The perfect opportunity to give the film a second chance came up this weekend. Moviate out of Harrisburg sponsored a showing at the Ned Smith Center with live musical accompaniment from the Reese Project. So off I went. The verdict?
I love The General.
Obviously, seeing it projected enhanced the experience, but there was more to it. A lot more.
For one, the print shown was 20 minutes shorter than the one I watched before. And the edits were all of the things that bugged me. Gone was the prologue setting up Keaton's love for his train. The idea that Johnny Gray may be choosing between a girl and a locomotive was silly, and not in a good way.
Gone too was the extended explanations of the Union plot. We already know everything we need to know. The Union stole the train and it's up to Keaton to get it back.
The sleeker cut keeps its focus on Buster's athleticism and comedic timing and both deliver. He can make you laugh as he leaps across trains, or he can slay you with a simple look at the right moment.
There were two other aspects of the presentation that sold me. First, The General played to a packed house. Comedy, more than any genre (except maybe horror), benefits from the communal experience a public showing can provide. The crowd was laughing and it was infectious.
The coup d'grace for me was the reaction of my nine-year old son. He was in stitches from the beginning and kept howling throughout. It's amazing to experience a silent film that can be so affecting for every generation.
I loved The General. I could say more, but my son summed it up best. Twenty minutes into the film, he leaned over and simply stated: "Dad, this is awesome!"
Indeed it is.
Revised rating ***** out of *****
Image from Silent Era
0 comments:
Post a Comment