Nachdem Masters of Cinema im September mit F.W. Murnaus “Sunrise” den Startschuß für Blu-ray Disc-Veröffentlichungen von Stummfilmen geben werden, erscheint am 10. November 2009 mit “Der General / The General” [USA 1926, Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton] ein weiterers Stummfilm-Meisterwerk in Hi-Def. Veröffentlicht wird die Disc in den USA von Kino on Video / Kino International. Das Bonusmaterial der 2008 erschienenen “Ultimate 2-DVD Edition” wird übernommen.

Die Details zur Blu-ray von ClassicFlix. Dort ist auch das Cover zu sehen.

Rejected by the Confederate army as unfit, and taken for a coward by his beloved Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack), young Johnny Gray (Keaton) is given a chance to redeem himself when Yankee spies steal his cherished locomotive. Johnny wages a one-man war against hijackers, an errant cannon and the unpredictable hand of fate while roaring along the iron rails. “Every shot has the authenticity and the unassuming correct composition of a Mathew Brady Civil War photograph,” wrote film historian David Robinson, “No one—not even Griffith or Huston and certainly not Fleming (Gone With the Wind) caught the visual aspect of the Civil War as Keaton did.”

• Three musical scores to choose from:
  • Music composed and conducted by Carl Davis, performed by The Thames Silents Orchestra (in 5.1 Stereo Surround or 2.0 Stereo)
  • Music arranged and directed by Robert Israel
  • Theatre organ score by Lee Erwin
• A video tour of the authentic General, presented in association with The Southern Museum
• A tour of the filming locations, presented by John Bengtson, author of Silent Echoes
• Behind-the-scenes home movie footage
• Filmed introduction by Gloria Swanson
• Filmed introduction by Orson Welles
• “The Buster Express,” a brisk montage of train gags from throughout Keaton’s career