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THE GENERAL

For weeks, no months really I have been waiting for December, not for Christmas, no something just as good though. Finally after wishing and hoping for the last couple of years I would get to see Buster Keaton on a big screen with an audience. Last Monday night was that night. I know that I have mentioned Buster Keaton a couple of times on my blog before but if you really haven't seen one of his movies I really urge you do so.

So where did this interest in Buster begin.

About 3 years ago I went into my local DVD store and there he was staring out at me amongst the "nostalgia" section. I thought to myself he's got an interesting face I think I would like to watch that movie, but I couldn't as they only had it on Video Tape and my video machine had long ago died a natural death. So instead I went home and on my online DVD outlet I ordered The General to rent, it arrived a day or so later, on a Friday. On the copy that they sent me was also a two-reeler that Buster had made in 1922 called Cops. My thoughts were that I'll start with this it only goes for 2o or so minutes before I try to tackle a full length Silent Movie.


Almost immediately I was hooked but one particular scene made me a fan; just watch this clip, this is really him catching a car.






Next I watched The General and the beauty of the movie is what drew me in.

I didn't return that DVD until I owned a copy of The General myself, which was not too hard to find. In Australia you can get The General, College, Three Ages and Steamboat Bill Jnr, but nothing else, so I have become in international buyer and now own a lot of Keaton.

But I had never seen him on a BIG SCREEN with an audience.

So come last Monday night was my big opportunity I was so excited, there was just one little apprehension, it was with a live rescore.

What if they ruined The General, what if the score

was a disaster, completely wrong and just horrible?


Within 30 seconds of the beginning of the move I knew that my fears were for nothing, the score was beautiful just like the movie.

So I have to thank the cinema(Mercury Cinema) and the composer (Alexander Waite Mitchell) for a wonderful night at the movies.


About 100 people came to watch the movie and I think we were all happy that we had. The laughter rang out and at times clapping and gasping at Keaton's antics.

And that face it's so timeless.

I just wish that next week I could go watch The Navigator or Steamboat Bill Jnr.

I can watch at home but it's not really the same.





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