Though Disney's film The Great Locomotive Chase (1956) is often compared to Buster Keaton's masterpiece The General (1926) due to the two pictures being based on the same historical incident, I think that's unfair. These two films could not be any more different in their approach: The General is an action-adventure/comedy/drama, while TGLC is a straightforward drama with action elements. Sure The General is the better of the two as far as great cinema goes, but the Disney picture should be assessed on its own merits and when you do so, you come to realize it is a minor gem.
Performances are good all around and the action elements are well-choreographed and shot on-location on Georgia, where the real hijacking of The General took place. Though the chase is thrilling and the characters are all likable, there is a melancholy tint to the proceedings. The characters want to cut off the war once and for all. The chase itself is told in flashback, giving us knowledge of how wrong everything goes for the heroes beforehand. This somber undercurrent adds a lot to the movie.
Worth watching.
Performances are good all around and the action elements are well-choreographed and shot on-location on Georgia, where the real hijacking of The General took place. Though the chase is thrilling and the characters are all likable, there is a melancholy tint to the proceedings. The characters want to cut off the war once and for all. The chase itself is told in flashback, giving us knowledge of how wrong everything goes for the heroes beforehand. This somber undercurrent adds a lot to the movie.
Worth watching.