Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1�autumn 2005
fea
ture
s
PHONE 1.619.281.6725 • FAX 1.858.578.6337 • EMAIL [email protected] our database at www.reelinintheyears.com
THEWORLD’S
LARGESTMUSICFOOTAGELIBRARY
The General…Lobster’s award-winning restoration has made Buster Keaton’s greatest film ‘better than new’ Jenny Hammerton reports
Winner of the FOCAL International Award for Archive Restoration or
Preservation Project, Lobster Films’ work on the Buster Keaton film The General is a source of delight and celebration for silent movie fans everywhere. The newly-restored version of the film premiered as the closing event of the Cannes Festival in 2004, with accompanying live philharmonic orchestra accompaniment. Japanese musician Joe Hisaishi, famous for several animated film soundtracks, was invited to compose a brand new score. The result of his endeavours will be available alongside the restored version of The General on DVD soon. Hopefully, we will also have an opportunity to see the restoration on the big screen here in the UK sometime in the near future.
Thought by many to be Keaton’s best film, The General is a fun romp along the train tracks of Tennessee and Oregon, set against the backdrop of the American Civil War. The plot revolves around Keaton’s quest to prove himself worthy of the love of his sweetheart Annabelle Lee. Keaton’s character Johnnie Gray tries to sign up for the army but is refused a place. Recruiting officers decide that Johnnie will be of more use to the cause in his capacity as train driver, but Annabelle believes that he is a coward. She tells him that she will not see him again until he is in uniform. Johnnie gets a chance to prove his bravery when Union spies steal his beloved locomotive The General. Annabelle is on board, and in true silent movie style is kidnapped by the baddies and tied up – though not to the train tracks! Johnnie pursues The General in another engine, The Texas, and a crazy, frantically-paced chase ensues.
Opportunities for train-related stunts abound. Keaton manages to maintain
his legendary “stone face” whilst falling onto cowcatchers, tripping along the top of carriages and failing to operate a hand-pumped rail trolley effectively. Much fun is also had with a bizarre penny-farthing-style bicycle and a comedy rolling artillery cannon. Keaton greets all obstacles and problems with the same phlegmatic deadpan attitude. The chase culminates in a spectacular train crash that was one of the most expensive stunts of the time and still looks impressive today.
Costly flopKeaton was perplexed by the negative reaction the film received on its release. He had invested a great deal of time and money into the project and felt it to be his greatest work. Box office receipts were poor and critics panned the film. It has taken many years for the film to be elevated to the status
of “one of the greatest of all silent comedies” and Keaton’s “masterpiece”. Film critic Pauline Kael believed that the reason the film was a costly flop at the time of release was because it was
“too perfect”. With this fabulous new restoration there is an opportunity to re-evaluate Keaton’s favourite of his own films and see what the fuss is all about.
Serge Bromberg of Lobster Films describes their restoration of the film as follows: “The General is a very simple project in its principle: to recreate, with digital technologies and from the best possible elements, the ultimate version of the film – as good as it was when it was new except a little better, because we could correct certain defects due to technical problems during the actual shooting
of the film. Of course, this technical work was very sophisticated, expensive, long, and painful. But what a result in the end!”
“With the help of these digital technologies, The General is back, better than ever. And for this wonderful moment of cinema, we would like to thank only one person: Buster Keaton himself!”
Film Images represents Lobster Films in the UK. In addition to Buster Keaton, many other greats of the silent screen can be found in the Film Images collection. Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin and Fatty Arbuckle amongst many others can be found in all their slapstick glory. There are also some fascinating
“Hollywood home movies” and “Behind the scenes
Johnnie’s bravery is rewarded with the uniform Annabelle Lee demanded
Frantically-paced chase scenes keep up the excitement
Madcap humour, Keaton style
Reprinted from Archive Zones, Autumn 2005 Issue No.55 © Copyright FOCAL International
14
ARCHIVE zones
14
ARCHIVE zones
autumn 200514
fea
ture
at the studios” items giving us a fascinating glimpse into the glamorous times of the early days of cinema. A Greta Garbo screen test, Joan Crawford at a dress fitting and Norma Shearer checking her fan mail are all delightful screen moments.
Jenny Hammer ton Film Images (London) Ltdtel: +44 (0)20 7624 ��88email: [email protected] www.film-images.com
All the images accompanying this ar ticle are supplied by the Kobal Collection, sister company to Film Images.
Serge Bromberg, Lobster Filmstel: +�� (1)4� �8 69 69email: [email protected]
Keaton’s stony-faced cowcatcher stunt
Reprinted from Archive Zones, Autumn 2005 Issue No.55 © Copyright FOCAL International
