on the tracks was much greater and would have been a much higher possibility of death.
My favorite scene in The General was when he is forced to give up his uniform and he's disappointed but, then he gets a higher class uniform and he's so excited. I think it's a fun and it's such an unexpected swing in emotion.
Graded.
DeleteBuster Keaton's style is of a daredevil, and one of a stunt artist. I think that this movie is great for showing that, but one scene in particular that stood out of me was the scene where Keaton’s character was firing a cannon, because it provided a lot of danger and comedy, two things Keaton was know for. I feel that The General had more dangerous stunts, considering that with Safety Last, he could’ve had a trampoline underneath him, but with The General, there was no real way to minimize the danger of a train.
ReplyDeleteI think that the score used in class was one that decreased the comedy shown and made it more of a thrill than a laugh. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing, but it changed the style of the movie for me a little bit. If it was maybe lighter and happier I feel it would make the movie at least ten times funnier. I do think however, that in some moments of the movie, the score was used perfectly and fit as they say, like a glove.
People probably liked The General for a plethora of reasons. For one, it had a lot of trains, and really, who doesn’t like trains? In all seriousness though, people probably liked The General because of the massive amounts of awesome stunts done, It showed the civil war done in a tasteful manner from the losing side, and it used the style of buster Keaton in such an awesome way.