Posts tagged with "silent films"
5 Overlooked Silent Films that I Love
Sure, everyone knows Buster Keaton and The General, Charlie Chaplin and – well, all of ‘em. The people love Harold Lloyd hanging off that clock face in Safety Last. Everyone knows the controversy surrounding D.W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation. Angsty teenagers still flock to the “cult classic” outliers like Nosferatu and The Cabinet [...]
Watch It: The Pleasure Garden (1926)
Today, my friends, is the anniversary of one Mr. Alfred Hitchcock’s directorial debut. The Pleasure Garden, Hitch’s first credited as director, debuted for the London press on March 1, 1926. It was officially released in 1927, after the success of The Lodger. This is the movie that launched a brilliant career in film and ultimately lead to [...]
Watch It: The Iron Mask (1929)
The Iron Mask, starring Douglas Fairbanks, was released on February 21, 1929. It’s the first talking role for Fairbanks and it’s also one of those inter-period, half silent, half talkie movies. Typically, the movie has been shown in its silent version. The Iron Mask stars Fairbanks as d’Artagnan, Marguerite De La Motte as his beloved Constance (who is [...]
Watch It: A Girl in Every Port (1928)
Today we’ve got a treat in this rare silent from director Howard Hawks. A Girl in Every Port follows the adventure of sailors on shore leave (always a good time). This little comedy gem features not only real-life stripper Sally Rand, but none other than Louise Brooks. It’s quite a change from her heavier roles [...]
10 Things About The General (1927)
So my Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra silent film calendar tells me today is the release date for The General. I get really excited about this – a great reason to talk about The General! The problem is February 1 doesn’t match up with any of the release dates in the IMDB entry. What’s a [...]
Watch It: The Hands of Orlac (1925)
The Hands of Orlac, or Orlacs Hände, is a late expressionist silent film produced by Robert Wiene (of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari fame). This is a weird one, people. A pianist loses his hands and gets a pretty amazing hand transplant. But they’re the hands of a killer! Does Orlac control his own hands, [...]
Top 5 Silent Films for Newbies
As the social reach of Pretty Clever Films keeps expanding (first Twitter, then the world ya’ll!) I’ve been getting some version of this question quite a lot lately: I’ve never seen a silent movie. What do you recommend? Of course, we silent film enthusiasts both welcome this question and sort of dread this question. It [...]
Film Friday Weekly Round Up: The Holiday Hangover Edition
Well now the holidays are over (boo!). Pretty Clever Film Gal transformed the yule tide season into one mega Bond-a-thon. In late November, I had never seen a single Bond movie. Now I only 5 titles plus Skyfall left. As a matter of fact I holidayed so hard it’s almost a relief to get back [...]
Review: The Spanish Dancer (1923)
My review of The Spanish Dancer, a silent costume drama from director Herbert Brenon, could really be six words long Pola Negri, Pola Negri, Pola Negri. She is dazzling in this 1923 programmer. Sure, there’s action and romance; there’s a dissolute king and a dashing prince; there’s even Wallace Beery. But mostly, there is Pola [...]
Watch: Raggedy Rose (1926)
Raggedy Rose is a cute little silent comedy from 1926 starring Mabel Normand. Rose works for a cheap-skate junk dealer and dreams of romance with a wealthy bachelor. I say: who doesn’t, sister? There’s not a lot that’s truly special about Raggedy Rose. Except that Mabel is always charming. And except that it was co-written [...]
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Ben Moore
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Richard
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Silent Czarina
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Christina Stewart
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