The General (1926) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
During America’s Civil War, Union spies steal engineer Johnny Gray's beloved locomotive, 'The General'—with Johnnie's lady love aboard an attached boxcar—and he single-handedly must do all in his power to both get The General back and to rescue Annabelle.
Rated NR • 1926 • 1h 19m
A Confederate locomotive engineer embarks on a high-speed pursuit to reclaim his stolen train and rescue a hostage during the American Civil War. The film is unrated but suitable for ages 8 and up, as it contains no coarse language or suggestive content. Parents should expect frequent slapstick peril and large-scale practical stunts involving trains, though the violence is stylized and lacks any gore.
Cast
Is The General appropriate for kids?
A Confederate locomotive engineer embarks on a high-speed pursuit to reclaim his stolen train and rescue a hostage during the American Civil War. The film is unrated but suitable for ages 8 and up, as it contains no coarse language or suggestive content. Parents should expect… Read more — free account
Content severity in The General
What happens in The General, moment by moment
- 0:08 🔥 Mature Themes 1/10
- 0:35 ⚔ Violence & Gore 2/10
- 0:55 🔥 Mature Themes 1/10
Sex and nudity in The General
None.
Violence and gore in The General
A Confederate bridge collapse — one of cinema's most expensive single shots at the time. Slapstick danger throughout.
Language in The General
None — silent film with intertitles.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The General
None.
Mature themes in The General
The film treats the Civil War as adventure backdrop without political commentary. Keaton's physical comedy is breathtaking — every sequence precisely calculated. Voted one of the American Film Institute's greatest films.
Scary moments in The General
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for The General yet. Because this title is recommended for younger kids, sign up to get community-flagged jump scares, tense scenes, and startling imagery as parents submit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The General appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The General is best for ages 8+. It's rated NR. A Confederate locomotive engineer embarks on a high-speed pursuit to reclaim his stolen train and rescue a hostage during the American Civil War. The film is unrated but suitable for ages 8 and up, as it contains no…
What age rating does The General have?
The General is officially rated NR. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 8+.
What is The General about?
A Confederate locomotive engineer embarks on a high-speed pursuit to reclaim his stolen train and rescue a hostage during the American Civil War. The film is unrated but suitable for ages 8 and up, as it contains no coarse language or suggestive content. Parents should expect frequent slapstick peril and large-scale…
Is there sex or nudity in The General?
None.
How violent is The General?
A Confederate bridge collapse — one of cinema's most expensive single shots at the time. Slapstick danger throughout.
Is the language in The General appropriate for kids?
None — silent film with intertitles.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The General?
None.
What mature themes appear in The General?
The film treats the Civil War as adventure backdrop without political commentary. Keaton's physical comedy is breathtaking — every sequence precisely calculated. Voted one of the American Film Institute's greatest films.
How long is The General?
The General runs 79 minutes, directed by Buster Keaton, released in 1926.
Where can I read the full The General parent guide?
Create a free Bontent account to unlock the full scene-by-scene notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your personal watchlist.
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