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Biographical thriller

The General (1998): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The General (1998) movie poster

The General is a 1998 biographical thriller directed by John Boorman, starring Brendan Gleeson and Adrian Dunbar. It runs 2 hours 4 minutes and earned $1.2 million worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Foreign Film at the Spirit Awards 1999. Critics gave it 81 on Metacritic.

worldwide gross
$1.2M
award nomination
1
Metascore
81
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The General (1998) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 4m (124 min)
Director
John Boorman
Genres
Biography , Drama , Thriller , Crime
Original language
German
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The General About?

The premise of The General without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In post-war Germany, Jewish prosecutor Fritz Bauer is determined to bring Nazi war criminals to justice. His investigation reveals a complex network of deceit, leading him to Adolf Eichmann, who has fled to Argentina. Bauer then collaborates with the Mossad to capture the notorious figure responsible for orchestrating genocide, initiating a tense pursuit across international borders.

The General Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • ireland
  • police
  • robbery
  • dublin ireland
  • irish republican army
  • organized crime
  • gangster
  • money
  • courtroom
  • bank robbery
  • harassment
  • jewel theft
+38 more
  • art theft
  • sex with wife's sister
  • police harassment
  • assassination
  • death
  • pregnant woman
  • art heist
  • jewelry heist
  • diabetic
  • cat and mouse game
  • two word title
  • slap on the butt
  • car bomb
  • eviction
  • colt python
  • nail hammered through hand
  • reform school
  • polygamous relationship
  • garda
  • jewelry store
  • cashier's check
  • career criminal
  • brother in law sister in law affair
  • trailer on fire
  • criminal trial
  • presented in muted color
  • gas can
  • thief
  • burglary
  • father daughter kiss
  • family affairs
  • man beats a boy
  • buying a house
  • police chase
  • sisters have sex with the same man
  • gold bars
  • younger version of character
  • body bag
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Cast & crew

The General Cast

Brendan Gleeson leads the cast, with Adrian Dunbar. Directed by John Boorman.

From the director

More from John Boorman

More films directed by John Boorman, best-rated first: Hope and Glory, Deliverance, Point Blank and The Tailor of Panama.

Full filmography
Ratings

The General Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The General 81 on Metacritic.

Plot

The General Plot Summary

What happens in The General from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

On the 18th of August, 1994, Cahill leaves his home in Cowper Downs, Rathmines, and is ambushed by an assassin who escapes on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice. As his family grieves, his Garda nemesis, Inspector Ned Kenny, arrives to oversee the removal of the corpse from the scene.

In the 1950s, a young Cahill and his siblings turn to theft to help their struggling family. He is caught by a Garda while attempting a theft from a butcher’s shop and is sent to an industrial school, a harsh start that foreshadows a life lived on the edge of the law.

Full summary

The whole story of The General, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The General Box Office

The General grossed $1.2 million worldwide.

1998 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.2M

US & Canada
$1.2M
Awards

The General Awards & Nominations

The General earned 1 award nomination, including Best Foreign Film at the Spirit Awards 1999.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

The General Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The General.

The General Trailer 1998
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The General?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the main protagonist of the film?

Cars

Cars in The General

19 cars on screen, including the 1997 Harley-Davidson FLSTS Heritage Springer and the 1985 Renault 5.

All 19 cars
  • 1997 Harley-Davidson FLSTS Heritage Springer in The General 1997 Harley-Davidson FLSTS Heritage Springer Main role
  • 1985 Renault 5 in The General 1985 Renault 5 Main role
  • 1985 Ford Granada MkIII in The General 1985 Ford Granada MkIII Important role
  • 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire MkII in The General 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire MkII Important role
Details

The General Also Known As

32 alternative titles, including “La figlia del Generale” and “Generalens datter”.

Also known as
  • La figlia del Generale
  • Generalens datter
  • Córka Generała
  • General'ın Qızı
  • Wehrlos - Die Tochter des Generals
  • Generalin Kızı
  • Le Déshonneur d'Elisabeth Campbell
  • La hija del general
  • Генеральская дочь
  • Generálova dcera
  • A tábornok lánya
  • 将军的女儿
+20 more
  • A Filha do General
  • Η κόρη του Στρατηγού
  • בת הגנרל
  • La Fille du général
  • Generalens dotter
  • 将軍の娘/エリザベス・キャンベル
  • Донька генерала
  • Дъщерята на генерала
  • Sprawa honoru
  • Kenraalin tytär
  • 장군의 딸
  • Generálova dcéra
  • 將軍的女兒
  • Fiica generalului
  • द जनरल्स डॉटर
  • Con gái tướng quân
  • อหังการฆ่าสะท้านโลก
  • La filla del General
  • Generalova kći
  • Generalova hči

Seen The General?

FAQ

The General FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The General, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The General?

The General runs 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes).

When was The General released?

The General was released on December 18, 1998.

Who directed The General?

The General was directed by John Boorman.

More films by John Boorman

Who is in the cast of The General?

The General stars Brendan Gleeson and Adrian Dunbar.

How much did The General make at the box office?

The General grossed $1.2 million worldwide.

How is The General rated?

The General has 81 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.

Was The General nominated for any awards?

The General received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does The General have a post-credit scene?

No. The General has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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