Whitley Bay Film Festival: Buster Keaton's The General

This event is part of Whitley Bay Film Festival.

Tickets: 

Adults: £15

Under 18s: £10

Doors open 7.00pm

Event starts 7.30pm

The General (1926) CERT U Many critics consider The General to be the last great comedy of the silent era, and it consistently ranks as one of the greatest comedies of all time on international critics' polls. and what a fantastic setting for this 100th anniversary screening, the Stephenson Steam Railway Museum! Buster Keaton was arguably the greatest comedian of the silent era and certainly one of the funniest and most talented performers to ever work in the movie business.

The General is his masterpiece: co-directed, co-written, co-produced and starring Keaton, it is a side-splitting document of a comedy genius at the peak of his powers and boasts some of the finest slapstick set pieces ever committed to film. Western & Atlantic Railroad train engineer Johnnie Gray (Keaton) loves two things: his sweetheart Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack) and his prized locomotive, The General. When the Civil War breaks out, Johnnie intends to enlist in the Confederate Army, but is rejected – ending his budding relationship with Annabelle.

As the war rages on, though, spies working for the Union steal Johnnie’s beloved engine and inadvertently kidnap Annabelle, leading him to doggedly pursue them both across enemy lines.