THE GENERAL | American Cinematheque

Aero Theatre

1328 Montana Avenue,
Santa Monica, CA 90403

Sat, Dec 1, 2018
7:30pm

TICKETS

THE GREAT BUSTER

THE GENERAL

Program begins with:
New Digital Restoration! “The High Sign” (1921, 20 min. Dirs. Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton) In the first short he made after splitting with Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, Buster Keaton is assigned to kill a man he was also hired to protect - his sweetheart’s rich father.
THE HIGH SIGN
THE GENERAL
Restored STEAMBOAT BILL JR (re-scheduled from 11/30).

Followed by:

New Digital Restoration!

THE GENERAL

1926, Douris Corp., 80 min, USA, Dir: Buster Keaton

During the Civil War, train engineer Johnny Grey (Keaton, at his most fearless and funny) has his beloved locomotive stolen by Union spies. He boards and mans another massive train, appropriately named Texas, and sets out to pursue and catch up to his kidnapped steam engine. This classic film is not only an inimitable comedy but also a feat of physical daring, and is not to be missed! Includes Keaton riding the front of a moving train, running along the roof and jumping from car to car, and the filming of a locomotive careening off a collapsing bridge!

Trailer

STEAMBOAT BILL, JR.

1928, Douris Corp., 70 min, USA, Dir: Buster Keaton

Decidedly not manly William Canfield Jr. (Keaton) joins the crew of his father, a gruff and sourpuss riverboat captain. When William falls for the daughter of his father's arch business rival, mayhem ensues. The finest moments of STEAMBOAT BILL, JR. occur during its cyclone sequence, in which Keaton performs what is probably his most notorious (and later imitated) stunt: During the blustery tumult, an entire building front collapses on him, narrowly missing him as he stands directly where the door would be. No trickery! Just the courageous bravura of Buster Keaton.