[Matt Stieg]

Just came across this on silentera.com

Silent Era : DVD : The General (1926) Review

My only real disappoint is no audio commentary, Keaton's films really cry out for audio commentaries.

[Mark Zimmer]

Mont Alto's excellent edition of THE GENERAL includes a pretty good commentary:

Recordings

From my review at digitallyobsessed.com:

"Mont Alto offers one of the finest prints I've seen of The General, one of Buster Keaton's best pictures, with a thoughtful score in an excellent transfer. This beautiful, easily-overlooked package is very highly recommended. No reason to hesitate."

Mont Alto also releasing MARK OF ZORRO shortly; I haven't watched it yet though I do have a review copy, which indicates it's from the same source as the forthcoming Flicker Alley release, but before DNR was applied, and it also has a commentary.

[Ed Moroughan]

I was all set to buy the MA edition, but then this showed up. I'm still leaning towards it because the choices for their score seem more appropriate. I'll wait for a review though before deciding. Mark, I'd read your review before, it's a good one. Thanks.

[BillyFeldman]

For me, the finest version of The General is the French DVD with the Joe Hisaishi score - the print is immaculate, and Hisaishi's score works perfectly with the film. I cannot imagine a better transfer or score.

[David_B_K]

For me, the finest version of The General is the French DVD with the Joe Hisaishi score - the print is immaculate, and Hisaishi's score works perfectly with the film. I cannot imagine a better transfer or score.

I will get the new Kino version. I agree that the video quality of that region 2 version was awesome. But I really thought Hisaishi's score was inappropriate for the movie. It was good as music on its own, but I felt it did not fit the Civil War/Americana quality of the movie. The music was too European and waltz-like for my tastes. It was as though he had written some music for a silent movie and tried to use it to score the wrong film (IMHO). The region 2 version had some great extra features, though, and is still worthwhile. It also included Robert Israel's score. I'll enjoy having both in the collection.

IMO, the Carl Davis score rules all, and needed to be married to a better visual presentation. I'm all over this new Kino release.

[Jack Theakston]

Wow, of all of the silent films that are still waiting to be released and THE GENERAL gets another release? Wow.