Day five brought back one of the Milwaukee Film Festival’s best traditions, a screening of a silent classic on their biggest screen in a silent film movie palace. This year the film brought in Buster Keaton’s THE GENERAL for its 100th anniversary with the Anvil Orchestra providing live accompaniment.
Now, 100 years later it’s kind of pointless to review THE GENERAL. It’s a universally acclaimed classic and is often cited as one the best 100 films ever made. I understand that 100 years ago that the movie took some criticism for sacrificing some comedy for the sake of action. But, dear god, what action! It’s not exaggeration to say that THE GENERAL is a direct inspiration of more modern films like Jackie Chan’s whole canon and MAD MAX FURY ROAD. It has the most expensive shot of the whole silent era and it still feels extremely relevant as we watch a man react to whatever outlandish thing life can throw at him as he takes it in relative stride with the great stone face comedically underplaying things. Sure, I can live without the romanticism of the Confederacy and I can live without all of the Union being portrayed as hairy and ugly brutes puffing on cigars compared to the gentlemanly Confederates, but you can’t deny the bravery, skill, and ingenuity of the whole concoction.
So, if you just want to know my thoughts on the movie, I’m done. Rather, I’m going to talk about the experience.
I’ve said in the past, and I’ll repeat it, the Oriental Theatre is one of the best places on the planet to see a silent movie. And judging by a near sold out crowd, a lot of Milwaukee agrees with men. That sentiment still holds true. The screen is large. The space is large. And well live music fills that space it’s a one of a kind experience that can never be repeated, even if you were to record it. It’s a “you had to be there” experience in all senses. Sure you can capture the memory in words, but there’s no replicating it. And it was helped a lot by Anvil Orchestra, if you can call a two-man crew an orchestra even if they covered enough instruments for one. The score for THE GENERAL was heavy on percussion and a martial spirit and totally worked with the film
The silent film showcase at the Milwaukee Film Festival is worth seeing every year. And every year it’s a great event.
The 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival runs from April 16, 2026 until May 30, 2026. THE GENERAL had a one-time showing at this year’s film festival. But, tickets to other upcoming films can be purchased at MKEFILM.ORG.
