During the American Civil War, plucky railway engineer Johnnie Grey sets out to become a hero by rescuing the two loves of his life – his stolen steam locomotive, The General, and his kidnapped sweetheart, Annabelle.
An epic adventure story featuring hilarious slapstick comedy, jaw-dropping stunts and one of cinema’s most celebrated – and expensive! – chase sequences, The General is one of the greatest screen comedies of all time.
It is perhaps the crowning achievement of Buster Keaton’s career – showcasing his vision as a pioneer of early cinema and his absolute commitment to creating memorable movie action.
Event/ This special screening will feature a live score performed by HarmonieBand.
HarmonieBand is a three-piece ensemble dedicated to performing composed scores for silent movies. The trio have performed at arts centres, cinemas and film festivals across Europe, bringing silent films to life through a combination of saxophone, cello, accordion and backing tracks.
Paul Robinson’s score to The General was commissioned by the King Cross Partnership/Rail to Reel Festival in 2003.