The story was interesting: a train engineer (Keaton) gets turned down to join the Civil War (it had just broken out at the beginning of the movie) because he can be of more use to the war effort as a train engineer. The problem being that no one explains to him why. (This being a very simplified version of the plot.) He ends up becoming the hero in the end. (Hope I didn't spoil it for you.)
Considering this movie was made in 1927, I couldn't help but look at the way this movie was filmed and what they were able to accomplish. There was no CGI back then and all the stunts and effects obviously had to be done 'old school'. That alone makes this a pretty amazing movie. There is a scene where Keaton is sitting on the front of a moving train and knocking railroad ties and other debris from off the track. It was amazing to watch and incredible that Keaton didn't get himself killed doing it.
This was such a rich movie, conveying so many emotions - it was a love story, it had action, it was funny. All this done so many years ago with no talking. There are movies made today with bigger budgets, CGI up the wazoo that don't come close to being as entertaining as this movie. So there. :)
One word to describe 'The General': Action
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