November 22, 2003

The General

Little Sick Dude kept me home from work today. Lots of sleeping, lots of coughing, lots of Ibuprofen.

By this evening, he was feeling better. Still coughing, but no longer ghostly pale. He doesn't have much of an appetite yet, but I expect that will change soon enough.

Back in the days when stunts were performed by the actors themselves, training as an acrobat had its merits. Along with Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton was one of the more daring artists of the era.
Tonight, a special treat for us all. Buster Keaton's The General was on the UCSD channel.

Would Little Dude "get" a silent movie? Would he appreciate the comedic genius that Keaton was? Yes. And, yes.

He laughed his skinny little butt off. It was music to my ears. Not a lot of laughter around here the last few days. But, this was perfect. He not only got the humor, he seemed to really perk up during and after the movie.

Some of my best memories from childhood are of watching classic (comedy) movies with my parents. Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin, and, of course, Buster Keaton. Acrobats, comedians, writers, directors, and actors. Brilliance on so many levels. It feels so right to be able to share that tradition and enjoyment with my son.

Some things translate well over the years. True comedy happens to be one of those things. As is watching a funny movie as a family.

If you've never seen The General, do yourself (and your kids) a favor and check it out.

Posted by DaGoddess at November 22, 2003 09:48 PM
Comments

Keaton has one of the most expressive comedic faces of his era. I mean that deadpan droopy-eyed look would make me laugh every time.

Posted by: Tiger at November 22, 2003 10:30 PM

It is a pleasure to see and remember your kids enjoying the classic comedies. Although I didn't get into the "silents" much, my oldest non-stop laughter while watching the "Three Stoogies." still lingers in my mind and I am waiting for the time his daughter can enjoy them also. All ten of them in the "boxed set." Must get past the current crop of kids entertainment first
though.

Posted by: Stewart at November 22, 2003 10:37 PM

His "silent" films were great, but Keatons "talkies" weren't too bad either. Did you know he did "Candid Camera" skits as well?
Later on, you will have to introduce your son to Danny Kaye.

Posted by: Wichi Dude at November 23, 2003 06:52 AM

In Eric Flint's alternate history novel "1632" The General is the first film shown to the German refugees of the Thirty Year's War arriving in the transplanted American city. Apparently the humor was universal enough for them to get also.

Posted by: triticale at November 23, 2003 04:59 PM

The Puppy Blender happened to link today to the web site of Kennesaw Georgia, because of their firearm ordinance (mandatory one per household) and its effect on the crime rate. So I explored the site, and found a page about their town railroad museum, where the General is now on display. http://www.kennesaw.ga.us/SouthernMuseum.aspx

Posted by: triticale at November 23, 2003 06:31 PM

The only channel we could pick up consistently was PBS. At the time I didn't think much of it, because I loved staying up on Friday & Saturday nights watching Laurel & Hardy, Keaton, and even some Vincent Price.
Now you've got me wondering if any of those are on DVD . . . .

Posted by: Chris at November 23, 2003 07:04 PM

I rented Laurel and Hardy's 'Bonnie Scotland ' a few weeks ago. I happened to see it at the video store and remembered watching them with my Dad. At first I thought, now, will it really take me back, bring up fuzzy , lovely memories ? Or will it just remind me that there is a chasm of cultural differences between both generations ?
I asked my son to watch it with me , but he had no interest. I had fun watching it, and was pleased to find myself laughing out loud. Morgan finally ventured out and watched the rest with me, and he was laughing too. Now I have to post about this- thanks, Joan !

Posted by: siso at November 23, 2003 07:38 PM

UCSD channel? I do believe you may be located very near my alma mater...

BK is the man. There's a group in Oz by name of The Blue Grassy Knoll who go around playing live music to silent films, Keaton in particular. It makes them about 500 jillion times more enjoyable than to see with a standard soundtrack. I highly recommend it if you ever get the chance.

Posted by: Seppo at November 24, 2003 08:12 AM

The first time I saw "The General" I was in Switzerland at a packed theater and the laughter was non-stop. My youngest daughter loves it and I used it last semester in my class "The Great War: The west from the First Moroccan Crisis to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth" (Elizabeth spelling from Britannia). The class also loved it. First exposure for most of them to a silent film.

Posted by: Gurgle at November 26, 2003 08:58 AM