“Out of the Past” is an ongoing screening series foregrounding the history and prehistory of the film medium, historical genres (swashbucklers, slapstick, romance, etc), and cinema’s engagements with history, literature and theatre.

Keaton’s 1926 The General is deservedly well known. But his remarkable historical imagination first took flight in this charming and unexpected comedy, set during the very early (and visibly uncomfortable) years of the railroad. This short feature will be preceded by one of Keaton’s greatest short films, The Boat (1921) – another single location masterpiece. [Running time: 1h 14m]