The General

Tuesday, August 10 at 7:30pm

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On Tuesday, August 10th at 7:30 pm, The American Theatre Organ Society and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) present a special screening of the 1927 silent film The General, starring Buster Keaton as a part of the 2010 Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival at the Fox Theatre.

Renowned theatre organist and silent film scorer Clark Wilson will play the Fox Theatre’s Mighty “Mo” theatre organ during the screening.

“Many of the silent films did not come with scores,” explains Ken Double, President and CEO of the American Theatre Organ Society. “So the theatre organist have had to create scores or improvise as they watched the film. Clark has written his own score for The General.”

“Seeing a silent film at home doesn’t compare to seeing it at a theatre with organ accompaniment,” adds Double. “And there is no greater theatre than the Fox to truly bring a silent film alive.”

The event is also part of the 100th Anniversary celebration of the theatre organ. Early in the 1900’s some theatres had church type organs but Wurlitzer built the first organ specifically for theatres in 1910.

The evening will be hosted by TCM weekend daytime host, Ben Mankiewicz.

Plot Summary:

Johnnie loves his train ("The General") and Annabelle Lee. When the Civil War begins he is turned down for service because he's more valuable as an engineer. Annabelle thinks it's because he's a coward. Union spies capture The General with Annabelle on board. Johnny must rescue both his loves. Written by Ed Stephan.

Johnnie Gray has two loves in his life: his engine and his girl, Annabelle Lee. The War Between the States begins with an attack on Fort Sumter, and Johnnie is the first in line at the recruitment office. But the enlisting officer rejects him (not telling him the reason: he is more valuable to the South as an engineer). Annabelle believes he didn't even try to enlist, and she refuses to even speak to him until he is in uniform. Time passes and Union spies hatch a plot involving Johnnie's engine, The General. Not only do they steal The General while Johnnie and the passengers are off the train having dinner, but they kidnap Annabelle who was still on board. Johnnie pursues The General in another engine, The Texas. Through various mishaps he becomes the Unionists' sole pursuer.

When the Unionists discover the train chasing them has only one man aboard, the long pursuit ends, and Johnnie barely escapes with his life. Johnnie is now behind enemy lines. He wanders the forest during a rainstorm then discovers a house, which he breaks into, grabbing what food he can. It turns out the Unionists who stole The General are using the house as a base of operations. While hiding under the dinner table, Johnnie learns the details of their next plot against the Confederates. More importantly, he discovers they have Annabelle Lee, whom he had never guessed was still on The General when it was taken. Johnnie manages to escape with Annabelle and take back The General. Now the Unionists are pursuing Johnnie, but if he and Annabelle can outrace them they can warn the Confederates of the Union's latest plan. Written by sspurli.

Rated G