Posts tagged with "silent movies"
Watch: The Musketeers of Pig Alley (1912)
Directed by D.W. Griffith and written by Anita Loos, The Musketeers of Pig Alley is often cited as the first gangster film. The short was originally released on October 31, 1912 and got a re-release a few years later on November 5, 1915. While The Musketeers of Pig Alley is no Scarface (either Muni or [...]
On the Set of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927)
Production of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis began on May 22, 1925 and ran until October 30, 1926. That’s a long, grueling shoot by any measure, but Metropolis included some elaborate sets, a lot of complicated effects, and one very particular director. Shooting was particularly tough for Brigitte Helm, a young unknown at the time. She had [...]
Watch: Shoulder Arms (1918)
Charlie Chaplin’s Shoulder Arms was released on October 20, 1917. Charlie is an infantryman with big dreams of being a hero behind enemy lines. This is wackiness in a trench, and it’s very, very funny. Enjoy! Cast Charles Chaplin … Charlie, the Doughboy Edna Purviance … French girl Syd Chaplin … The sergeant, Charlie’s Comrade/The Kaiser Jack Wilson … German [...]
Watch: Sally of the Sawdust (1925)
Sally of the Sawdust (1925) is an American silent comedy film, directed by D. W. Griffith, starring W. C. Fields, and based on the 1923 stage musical Poppy. It was originally released on August 2, 1925. I don’t find W.C. Fields nearly as funny as the rest of the world seems to, but watch it because it was directed [...]
Review: A Fool There Was (1915)
A Fool There Was (1915) wasn’t Theda Bara’s first film (The Stain (1914) holds that special honor), but it was her first lead role. It also, I think, sets the template for every other role she played and her entire persona. I say that I think, because while I am familiar with Theda Bara the [...]
The Cameraman (1928)
I’ll get to The Cameraman in a sec, just bear with me. Did you watch Lost? I hope, for your sake, that the answer is no. I mean, c’mon – J.J. Abrams, I’m going to kick your ass in a dark alley if I ever get the chance, just for wasting my time. But I [...]
Short Films from the Golden Age of Comedy
The golden age of the short film and the golden age of comedy are one in the same. Here’s a look at a few of my favorites from the silent era, when all films were short films, and the comic geniuses were at play. Get ready for a yuks and chucks! Short Films From the [...]
Keaton – Cops – and the First Baptist Church of Hollywood
It’s always a fun day when I notice a new post at John Bengtson’s completely awesome Silent Locations. And after seeing Buster and Fatty in the high-larious “Backstage” last night at the 1000 Laffs: Playmates screening at Toronto Silent Film Festival, reading about this Keaton location is like a cherry on my sundae! Keaton – [...]
Metropolis, A Technical Marvel with Feet of Clay
Metropolis premiered in Berlin on January 10, 1927. As all good silent movie devotees know, the film was then tinkered with, re-edited, and god knows what before it received wider distribution. Hard to know now. Mordaunt Hall, film reviewer for The New York Times, gave that revised version a less than glowing treatment, calling Metropolis [...]
Vilma Banky, The Hungarian Rhapsody
According to my amazing Silent Film Calendar, today is Vilma Banky’s 114th birthday. At first I thought, “Happy birthday Vilma Banky!” Then I thought, “Wait a minute… who’s Vilma Banky.”
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Ary
Yes, A Room With A View is wonderful - also, I wo …
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Victoria
Vertigo, Psycho, I. Confess and Rope. North By …
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Toyiah
This is true, Hockey masks we're oringially on my …
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Giles
A vacuum of screen presence? Yes, totally agree. A …
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Wade Sheeler
Next thing you'll be saying women find Paul Muni o …
