the general have all the sweet earnestness in the world . it be about train and frontier america and flower face girl . the story be about a confederate train driver ( buster keaton ) who get his train and his girl back when they be steal by union soldier . the film be slow start and then hilarious action comedy and often vote one of the best film ever make . it sequence of sight gag and each top the one before and be an incredible joy to behold . the film and however and be a box office disaster on it original release . the story be base on an actual incident of the civil war and treat more seriously in the great locomotive chase .