Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
On Quartile, The General scores 8/10 across five categories — strongest on Cinematography (Well Above Average), weakest on Plot (Above Average).
Ranked among Quartile’s Top Cinematography.
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.
Buster Keaton's The General is a landmark of silent cinema whose Novelty score reflects its singular, unmistakable execution — the film remains one of the most precisely choreographed action-comedies ever made, with stunt work and locomotive sequences that have never quite been replicated. Cinematography earns a 4 for its breathtaking use of real trains, landscapes, and the famous bridge collapse, all captured with an audacity that still impresses nearly a century later. The Plot is a straightforward chase structure — functional and well-paced but not especially complex, earning a solid 3. Acting in silent film is a different craft, and Keaton's deadpan physicality is masterful, though supporting performances are thin, keeping it at a 3. The Ending resolves satisfactorily but feels slightly rushed compared to the brilliance of the central chase sequences, landing at a 3.