harlowkeatongirl Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 ... Or fans of the movie "The General." http://www.greatlocomotivechase.com/keaton1.html And at the bottom of the page, there is also a link "Behind The Scenes of The General." Includes some pics, stories, and stuff about the making of the film and the history of The General locomotive itself. I thought it was interesting reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classicsfan1119 Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 Thanks, HKG....I have yet to see all of "The General", but desperately want to, so I will check out your link. I saw somewhere else that you have asked TCM to please show this Keaton masterpiece (among others), and sincerely hope that it's in their library and that they will show it, at least on Silent Sunday's offerings. I don't get any other TV stations that do seem to air Keaton's works, so if TCM can't air them, I guess that I'm going to have to start saving my pennies to buy them. ML Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gagman66 Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 The only version TCM airs of THE GENERAL is the 1969 KILLIAM SHOW'S print. It has only a William Perry piano score. Although a solid score it hardly does the film justice. They are not allowed it appears to run the KINO version with a score by Robert Israel, but they should be able to show the Carl Davis Orchestra scored version produced by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill in 1987! I'm almost for certain that TCM holds the domestic broadcast rights to all of the Thames Silent's! That would include versions of Keaton's OUR HOSPITALITY, THE NAVIGATOR, and THE GENERAL! Most likely however, if another edition of THE GENERAL shows up on TCM anytime soon it will be the new ALLOY ORCHESTRA scored version just out on DVD from IMAGE, and not the forgotten Thames version. I don't know why? I wish that I did! Not to offend anyone here, but THE GENERAL would certainly not be my first choice to introduce newbie's either to Buster Keaton or Silent Comedy! Sticking with Keaton, check out SEVEN CHANCES instead. A much better introduction or maybe a Two-reeler such as the SCARECROW or THE BOAT? It takes some time to appreciate a complex feature such as OUR HOSPITALITY or THE GENERAL properly. Meanwhile, Any of Harold Lloyd's un-cut silent features provides a fascinating first look to the novice, at the enchanting art of silent comedy. THE FRESHMAN is my personal favorite, but superb Lloyd features like GRANDMAS BOY, WHY WORRY? and GIRL SHY among others, are enough to make you a fan for life. For their sheer entertainment value they are pretty difficult to top! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harlowkeatongirl Posted April 11, 2004 Author Share Posted April 11, 2004 Well, I don't know about that, Gagman66. The General was only the second Keaton movie I ever saw, and I slowly fell in love with it. I say slowly, because I liked it the first time I saw it, but it was only over time that I began to realize the danger AND magnitude of the stunts involved, the directing, the cinematography. That was all real up there. And I just love his style of comedy. It's like he doesn't realize he's funny. He does so much with just subtle facial expressions. I laugh my butt off during the part when he tries to B.S. the enlisting guy by saying he's a "Bartender." LOL Just the LOOK on his face.... Or at the end when the Union general wakes up in the train. He sort of flashes his gun and makes a "come on" motion with his head. LOL Again - the look. Or when he's talking to the other soldiers on the field. They keep getting shot while's trying to talk to them. So he gets this look on his face when approaching the next soldier, like "Okay, you WILL stay alive while I tell you this, right?" LOL As for Harold Lloyd, I've only seen a tapeful of his shorts. And it was a bad quality videotape. So I really haven't gotten a good accurate feel for his work, yet. But I have to admit, from what I saw, he's kind of cliche. The funniest thing I saw was when he tried to charm a snake. I have to say I laughed really hard at that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gagman66 Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 I wonder "Harlowkeatongirl" which Keaton film was it that you saw before THE GENERAL? You didn't say. Again I can see I have somehow managed to offend you without meaning to do so. Sorry about that, but it's the mere fact of THE GENERAL that perplexes me so. Having seen SEVEN CHANCES first THE GENERAL just didn't seem to live up to it's vaunted reputation at the time. That being that it was generally considered as the 2nd greatest silent comedy behind only Chaplin's THE GOLD RUSH! Matter of fact more recently the AFI in 2000, gave the film the highest rating of any Silent comedy in it's rather absurd list of the 100 FUNNIEST AMERICAN MOVIES OF ALL TIME. A rating that appears to be based more on familiarity of title than actual humorous content. To me the problem with this is that I expected significantly more laughs out of the picture than I got. THE GENERAL plain and simple wasn't that funny. On a personal level as a Keaton melodrama, I prefer OUR HOSPITALITY, as a comedy I would place several of Buster's films ahead of it. THE GENERAL was not big a success during it's original release in 1926. It was panned by most critics, who like myself likely anticipated allot more comedy. THE GENERAL is impressive from a technical standpoint yes, but as with SHERLOCK JUNIOR. sometimes the complexity of the gags overshadows their humors intent. I have just seen the CARL DAVIS scored version of the film for the very first time and was hoping that it would finally make me enjoy THE GENERAL much more than I have in many previous viewing. It didn't! For years Keaton's reputation among film buffs largely rested on a few Public Domain shorts and features such as ONE WEEK, COP'S, COLLEGE, STEAMBOAT BILL JUNIOR. and yes THE GENERAL. All have been frequently revived. It has only been within the past 10 to 15 years or so that a number of his other films have become generally available. Although during the mid 70's a 16 millimeter film distributor called AUDIO BRANDON did offer his independent features in said format. Still it wasn't until 1995 that most of Keaton's silent features and shorts finally made it to the home video market. Among the three acknowledged greatest silent comedies of the 1920's, Harold Lloyd's THE FRESHMAN stands up as well today if not better than any of them. Unfortunately, the film is known to many film buff's today largely by title and reputation alone. That reputation due to so little screenings over the past 15 years definitely hasn't survived anywhere near as well as that of either THE GOLD RUSH or THE GENERAL. Undoubtedly, this accounts for it's ridiculously low #79 ranking in the 2000 AFI poll. On the other hand given that more than 500 films were actually nominated that rating might be viewed as surprisingly high, and it did narrowly edge out Keaton's THE NAVIGATOR by two spots. None the less Harold Lloyd clearly deserved to have more than just one among his 12 nominee's selected! Somehow after being voted into THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY in 1990, THE FRESHMAN subsequently vanished from sight for a considerable period of time. In fact before the recent TCM airings since last year, the film hadn't been on Television in any form here in the states in some two decades! An official DVD release is pending, but hey it's been pending now for at least a couple years! If your anxious "Harlowkeatongirl" to see THE FRESHMAN (and by all rights you should be) sad to say it won't air during the April 20th HL Birthday marathon. Although a cut down version is featured in the debuting 1963 compilation THE FUNNY SIDE OF LIFE. However, I'll gladly run you off (or anyone else who is interested) a DVD-R copy of the complete film (along with GIRL SHY on the same disc!) for free! Just reimburse me for the shipping cost! Same offer goes for all the Lloyd features in my collection! These are fully authored programs with menu's, thumbnails, and background images! As a collector you will not be disappointed I assure you, and your not going to find a better deal anywhere! For instance last year someone on the internet attempted to sell me a DVD-R copy of the 2001 Japanese DVD release of THE FRESHMAN(with Carl Davis Jazz Score) for a whopping $75! I would have bought it too, if I didn't know that the complete restored version with Robert Israel score was to debut on TCM within just a couple of months! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harlowkeatongirl Posted April 11, 2004 Author Share Posted April 11, 2004 Hmm... Okay, number one: I don't know about anybody else... but I guess I never really considered this particular thread open for debate over Mr. Keaton's work. I think it's important to get back to the original point here and remember that this was simply an interesting link for the Keaton and General fans to read. So if you're not a fan, then why.......? And also, I re-read my own post. To be honest, I can't really see where I sounded "offended," Gagman66. I only disagreed with you... unless that's the same thing in your book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harlowkeatongirl Posted April 11, 2004 Author Share Posted April 11, 2004 Anyway, in the spirit of Damfino-dom... Happy Easter, everybody (who is not stuck at work like I am). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gagman66 Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 As I stated in another post, it was because of Keaton that I first became interested in silent film comedy to begin with! In this respect, I owe him a great dept. So I certainly never said I was not a Buster Keaton fan (which you more or less implied) for I am, He's right there with Charlie and Harold on my desk top for crying out loud! Hey I have a picture file chuck full of images dedicated individually to all three! Nevertheless again "Harlowkeatongirl", I am quite certain that any such ranking(SILENT ERA HAVING THE GENERAL LISTED CURRENTLY AS NUMBER ONE MOST POPULAR AMONG ALL SILENT FILMS?)has to do a great deal with the number of people who have actually seen the movie! Wouldn't you agree? The amount of people who have seen Lloyd's best work is insignificant by comparison with how many contemporary viewers have attended a screening of THE GENERAL over the past 40 plus years! Not to mention that numerous video versions have been on the market since the late 1970's! The majority of the masses today aren't anymore than vaguely familiar with Chaplin or Keaton let alone Harold Lloyd! A sad but unfortunately true fact. You yourself 'Harlowkeatongirl" a confirmed Keaton and Chaplin fan, admit to having actually seen precious little of HL's work to date! The bottom line is I don't want to promote a rivalry between the three of them, I just wish to see Harold be equally respected and appreciated! Something he clearly is not, even if only through sheer force of numbers! Being a native Nebraskan, I greatly envy the fact that the state of Kansas honor's Buster with an annual film festival I believe? I only wish Harold Lloyd got the same degree of consideration from the residents of his home state! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harlowkeatongirl Posted April 12, 2004 Author Share Posted April 12, 2004 Yep, I put in a request for it, and I hope they show it. I looked at the future schedule and the only one they have slated anytime in the future is "Steamboat Bill, Jr." which is the first BK film I saw, and has the famous scene where the front of the house falls down and his life was spared only because he happened to be standing where the window was. LOL > Thanks, HKG....I have yet to see all of "The > General", but desperately want to, so I will check > out your link. I saw somewhere else that you have > asked TCM to please show this Keaton masterpiece > (among others), and sincerely hope that it's in their > library and that they will show it, at least on > Silent Sunday's offerings. I don't get any other TV > stations that do seem to air Keaton's works, so if > TCM can't air them, I guess that I'm going to have to > start saving my pennies to buy them. ML Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gagman66 Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 "Harlowkeatongirl" have you seen the new Alloy Orchestra version of STEAMBOAT BILL JUNIOR found on the IMAGE DVD release? While I understand that the Alloy Orchestra has been a subject of some considerable debate among Keaton and Silent film fans in general, (some people loath them) this is the only version of the film yet to be released with more than just a lone Piano (William Perry) or Theater Organ (the late Gaylord Carter)used for accompaniment! I would love to see this picture at long last receive the deluxe treatment when it comes to scoring! Is this finally it? Do you have an opinion? Does it even come close in your mind? Would you recommend it or not? What do you think of the new score for THE GENERAL found on the same disc, and is the print quality for both better than on the KINO DVD release? Just curious? See it seems that I do value your opinion after all, now don't I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classicsfan1119 Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 Gagman, it sounds like you really know your stuff about Keaton, and also the various music tracks that were added to so many of these early silent comedies. Thanks! I'm taking notes! ;)ML Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gagman66 Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 classicfan1119 Thank you, it's nice to be appreciated! Even on Harold Lloyd.com I'm generally perceived as something of a "Black-Sheep"! It's nice to have made a new fan you and "Little Tramp Lover"! Now "Harlowkeatongirl" can we be friends! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gagman66 Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 "Classic fan 1119" Thank you, it's very nice to be appreciated every now and than! Even on Harold Lloyd.com I'm generally perceived as something of a "Black-Sheep"! I've been called a "bootlegger" and even a "crook"! Yet all kinds of people on the site have acquired DVD's from me, and all were plenty thrilled to get them! Most people eventually realize that I must be a pretty good guy! It's nice to have made a couple of new fans, you and "Little Tramp Lover"!Now "Harlowkeatongirl" can we be friends?(Sorry forgot the question mark earlier.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts