Did you know that Blu-ray.com also is available for Canada? Simply select the
flag icon to the right of the quick search at the top-middle.
[hide this message]
The General Blu-ray delivers great video and superb audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
Johnnie loves two things: his train and the lovely Annabelle Lee. When the Civil War breaks out he enlists as a soldier, but it is decided that he is too valuable as an engineer. Annabelle thinks it is because he is a coward. When Union spies capture Johnnie with Annabelle on board, Johnnie "The General" must recue both his loves.
For more about The General and the The General Blu-ray release, see the The General Blu-ray Review published by Brian Orndorf on February 19, 2017 where this Blu-ray release scored 4.0 out of 5.
Trying to achieve bigger and brighter screen events, 1926's "The General" finds director/star Buster Keaton embarking on a herculean task, attempting to craft a slapstick comedy about the Civil War that makes extensive use of full-sized trains. It's the picture that almost torpedoed his career, but Keaton's folly has developed an appreciative audience over the last 90 years, becoming not only a beloved feature, but one largely considered to be his finest endeavor.
For more extensive analysis on "The General," please read Casey Broadwater's previous review.
The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) is billed as a "2K restoration by Lobster Films," continuing work to bring Keaton's classics to HD. It's an impressive clean-up job, making the "The General" not only look bright and bold again, but also immediate, with overall clarity allowing viewers to study make-up application and facial reaction. Age is obvious and softness is unavoidable, but some textures survive. Directorial artistry is also open for inspection, with difference production processes easy to spot. Cinematographic balance is comfortable, offering satisfactory delineation. Source has been worked over, but mild flicker and speckling remains.
For the 2.0 LPCM sound event, listeners can choose between scores from Robert Israel and Joe Hisaishi. Both tracks are accurate and detailed, with agreeable instrumentation and position, never intruding on the action, finding true balance.
Commentary features film historians Michael Schlesinger and Stan Taffel.
Orson Welles Introduction (12:23, SD) is taken from "The Silent Years," a film appreciation show, where the iconic moviemaker shares his love for Keaton's comedic abilities and "beautiful face." Welles talks about his personal history with Keaton and offers a wealth of clips from early shorts, all the while sucking on a cigar.
Gloria Swanson Introduction (2:14, SD) showcases the famous actress sharing her fondness for Keaton's work, with particular attention to "The General."
"Return of the General" (11:17, SD) is a short film on the restoration of the actual train that inspired Keaton's movie. A family favorite throughout the years, The General rides again after major repair work, dazzling riders of all ages as it tours the country.
Worked over by a skilled restoration team, "The General" is revitalized for Blu-ray, providing a clear-ish look at the substantial mayhem Keaton arranges here in his effort to push the boundaries of physical comedy, delivering career highlights in scale and mayhem, and doing so while maintaining his customary deadpan reaction.
The General: Other Editions
Blu-ray
1-disc
Blu-ray
1-disc
Blu-ray Bundles/Box Sets with The General (1 bundle)
Use the thumbs up and thumbs down icons to agree or disagree that the title is similar to The General. You can also suggest completely new similar titles to The General in the search box below.
Eureka Entertainment has announced its August batch of Blu-ray releases. They are: The Incident (1967), Used Cars (1980),
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), The Third Wife (2018), and Buster Keaton: Three Films (1924-1928).
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
flag icon to the right of the quick search at the top-middle.
[hide this message]
Use the thumbs up and thumbs down icons to agree or disagree that the title is similar to The General. You can also suggest completely new similar titles to The General in the search box below.
