25 Great Movies That Flopped
9. The General (1926)
Today, it’s looked at as one of his best, and the stunts performed during the movie would make Jackie Chan proud. Many people are divided into two camps.
Those who love the works of Buster Keaton and those who love the works of Charlie Chaplin. Though the two comedic filmmakers are of a similar mind, the stunts that Keaton displayed in “The General” easily make him the more impressive of the two.
Keaton plays Johnnie Gray, a train conductor in charge of a steam locomotive named “The General.” After attempting to enlist in the US army, Johnnie is turned away due to the fact that his job is too important to leave behind. He then loses the respect of his girlfriend who wants nothing more to do with him as she believes he chose not to fight in the war.
After “The General” is hijacked by Union agents, Johnnie finds himself attempting to save the locomotive and his girlfriend singlehandedly. The film’s failure led to Keaton being locked into a restrictive contract with MGM studios in order to continue working as a filmmaker.
