The Buster Keaton Collection - Volume 1 (The General / Steamboat Bill, Jr.) [Blu-ray]

I concur with the other reviewers that this blu-ray release of The General is the one to buy. I have the Kino Ultimate release on DVD, which I love for the Carl Davis score. However, I've never particularly liked the use of the color tinting. In places, like the night scene, it seemed almost muddy on my TV.This Cohen release is simply beautiful, with straight black and white. The film details are the clearest I've ever seen them. And it has the Carl Davis score. Nothing not to love, in my mind. And pure paradise to watch.As for Steamboat Bill, Jr., I have the Lobster/Kino Classics blu-ray release, and was quite satisfied with the look of it and its musical choices. I was buying for The General, and so I might not have double-dipped for a standalone of Steamboat Bill, Jr. However, when I saw that Carl Davis had done the score for this release, I became very excited. As I mentioned above, I love his music for The General—and for Our Hospitality as well.Unfortunately, I was somewhat disappointed in his score here. In terms of melodic themes and apt musical accents, he doesn't rise to the level of his work for Keaton's other two films. At once point, in the prison scene, he even uses a wailing electric guitar. It's irritating in a big way. There are a couple of nice themes - such as for the film's sweetheart (Kitty/Marion Byron); but to me, Davis fell short of expectations here.I did not mark down this release because of that, though, as even the worst scored Buster film is excellent. You can always turn down the music. The basic film is Buster's, and I used to enjoy his films even on old VHS tapes where music sounded cranked through a tin can and you could barely make out Keaton's amazing face.Viewing Buster's work has come a long way, and there are few films greater than The General, and to my mind, no release better than this one. I can't wait to follow it up with Cohen's Volume 2: Sherlock Jr. & The Navigator!

There are several editions of The General now on blu ray.... the first from Kino sported a fine transfer with excellent contrast but I never cared for the color tinting and is now out of print. This edition is also included in the large Kino box set. The second edition was also on Kino and in a set with another film and while losing the color tinting lost a load of contrast and sharpness... a horrible release. In the UK the Cohen group issued this movie with Steamboat Bill Jr and Sherlock Jr in a stunning set but you have to have an all region player to view so THIS edition on blu ray with the previously noted classic Steamboat Bill Jr is the first release in the US of a region 1 version and it is the same transfer as the UK edition which is great! The sharpness, contrast and overall image is a revelation for Keaton fans and on par with the stunning Chaplin and Lloyd Criterion blu rays. The score by Carl Davis is beyond inspired and adds tremendously.As Orson Welles himself noted the General may be the greatest comedy, the greatest Civil War movie, and even the greatest film of all time.... and I agree it is that good. The bonus film , Steamboat Bill Jr is no throwaway and in fact a stone cold classic which features likely the single greatest comedy stunt in film history.This company Cohen does things right and unlike Kino is getting the Keaton films to a level we buffs can only dream about. The fact this set is labeled Vol. 1 may be the second best news of all.If you are wondering it this is worth a "double dip" as DVD and Blu Ray collectors call it .. YES YES YES! If you have not seen this film or have only seen previous editions... buy buy buy... my strongest recommendation.

To Randall, the seller of Buster Keaton Collection Volume 1"I thoroughly enjoyed this Blu-Ray disc. I had not yet seen a full Buster Keaton film and am all the more impressed to see the physciality AND actual story & characters hold up well throughout, and over the years. I was also amazed at the picture quality: if I did not know better I would have assumed both films were relativey recent based on the quality as well as how clear and clean the picture is. I also appreciated that Buster did not feel the need to caption every bit of dialoge... even where you did not know exactly what was said you could tell without the actors hamming it up or exaggerating....and the disc and packaging arrived in perfect condition."

I dont remember how many times I have watched this but Buster Keaton is by far the best in the non-talking movies (Silent Movies). I believe he directed the movie besides being the main actor in it which includes doing all the stunts, himself. The story is interesting and quite funny, at times. The background music has been changed from the first release and really is fabulous. I would go as far as to say dont buy the older version that has the older music! Great Classic!

Not here to review the film itself as we all know this is one of the best silent pictures ever.The quality of this restoration is as good as I believe any silent restoration could ever be. It really is like seeing the film for the first time again. It is almost eerie how good it looks. It looks like it could have been filmed yesterday.Do not hesitate to buy this Blu Ray, as good as the Kino version is this is leaps and bounds better in quality.This version of The General should be the standard by which all silent restorations are measured.I thought the Chaplin criterion Blu Ray's were really something, this beats those in restoration and picture quality. Bravo team.

While I didn't hate the previous Kino Blu-Ray of The General, I wasn't a big fan of the tinting, and I thought they could have done a better job on removing blemishes from the film. This Cohen version has an amazingly better picture, with no tinting and virtually all defects removed. Steamboat Bill isn't quite as amazing a transfer, but still very good. Only disappointment is the lack of supplements,

If you know Buster Keaton you know his movies. It's down to do you want to upgrade again. I will again when they find away to make 4K worth while. For me its the same when new formats come out for Beatles products.

The DVD doesn't work.Not my machine as I tried another one too.Please send another copy.