The General. Directed, produced, written and starring Buster Keaton. 93% on Rotton Tomatoes. 100% by Roger Ebert. He wrote: "The General” is an epic of silent comedy, one of the most expensive films of its time, including an accurate historical recreation of a Civil War episode, hundreds of extras, dangerous stunt sequences, and an actual locomotive falling from a burning bridge into a gorge far below. It was inspired by a real event; the screenplay was based on the book "The Great Locomotive Chase,” written by William Pittenger, the engineer who was involved. The AFI voted it the 18th greatest American film of all time. The BFI voted it in as the 34th greatest film of all time. It is historically important, funny and has tons of stunts. Plus includes the most expensive scene ever recorded up to that time.