It's no exaggeration to say that there are few joys greater in life than Buster Keaton's The General. The birth of a child. Dusk in the Serengeti. Slinkies. But that's it. It's a thrill, then, to see the old lady get a 4K spruce and a new date with big screen. To celebrate the occasion, the good folk at Park Circus have come up with this eye-catching new quad poster that we're delighted to share with you. Click on the image for a closer look. Alongside possibly **Sherlock Jr. **and Steamboat Bill, Jr., The General marks the high point of Keaton's directorial career. First released in 1926, it was initially greeted with indifference by moviegoers and a chorus of disdain from critics. The Civil War adventure left Keaton physically bruised and financially battered, with that old loco left down a gorge and Old Stone Face shackled to MGM and creatively stymied.
Since then, though, **The General **has gained the richly deserved status of silent masterpiece. If you don't know the story, suffice to say that Keaton is a railwayman stuck between two warring armies, with his beloved gal (Marion Mack) to defend and his treasured train to rescue. Things don't run smoothly.
The General is back in selected cinemas on January 24, 2014, nearly nine decades after its original release. We think that would bring a smile to that stony visage.