Subscribe to watch - 14-day free trial, then £4.99 a month
The General
Buster Keaton's masterpiece is widely and rightly regarded as one of the greatest comedies ever made.
Comedy 1926 79 mins Silent
Director: Buster Keaton
Overview
Widely and rightly regarded as one of the greatest comedies ever made, Keaton's masterpiece also impresses as a vivid recreation of the American South during the Civil War. The pleasingly symmetrical storyline is an extended, virtuoso variation on the chase thriller, charting the perilous odyssey to behind enemy lines and back undertaken by Confederate train driver Johnny Gray (Keaton) when his beloved engine - carrying, as it happens, the girl he forlornly dreams of marrying - is stolen by Union soldiers.
Stunningly shot and perfectly paced, the film is considerably more than a series of beautifully executed gags, thanks to a dramatically satisfying narrative and deft characterisation. It helps that it's graced by uniformly strong performances, with Marion Mack especially engaging - and game! - as Anabelle. But it's Keaton, of course, who carries the day, his athletic skill combining with those watchful, wonderfully expressive eyes to create a credible hero of real resilience and intelligence. As close to perfection as filmmaking gets.
Related
Comedy
Felicità Felicità
Comedy 2020 82 mins Director: Bruno Merle
11 year old Tommy is desperate to make it for the first day of the school term, but with parents as eccentric hers, she knows she has the odds against her.
Tu mérites un amour Tu mérites un amour
Comedy 2019 102 mins Director: Hafsia Herzi
Leaving her cheating boyfriend Remi, Lila finds the break-up tough. And when Remi announces he will come to Bolivia to learn from his mistakes, things get even more complicated.
Énorme Énorme
Comedy 2019 102 mins Director: Sophie Letourneur
Claire and Frédéric are in love, and live life to the fullest without the distraction of kids. However when Frédéric has an unexpected change of heart, he decides to take matters into his own hands!
Gone Too Far! Gone Too Far!
Comedy 2013 88 mins Director: Destiny Ekaragha
Riotous urban comedy adapted from the hit Royal Court play, about a Peckham teen affronted by the arrival of his long-lost Nigerian sibling.
Prevenge Prevenge
Comedy 2016 88 mins Director: Alice Lowe
Alice Lowe directs and stars in this riotous tale of a pregnant serial killer, hellbent on revenge.
La belle époque La belle époque
Comedy 2019 115 mins Director: Nicolas Bedos
Daniel Auteuil’s illustrator is given the chance to visit a different era to re-evaluate his life in this resplendent and absurdly enjoyable French comedy.
Comedy Genius
Appropriate Behaviour Appropriate Behaviour
Comedy 2015 86 mins Director: Desiree Akhavan
Desiree Akhavan directs and stars in this witty, razor-sharp and fearless comedy following the sexual misadventures of a bisexual Brooklynite.
Unrelated Unrelated
Drama 2007 96 mins Director: Joanna Hogg
On a Tuscan break a fortysomething woman finds herself drawn to the company of a group of partying teens, including a young Tom Hiddleston (in one of his earliest roles).
What We Do in the Shadows What We Do in the Shadows
Comedy 2014 86 mins Director: Taika Waititi
An achingly funny mockumentary about New Zealand’s hitherto unknown vampire (and werewolf) communities, from the creators of Flight of the Conchords.
Mitsuko Delivers Mitsuko Delivers
Comedy 2011 109 mins Director: Yuya Ishii
An eccentric, pregnant young lady returns to her hometown to help her downtrodden old neighbours, in Yûya Ishii 's strange, whimsical comedy.
Steamboat Bill, Jr. Steamboat Bill, Jr.
Comedy 1928 71 mins Director: Charles F. Riesner
Waterway hi jinks abound in this Buster Keaton classic, in which he plays the reluctant heir to his father's paddle steamer business.
Sherlock Jr. Sherlock Jr.
Comedy 1924 45 mins Director: Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton's superb, sophisticated silent comedy in which he dreams himself into the movie he's watching, in order to win back his girl.
Featuring Buster Keaton
Steamboat Bill, Jr. Steamboat Bill, Jr.
Comedy 1928 71 mins Director: Charles F. Riesner
Waterway hi jinks abound in this Buster Keaton classic, in which he plays the reluctant heir to his father's paddle steamer business.
Sherlock Jr. Sherlock Jr.
Comedy 1924 45 mins Director: Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton's superb, sophisticated silent comedy in which he dreams himself into the movie he's watching, in order to win back his girl.
Directed by Buster Keaton
Sherlock Jr. Sherlock Jr.
Comedy 1924 45 mins Director: Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton's superb, sophisticated silent comedy in which he dreams himself into the movie he's watching, in order to win back his girl.
New
The Street The Street
Documentary 2019 95 mins Director: Zed Nelson
The working-class community of Hoxton Street face the upheavals of gentrification, austerity and the eruption of Brexit, in this portrait of a rapidly changing London.
Madame Madame
Documentary 2019 93 mins Director: Stephane Riethauser
A grandmother and her grandson engage in an intimate conversation, exploring gender, sexuality and transmission of identity.
Adolescentes Adolescentes
Documentary 2019 130 mins Director: Sébastien Lifshitz
This captivating coming-of-age documentary follows best friends Anaïs and Emma for five years of teenagehood.
Camille Camille
Drama 2019 92 mins Director: Boris Lojkine
A poignant biopic of photojournalist Camille Lepage.
Felicità Felicità
Comedy 2020 82 mins Director: Bruno Merle
11 year old Tommy is desperate to make it for the first day of the school term, but with parents as eccentric hers, she knows she has the odds against her.
Tu mérites un amour Tu mérites un amour
Comedy 2019 102 mins Director: Hafsia Herzi
Leaving her cheating boyfriend Remi, Lila finds the break-up tough. And when Remi announces he will come to Bolivia to learn from his mistakes, things get even more complicated.