In the midst of the American Civil War, it all begins with the sound of a locomotive emerging from a black-and-white cloud of dust. Co-directed by Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman, this silent film brings to the screen the quiet resistance of a train engineer who was unable to enlist in the army. When his girlfriend and his locomotive, General, are kidnapped by Union spies, a breathless chase begins for Johnny Gray, taking him deep behind enemy lines. This harmony of war and comedy, echoing along the rails, gains momentum with the steps of a man driven by a mechanical passion. The chase, which ends on the bridges, strikes an absurd yet perfectly balanced note amid the chaos of the era.

3 wins & 1 nomination total