The General - A 1920 film

Was watching this black and white silent 1920 movie. The General and was quite amazed by the amount of talent the actor Buster Keaton (lead role) had. 1920 films was surely a drift in the entertainment industry with some sonata. The music and the expressions had to substitute the dialogs and I must say, Keaton did it quite well. A cluster of comedy, romance and an orthodox thriller feeling tried to dominate in the complete film. It was as if they always tried to make the best and address all audiences. There were no categories or divisions as in Murder mysteries or thrillers or action or even comedy. It was all in the actor's talent and how he broadcasts himself in front of the camera. A very simple story kept my eyes and mind attached to the screen for the hour long movie. The man was a representation of a carefree, lonesome from an antebellum era. There were two things he loved, his engine and a woman. Never did he show his love for her and was quite shy and always tried to avoid his physical presence with her; it kind of made him uncomfortable. Although the man did have feelings much deeper. The character movements in the movie; the way they walked and their body language were quite humorous in a characteristic manner. It was about how he chose to show his love for the woman; with bravery and compassion; that was the story. The story is describable in quite a few words but it is for the one who is understanding it. He showed the lightness of his heart with blunt passion, as if he loved her since ages. Of course there were dialogs written in between transitions, at needful times that helped a visiting audience understand. The movie does become quite predictable but it is seen not to be predicted but to be understood. It is to understand the mechanisms of showing mute action and still hitting as hard as a movie watched today. It is not to be compared to; or seen as a difference but to be distinguished in terms of relative times. I would still want to see more silent movies than today's censored filled, abused dialogs gimcrack films that even fail to throw emotions and meaningful stories.