After a disastrous summer which saw the basement of the Senate flooded with several feet of water, damaging the blower to our beloved organ and putting it out of commission for months, our silent film series, Silents at the Senate is finally back! To celebrate we’re restarting the series off with Buster Keaton’s The General, featuring live accompaniment on our Mighty Wurlitzer by the talented Andrew Rogers.
The General was a pivotal film in the career of silent film giant Buster Keaton showcasing his prowess at action/comedy. But surprisingly, on its release it was met with a collective shrug by audiences, near derision by critics, and box office receipts failed to make up for the then eye-popping budget of $750,000. This failure cost Keaton his artistic independence, soon leading to a swift career decline. Decades passed before the film attained its current status as one of the greatest films ever made, filled with derring-do, pyrotechnic spectacle, artfully spare cinematography, and dopily irreverent humor.
Telling the story of a train engineer on a mission to rescue his beloved train engine, (and, coincidentally, his would-be paramour) from the clutches of the Union Army during the Civil War, The General is simultaneously an artifact of its time and far ahead of its time. While the idea of a hero aligned with the Confederacy wouldn’t likely draw crowds to the cineplex today, Keaton’s sleeper masterpiece makes up for its retrograde plot with plenty of charm and crowd-pleasing feats. A proto-popcorn flick, Keaton’s affability and physical prowess could easily compete with the likes of Jackie Chan, and it’s melding of action, adventure, drama, and comedy would fit right in with the cheeky action extravaganzas of today.
Buster Keaton and Marion Mack
But what you won’t find when you see the latest superhero spectacle is an organ on stage or an organist creating a live score, right before your ears. A live silent film event is truly a singular experience; no two screenings will ever be exactly alike. And no special effect can ever compare to the magic of hearing a theater organist collaborate across ninety-four years with the visual artistry of a silent screen legend.
This train only comes once. Don’t miss it.
Doors – 7:00 PM
Film – 8:00 PM
Tickets - $12
1hr 15min | Not Rated | Action/Comedy | USA
Silents at the Senate is supported by the Knight Arts Challenge
The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and The National Endowment for the Arts.
