The General (1926)

A firm fixture in many best of all time film lists, this Buster Keaton silent film is an astonishing piece of physical film. Keaton, never one to shy away from his own stunt work, produces miracles here as a train engineer who is rejected by the Confederate army and subsequently by his girlfriend who believes him to be a coward for not signing up. A year on, Jonhnnie has a chance to make amends when his old girlfriend Annabelle is taken prisoner by Union spies, who steal The General, Johnnie’s locomotive and second love of his life. Johnnie gives chase through various methods; all equally inventive and frequently amusing, leading to an exhilarating first half of the film, and the excitement doesn’t let up in the second. Frequently cited as the most expensive silent movie ever made, The General is an astonishing piece of film making, and nearly a century later has lost none of its punch. 8.7/10