# The General (1926) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-general-1926/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-25

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 90% |
| Critic Score | 93% |
| Audience Score | 91% |
| Metascore | 97/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4.3/5 |
| IMDb | 8.1/10 |
| Director | Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton |
| Genres | Comedy, War, Romance |
| Runtime | 79 min |

## Quick answer

The General (1926) earns a 90% Celluloid Score — Celluloid Pick. Buster Keaton’s Civil War chase comedy is the silent era’s great action picture — every gag engineered, performed and pa Metascore 97/100. Directed by Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton.

## Critics consensus

Buster Keaton’s Civil War chase comedy is the silent era’s great action picture — every gag engineered, performed and paid off in a single unbroken piece of craft.

## Synopsis

During America’s Civil War, Union spies steal engineer Johnny Gray's beloved locomotive, 'The General'—with Johnnie's lady love aboard an attached boxcar—and he single-handedly must do all in his power to both get The General back and to rescue Annabelle.

## Cast

Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Glen Cavender, Jim Farley, Frederick Vroom, Frank Barnes, Charles Henry Smith, Joe Keaton

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is The General worth watching?**
The General holds a 90% Celluloid Score. Buster Keaton’s Civil War chase comedy is the silent era’s great action picture — every gag engineered, performed and paid off in a single unbroken piece of craft.

**What is The General about?**
During America’s Civil War, Union spies steal engineer Johnny Gray's beloved locomotive, 'The General'—with Johnnie's lady love aboard an attached boxcar—and he single-handedly must do all in his power to both get The General back and to rescue Annabelle.

**Who directed The General?**
The General (1926) was directed by Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton.

**What is the Celluloid Score of The General?**
90% — the average of five public sources: critics 93%, audience 91%, Metascore 97/100, Letterboxd 4.3/5, and IMDb 8.1/10.

**Where can I watch The General?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the The General page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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