Product Details

• Format: NTSC
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Direct Source Label
• DVD Release Date: April 1, 2004
• Run Time: 153 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00022LAMS
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #86,343 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars So that you know..., September 24, 2005

By	Martin Monreal (New York) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Since nobody took the trouble of listing WHAT is inside of this edition, I bought one just to check it out. This DVD brings two of Buster Keaton's masterpieces: The General & Steamboat Bill Jr. Both transfers are worse than the Kino edition (which is the standard for Keaton's films). Even so, Steamboat... is not bad and the music is (if I remember well) the same as in Kino's edition. The General looks a bit fuzzier, the music is old jazz and not really related to the action, but not bad. If you take in consideration that this DVD is being sold for around a dollar... I think it's worth it. Still... to appreciate Keaton at his best, buy the Kino editions.

6-15-06 P.S.: Well, I see they finally put the title to this DVD. Mission accomplished... ¿¿¿???? I also see that the price went up a little... so beware...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars classics, but..., April 19, 2008

By	D. Perrine - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Two of the best movies ever, but you should definitely get the remastered versions with outrageous soundtracks by the Alloy Orchestra.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 5 star films, 3 star video quality, March 14, 2008

By	calvinnme "Texan refugee" (Fredericksburg, Va) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

It's strange to think that both of these films - "The General" and "Steamboat Bill Jr." flopped at the box office when they appeared in 1927 and 1928 respectively. Today both are highly regarded silent films and "The General" is considered Keaton's finest film and perhaps the greatest silent film ever made.

What bothered 1927 audiences about "The General" is what makes the film great today - it is an artful combination of suspense and comedy. However, 1920's audiences just weren't willing to accept Buster in anything but a completely comic role. "Steamboat Bill Jr." was Keaton's last film as an independent filmmaker. In fact, the most famous scene from the movie - the one with Keaton standing still as the side of a house falls around him during a hurricane with just a small window in the wall fitting over him as it falls - was the result of Keaton learning about the decision of his benefactor, Joe Schenck, to close down Keaton's studio. Keaton often said he wouldn't have done this dangerous stunt if he hadn't been so angry and upset at the time.

I personally thought the video transfer on this set bordered on being too fuzzy. I'd stick with the Kino copy if you have the money. However, if you want a quick and cheap introduction to Keaton's best silents, I'd say that this copy is satisfactory, but nothing more. If public domain quality is OK with you, then I might suggest the even more cost effective Buster Keaton Collection - 15 Shorts, 5 Movies. For only ten dollars you get both of these films at about the same quality, maybe a little better, plus three other features and 15 of Buster's silent short films.