Silent Movies: An AppreciationAug 23 '03 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line I am 16 and have not been able to see as many silents as I wish. I have just discovered silent cinema, but I love it more with each film.
THESE TEN FILMS ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER: Orphans of the Storm- Lillian and Dorothy Gish together in one lavish costume drama. Two sisters, one blind and one beautiful, embark on a trip to Paris to have the sight restored. When they are separated and raised by thieves and aristocrats, respectively, D.W. Griffith exploits their situation masterfully. Fine work from all involved. Completely engrossing. The Birth of a Nation- Any film that can make you route for the Ku Klux Klan has to be made by a master. And this one is…controversial after all these years, D.W. Griffith’s Civil War picture about sex hungry slaves and the wonderful Clansmen is grand filmmaking in the least. Try to look beyond its distorted point of view…enjoy it for its sweep and artistry. The General- Buster Keaton’s greatest film, and perhaps the best civil war film ever. When his girlfriend is kidnapped, Buster hijacks a train to go and save her. His sight gags involving real locomotives are jaw-dropping. By the way, it is also hilarious! The Garden of Eden- Corinne Griffith, a forgotten star whose films are mostly lost, stars in this sex comedy directed by Lewis Milestone. She is Toni Lebrun, a Viennese girl who leaves her family’s bakery because “she could never be satisfied making pretzels all her life.” She runs of to Budapest where she is contracted at the cabaret Palais de Paris. So embarrassed by her revealing costume, Toni walks offstage. When she insults a powerful baron who was impressed by her performance, she is fired. She goes with the seamstress to Monte Carlo where she falls in love! Fantastic comedy that shows how innovative and stylish silents could be. The Divine Lady- Corinne Griffith again, in the film that got her nominated for an Oscar in 1929! She is absolutely fantastic in the drama/biopic about Emma Hamilton and her romance with Lord Horatio Nelson. Pictorially beautiful with photography to rival Sunrise! Gripping and entertaining. Won the Oscar for Best Director (Frank Lloyd). Lady of the Night- Norma Shearer’s ultimate silent film…she has a duel role as both a high society gal and a gangster’s moll, both in love with the same guy. To the characters in the film, the two women are as different as night and day, but to the viewer, Shearer’s compassion she gives to both women makes them alike at heart. An amazing and thought provoking film. The Hunchback of Notre Dame- Lon Chaney, Sr…the man of a thousand faces! He does wonders with the character of Quasimodo. He scales the Cathedral de Notre Dame with a huge hump on his back. Patsy Ruth Miller as Esmeralda, the gypsy, is beautiful. Holds up very well and demonstrates why Chaney was such a big star. The Navigator- Another gem from Buster Keaton. This time he’s on his own ocean liner. The sight gags never get old, and he keeps you laughing from beginning to end. Keaton actually bought the S.S. Buford when he learned it was being sent to the scrap pile. Pauline Kael said it was arguable Keaton’s finest film! I say it’s second only to The General. More belly laughs here, but The General had more substance to it. Sunrise- The most famous silent film, and arguably the best. Janet Gaynor won the first Best Actress Oscar for her performance here (she shared the award among three performances, this, Street Angel, and Seventh Heaven). It’s a beautiful and poetic film, nearly allegorical, about corruption that drives a husband to murder his wife, but he is only brought closer to her when he attempts to do so. The most visually appealing film until The Scarlet Empress or Citizen Kane! You have to see it to believe it! Wings- The first Oscar-winner is a great showcase for “IT” girl Clara Bow. She is the main focus, and the story, about WWI fighter pilots, is another. Fantastic aerial sequences highlight the melodrama, and the film, contrary to many professional reviews, is wonderful.  |
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