Keaton riding on the train wheels
In the famous scene where Keaton rides on the train wheels, what is the name of the train part he is sitting on? Is there a specific term for the rod that turns the wheels?
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MovieChat Forums > The General (1927) Discussion > Keaton riding on the train wheels
Anybody know where I could find a pic or a gif of this scene? Also my friend said ke seen this pic on a tshirt but I can't find it anywhere. Thanks for any help.
Chris
It's called a crossbar. I read that he risked his life for that shot by having the locomotive move under its own power. It was easy to accidentally spin those wheels (as seen several times elsewhere in the movie), but Keaton insisted on having the engine movie itself rather than be pushed by another offscreen engine.
Totally worth it!
As someone who works with live steam locomotives (in miniature, 1/8th scale), I fail to see how this shot would look any different if a locomotive (off-screen) were pushing the train. I doubt that Keaton would risk his life for a scene that would appear just as convincing if it were done safely. It's more likely that well-meaning Keaton fans unnecessarily aggrandize the risks Buster took, as if that would make his film any more impressive.
sharewallerworld, the account of how that scene was filmed was told by Buster Keaton himself to interviewers. It is possible that he embellished such stories in later years, but there is no record of him otherwise exaggerating the risks he took. I have no reason to doubt him now. He said the engineer in the shot practiced several times to get a feel for the throttle in order to avoid any slipping, and once he felt confident, so did Keaton.
I have no direct experience with live steam trains, but was on hand to photographically document the restoration of the B&O "William Mason" in preparation for its use in "The Wild Wild West" movie. You'll recall the Mason is an American 4-4-0, the same type and vintage of the original General, and very similar to the engines used in the Keaton film. A friend who was integral in the restoration is very familiar with the original General and has researched these locomotives in great detail. I learned a great deal about thse machines from him during that time (and even took a photograph of him sitting on the crossbar!) He also believes Keaton's account of how the scene was filmed.
Keaton risked is life often in his movies, and in retrospect, the risk involved in this particular scene seems on a par with many others, including when he broke his neck on a rail in "Sherlock, Jr."
I would call that a "connecting rod" actually.
For my American cousins it seems, according to wikipedia, that you'd call it a "main rod".
And if I was living back in the day I'd call it a "coupling rod".
Hi Tom,
You're right, I've seen those terms as well. The references I have to "crossbar" are mostly in connection with the Keaton gag(!) I've used that term when photographing the William Mason, and nobody ever corrected me. Maybe that's also a valid term, or maybe they were just being polite.
Also called a push-rod.
Top scene in a top movie, 1 of the few silent films I can watch and enjoy.
that was a great scene.