By Jamie Hale/Oregon Live
Can you believe it’s already been 100 years since Buster Keaton collapsed an Oregon train trestle and plunged a full-size steam locomotive into the Row River?
This year marks the centennial celebration of Keaton’s 1926 silent film classic, “The General,” a movie that is considered dazzling or disastrous, depending on your point of view.
The film stars Keaton as a train conductor who tries, but fails, to enlist in the Confederate Army in an attempt to impress the love of his life. Instead, he ends up in a madcap railroad chase, designed to highlight Keaton’s famous physical comedy and daring stunt work.
Production took place in Oregon around Cottage Grove, where filmmakers found the old-fashioned railroads and vintage locomotives they needed. Producers reportedly hired 1,500 locals to work on the movie and spent a third of their budget in the small Oregon town.
That turned out to be a lot of money. The budget for “The General” began at $400,000 and quickly spun out of control. Between creating dams to change river depths and paying off farmers for accidentally setting fire to their fields, the budget ballooned to $750,000.
On its release, “The General” was a flop, but in the century since it has gained respect among film critics. The most recent Sight and Sound poll in 2022 ranked it No. 95 on the list of the greatest films of all time — higher than “Jaws” and “The Wizard of Oz.” Keaton appeared on the list a second time with “Sherlock Jr.” at No. 54.
In Cottage Grove, the movie remains a point of pride, and a large mural honors the movie downtown. This year locals will celebrate the anniversary with a special screening Aug. 29 at the Cottage Theatre. Tickets are available at cottagetheatre.org.
And if you want to see that train in the Row River, you’re about 80 years too late. While producers left the wreckage in the river when they left town (making it a minor tourist attraction for a couple decades) the metal was salvaged during World War II.
This story originally appeared in The Oregonian/OregonLive: One of the greatest films ever shot in Oregon turns 100 this year and is used with permission.