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Writer's pictureRachel

Buster Keaton's The General at Norwich Cathedral

I have to say that this has to be one of the most magical and amazing film experiences I've ever had.


Norwich Cathedral recently put on a 'Night at the Movies'. A film night, but with a twist. A showing of Buster Keaton's 'The General' with a live accompaniment on the cathedral's organ by Donald McKenzie, who is the renowned organist from London’s Odeon Luxe Leicester Square.


I didn't know any cinemas still had their own organist and it seems this is one of the few (or only?). The Leicester Square Odeon also still has it's own operating Compton Organ. I wanted to visit before and now even more so!



Growing up, I remember being completely absorbed by watching Harold Lloyd on TV on Saturday mornings and always absolutely loved silent films, so I don't know how I've not seen this film before!


If you don't know the film, as I didn't, then here is a short synopsis of the plot:


A Confederate train engineer named Johnnie is rejected from the military due to them preferring to keep his engineer skills. He then has his beloved locomotive, The General, stolen by Union spies, which also has his girlfriend on board. He goes after them into Union territory, overhears a group of Union generals planning to attack via a railroad bridge, and decides to repossess his train and bring it and his girlfriend back. A train chase ensues, with two Union trains chasing The General as Johnnie pulls telegraph poles down and leaves bits of his train behind to slow them.


You can see how his acting style has influenced generations of actors. What I was most surprised about is how modern his acting seemed, it didn't seem dated at all. I loved his double takes and reactions. I loved how they told the story so effortlessly without any audio dialogue, apart from the odd insert of a slide with some dialogue.



You feel so sorry for him when he's trying to sign up to the military but they want to keep him on as a train engineer and the comedy scenes that ensue are brilliant, as he's desperately trying to fool them and finding any means to become a soldier.


Then there are the stunts. It's well known that Buster Keaton did most of his own stunts but then you watch them my goodness they're impressive. It's not just the stunts, it's the timing of everything which is perfect and of course this being in early days of film when CGI was just something for the distant future. The work put into achieving this is astonishing.


Not forgetting of course the big train crash. The track on a bridge had been set alight by Johnnie as he and his girlfriend are trying to escape Union trains. What follows is the most expensive shot in silent film history. They used a full size steam locomotive, no models, sending it over a burning train trestle in hopes the structure would crumble! The scene cost $42,000, in 1926 dollars! They had one shot, they had one take! If you haven't seen it, take a look at it on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLgl8aEtnqc&t=2s


I think you can pretty much say it was a success, but can you imagine the stress of setting this up.



Not only was this amazing film screening in the majestic setting of Norwich Cathedral but as I mentioned Donald McKenzie was accompanying the film on the cathedral organ. He noted that he was improvising the music too, so it was truly a one-off evening!


I've never seen a silent film with live music played along and it was just the most amazing experience. I hope that after the organ's refurbishment that Norwich Cathedral have more of these evenings.


I have to thank my friend Rebecca for offering me the ticket when she could no longer attend as it was just the most inspiring evening.

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