The Art Of Action: The First Action Hero

Celebrating the original action hero as part of BFI's Art Of Action season.

Programme:

10am The General + Live Score

Buster Keaton’s 1926 American silent comedy *The General *was inspired by the Great Locomotive Chase, a true story of an event that occurred during the American Civil War. Expect romance, laughs and some fantastic stunts, together with a special introduction from Ray Johnson and live accompanient courtesy of pianist Stephen Horne.

12.30pm The Potteries Loop Line (Ray Johnson Film Archive)

The Potteries Loop Line was a gold mine for the North Staffordshire Railway until the trams came – a train service linking all Six Towns running trains every 15 minutes during the day. The passenger line snaked through the Potteries, with mineral lines branching off to the coal mines and local industry.

You can still walk along most of the route today, and this programme explores various locations along the Line in the days of steam locomotives.

2pm Sherlock Jr

This laugh out loud comedy is considered to be among Keaton's best work with its special effects and elaborate stunts landmarks in motion picture history. A kindly movie projectionist (Buster Keaton) longs to be a detective. When his fiancée (Kathryn McGuire) is robbed by a local thief (Ward Crane), the poor projectionist is framed for the crime. Using his amateur detective skills, the projectionist follows the thief to the train station - only to find himself locked in a train car. Disheartened, he returns to his movie theatre, where he falls asleep and dreams that he is the great Sherlock Holmes.

Check out the full Art of Action season here.