Not funny - The General (1927) Discussion

[–] stephan-86 17 years ago

You are kidding right? I love British comedy, but this film predates good British comedy several decades.

I'm the Patron Saint of treason, that's the reason.

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[–] dbb79 16 years ago

What's funny about it? Please explain.

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[–] jtyroler 16 years ago

As a comedy, "The General" isn't a laugh out loud movie, although there are some humorous moments - Buster kept trying to enlist, the Union army men trying to fix the track while Buster gets the Confederate troops, the sword that keeps flying off the handle, or Buster grabbing the flag and ends up standing on the back of an officer. One of the things about many of Keaton's movies is ingenuity of how the movie was filmed. Whether it be firing the cannon just so it barely made it to the cab of the locomotive, making sure that the bridge had burned enough for the train to fall through, etc. His sense of timing was incredible.

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[–] stephen_chow79 16 years ago

It's just so well made, who cares if it isn't very funny.

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] dockbennett 16 years ago

I agree. No-one has ever had the comedic timing of Buster.

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[–] Dr_RoButtnik 12 years ago

I nearly died laughing when he covered his face at all the supplies being dumped on his love interest in the bag... but this is a lot less funny than his other films. That being said it's way more thrilling and suspenseful. Had a lot of fun watching it.

"Weirdness was all he cared about. Weirdness and sex and plenty to drink."

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[–] Lord_X 16 years ago

It's not something that makes you want to laugh uncontrollably, but it is still a very funny film. And also the proof that CGI is overrated.
You just have to let yourself go and don't compare it to the current type of humor.

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[–] DodgersRule 14 years ago

To be honest, sitting here - watching it now on TMC - I LOL many times.

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[–] rgcustomer 14 years ago

I agree. I wouldn't call it a comedy necessarily, but there are several funny moments, or clever tricks that make you laugh. It's funnier than a lot of what passes for comedy these days.

I want to echo your comment about CGI. Even the trailer for Clint Eastwood's new film Hereafter makes me cringe from all the poorly-done CGI effects, because for someone with his talent, I expect so much better. (Aren't trailers supposed to make you WANT to watch the film?) This film from nearly a century ago is a delight to watch, because so much of it actually did happen as filmed. They didn't animate a flood; they made a flood. They didn't animate a train; they used a train. Without knowing, I'd guess there was also some super-imposition or rear-screen projection or whatever, but I don't think a lot of post-processing was done, beyond tinting. I wonder if today's audiences would be shocked seeing something actually happen, after a decade of CGI fires and smoke.

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[–] FCA1975 14 years ago

This movie was hilarious and excellently made. OP is a hypocrite. He says stick to British comedy, but in another post he bashed Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This type of person will go against their own word for sake of argument. I find that annoying and ignorant.

Re: unarguably the best comedy of all time
by dbb79 (Thu Jul 29 2010 14:44:24)
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I didn't laugh once, and I have a very good sense of humor. But that explains it doesn't it?

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[–] TechnoTom 14 years ago

This has got to be a windup.. there are plenty of hilarious moments in this film!

A few from memory.. the entire sequence of Johnny trying to get enlisted.

Johnny *running* after the General and thinking all the townspeople are behind him when he actually left them about 1000 yards away.. and still peering round the bend as if to get a better look.

Johnny being so distracted cutting firewood with his broken axe that he fails to notice he has steamed straight into enemy territory.

Johnny trying to load and fire the towed cannon.

Johnny standing under a tree as if it might afford some protection from an artillery shell he's just fired directly up into the air.

Johnny shooting the floor by mistake in the middle of that sombre scene whilst that Union soldier is surrendering.

Loads more but too many to think of at the moment. right back to work!

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[–] yourauntgussie 14 years ago

As a Southerner (both sides of my family, y'all!) whose umpty-great grandpappy was a bodyguard to CSA President Jefferson Davis, my absolute favorite line is Keaton's response to being kicked out of the enlistment office:

"If you lose this war, don't blame me!"

As though that "Cause" had any hope of prevailing!

(BTW, no rationalizations -- slavery was and is evil. Period.)

dolceri ac dolcere

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[–] magic8ball2112 14 years ago

Fair enough. Judging from Brit 'wit' like the old Benny Hill shows, Brit humor (excuse me "humour") revolves mainly around fart jokes & sight gags.
You must've LOVED Jackass - The Movie!

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[–] TechnoTom 14 years ago

I'm a Brit and I don't think much of these sweeping generalisations. You're all like that you Americans. Joke.

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[–] blakjak_cc 14 years ago

I don't think On the Buses or The Benny Hill Show get 8.4 out of 10 on IMDb. ;)
Not that I don't love my British comedy, prim & proper, & boobs everywhere.
Buster was & always will be a legend. The stunts & scenes in all his movies were way ahead of their time & have been copied many times over the years (by stuntmen not actors), but nothing beats the original.

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[–] Disardor 14 years ago

I don't find The General to be gaspingly hilarious but I do find that when I watch it I generally seem to have a smile on my face for most of the movie. I don't even think that I really appreciate it first and foremost as a "comedy," though, but rather as just a transcendent film experience where everything (direction, acting, stunt work (if they can even be called stunts! More like Keaton does the real thing while the cameras roll), etc.) comes together to form a perfect whole. Brilliant film.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Errington_92 13 years ago

It's not a laugh a minute but there were moments which made me laugh such as the obvious physical gags and moments which were not intended to be funny mainly Keaton's mannerisms in certain scenes.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".

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[–] PillowRock 12 years ago

moments which were not intended to be funny mainly Keaton's mannerisms in certain scenes.

What makes you think that Keaton's deadpan mannerisms were not intended to be funny? That deadpan was Keaton's schtick, and he was very good at it. It wasn't for nothing that he was nicknamed "The Great Stoneface".

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