Submitted
Buster Keaton stars in “The General,” a silent film garnering 18th rank on the American Film Institute’s 100 best American movies of all time.
Saturday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. — LUDLOW — FOLA (The Friends of Ludlow Auditorium) will present its annual silent movie festival on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m., in the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium. The feature movie will be Buster Keaton’s classic film, “The General,” supported by background music provided by Jeff Rapsis. The lead-in to this movie will be another Keaton comedy short featuring the piano music of Glenn Brown.
“The General” is a 1926 American silent comedy film released by United Artists. Inspired by the Great Locomotive Chase, which happened in 1862, the film stars Buster Keaton, who co-directed it with Clyde Bruckman. In 2007, “The General” was ranked #18 by the American Film Institute on its 10th anniversary list of the 100 best American movies of all time. “The General” is one of the rare great films that dealt with the Civil War from the Southern point-of-view.
Filled with hilarious sight gags and perfectly timed stunt work, it is memorable for its strong storyline of a single, brave, but foolish Southern Confederate train engineer doggedly in pursuit of his passionately-loved locomotive (“The General”) and the woman he loves. His stoic, unflappable reactions to fateful calamities, his ingenious and resourceful uses of machines and various objects (water tanks, a large piece of timber, a cowcatcher, a rolling artillery cannon on wheels, and unattached railroad cars), and the unpredictable forces of Nature, provide much of the plot.
Come see this great film, and remember that the Congressional Medal of Honor was created by the Congress in 1862 because of the actions portrayed in this classic film.
As with all FOLA movies, admission is free and open to everyone; donations are appreciated. Popcorn and water will be provided. For info, call 802-228-7239 or visit www.fola.us.
