The General Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The General Blu-ray Movie Review

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.

The General Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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.

The General Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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.

The General Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• 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.

The General Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

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.