# The General (film)

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Cast and Crew :
| Cast ||
| Role | Actor |
| | Buster Keaton |
| | Marion Mack |
| | Charles Henry Smith |
| | Joe Keaton |
| | Glen Cavender |
| | Frederick Vroom |
| | Frank Hagney |
| | Edward Hearn |
| | Al St. John |
| | Boris Karloff |
| | James Farley |
| Crew ||
| Distributor | United Artists, Netflix |
| Director | Buster Keaton (d. 1966), Clyde Bruckman (d. 1955) |
| Producer | Buster Keaton, Joseph M. Schenck (d. 1961) |
| Screenwriter | Al Boasberg (d. 1937), Paul Girard Smith (d. 1968), Clyde Bruckman, Charles Henry Smith (d. 1942), William Pittenger (d. 1904), Buster Keaton |
| Cinematographer | Devereux Jennings (d. 1952), Bert Haines (d. 1991) |
| Editor | Buster Keaton, Sherman Kell |
| Composer | Carl Davis (d. 2023) |
| Based on available information, the latest crew member that is relevant to international copyright laws died in 2023, meaning that this film may be in the public domain in countries and jurisdictions with 0 years p.m.a. or less, as well as in the United States. ||
Joseph M. Schenck PRESENTS Buster Keaton IN "THE GENERAL" A UNITED ARTISTS PRODUCTION
Written and Directed by Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman
Adapted by Al Boasberg and Charles Smith
Photographed by Dev Jennings and Bert Haines
| Technical Director Fred Gabourie | Lighting effects Denver Harmon |
THE CAST
| Annabelle Lee Captain Anderson General Thatcher A Southern General Her father Her brother | Marion Mack Glen Cavender Jim Farley Frederick Vroom Charles Smith Frank Barnes |
| Three Union Generals | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ Joe Keaton Mike Donlin Tom Nawn |
| Johnnie Gray | Buster Keaton |
Copyright by Joseph M. Schenck
The Western and Atlantic Flyer speeding into Marietta, Ga., in the Spring of 1861.
W.&.A.R.R.
3
GENERAL
There were two loves in his life. His engine, And—
Sweet HOME
"Fort Sumter has been fired upon."
"Then the war is here."
"Yes, dad, and I'm going to be one of the first to enlist."
"Aren't you going to enlist?"
| RECRUITING OFFICE | [STOVE] WOOD AND LAMP OIL |
| RECRUITING OFFICE | SOUTHERN COTTON GROWERS EXCHANGE |
"Your name?"
"Johnnie Gray."
"Occupation?"
"Engineer on the Western and Atlantic Railroad."
"Don't enlist him. He is more valuable to the South as an engineer."
"We can't use you."
"William Brown."
"Occupation?"
"Bartender."
"If you lose this war don't blame me."
"Did Johnnie enlist?"
"He didn't even get in line."
"He's a disgrace to the South."
"Why didn't you enlist?"
"They wouldn't take me."
"Please don't lie—I don't want you to speak to me again until you are in uniform."
A year later.
In a Union encampment just North of Chattanooga.
General Thatcher, and his chief spy, Captain Anderson.
"I know every foot of this railroad from Marietta to Chattanooga—and with ten picked men I cannot fail."
"We enter the South as civilians coming from the neutral state of Kentucky to join the Southern cause."
◎ CHATTANOOGA ⌷RIVER ◎ DALTON ⌷RIVER ◎ CALHOUN ⌷RIVER ◎ KINSTON
◎ BIG SHANTY
◎ MARIETTA
◎ ATLANTA
"At Big Shanty we will steal the train while the passengers and crew are at dinner, and proceeding North we will burn every bridge, cutting off the supplies of the army now facing you."
"Then the day you steal the train I will have General Parker advance to meet you."
MARIETTA
"As soon as I arrive I will let you know how seriously father is wounded."
"Big Shanty. Twenty minutes for dinner."
BIG SHANTY
KINGSTON
"Three men stole my General. I think they are deserters."
5
TEXAS
"Why not stop and fight them?"
"I'm afraid they have us greatly outnumbered."
The Southern army facing Chattanooga is ordered to retreat.
General Parker's victorious Northern army advancing.
"There is only one man on that engine."
In the enemy's country—hopelessly lost, helplessly cold and horribly hungry.
"At nine o'clock tomorrow morning our supply trains will meet and unite with General Parker's army at the Rock River bridge."
"Then the army, backed by our supply trains, will advance for a surprise attack on the rebels' left flank."
"Once our trains and troops cross that bridge, nothing on earth can stop us."
"This girl was in the baggage car when we stole the train, so I thought it best to hold her."
"We had better stay here until daybreak to see where we are."
"It was so brave of you to risk your life, coming into the enemy's country, just to save me."
After a nice, quiet, refreshing night's rest.
GENERAL
"We've got to get back to our lines somehow and warn them of this coming attack."
U.S.M.R.R.
"I will get that spy before he reaches the Southern lines. You follow with the supply trains as planned."
"We must pick up more firewood."
The Rock River bridge.
The Northern division nearing the bridge to meet the supply trains.
DIV. HEADQUARTERS
"That bridge is not burned enough to stop you, and my men will ford the river."
Heroes of the day.
"Is that your uniform?"
"I had to wear it to get through the lines."
"Take it off!"
"Enlist the Lieutenant."
"Occupation?"
"Soldier."
THE CAST
| Annabelle Lee Captain Anderson General Thatcher A Southern General Her father Her brother | Marion Mack Glen Cavender Jim Farley Frederick Vroom Charles Smith Frank Barnes |
| Three Union Generals | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ Joe Keaton Mike Donlin Tom Nawn |
| Johnnie Gray | Buster Keaton |
The General
THE END
COPYRIGHT 1926 by JOSEPH M. SCHENCK
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1966, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 57 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse