MovieChat Forums > The General (1927) Discussion > Running Time?

Running Time?

posted 19 years ago by blue3terrier
5 replies | jump to latest

I have seen that most copies of this film run at 75 mins, but the copy I have runs at 105 mins. The 105 min version is still fantastic, and while it tends to drag a little toward the end, it is difficult to imagine cutting an entire half hour from it. IMDB lists an Australian version that runs very close to mine (at 107mins) but I bought my version in America. My question is, does anyone know what the original running time for this film was, or rather, which version Keaton prefered?

[–] The-Silent-Photoplayer 19 years ago

The suggested running time (in the 1920s) was about 75 minutes (running at a brisk 25 or 26 fps). At 105 minutes, it is obviously far too long, and it sounds like this company is not only running it at a slower framerate, but has added or repeated footage that was not in the film originaly.

-J. Theakston
The Silent Photoplayer
http://www.thephotoplayer.com/

[–] pocca 19 years ago

I first saw this film when I was ten or so on TV. I recently bought a cheap disc of this film (running time 105) and rewatched it for the first time in years. Thinking back to version I saw on TV, I believe the movie moved fairly quickly from the collapse of the bridge to the final scene where Johnny tries to kiss his girl and salute his men at the same time. I don't remember at all the parts in between these two scenes where Johnny tries to learn how to use a gun and sword that I saw on the 105 minute disc. I'm wondering if the version I saw on TV was the shorter 75 minute version. (Of course, it could be my memory that's at fault.)

There's a light (Over at the Frankenstein place)--The Rocky Horror Picture Show

[–] Copperfield 19 years ago

Bought a copie from Amazon and the cover said running time 75 minutes but the actual running time was 95 minutes. Anyone knows about this 95 minutes edition?

[–] pocca 19 years ago

I recently saw the 75 minute version produced by Image, and the content seemed identical to that of the 105 minute version I'd seen earlier. I guess the difference does boil down to the number of frames per second.

(Sorry, I've never seen the 95 minute version.)

There's a light (Over at the Frankenstein place)--The Rocky Horror Picture Show

[–] uhforja 19 years ago

My version, bought in Germany for next to nothing, runs for 105 minutes. I don't know at which speed it was supposed to run, but this one never seems to drag.