Silence is golden...
Dec 26 '00
I know too many people who think films have to have sound and be in color to be good... and while there are certainly many excellent talkies, many of which are in color, there is something really special about a good silent film. Silents had to convey emotions and propel the plot along without benefit of all those bells and whistles... all they had were visuals, background music, and an occasional title card... which did no good for viewers who couldn't read. Most of these films still hold up today, especially considering they were made in the days before the Hays Code and as such could be a bit more free with references to sexuality and other "controversial" matters. My favorite silent films, in no particular order, are:
Broken Blossoms (1919)
Lillian Gish stars in this tragic tale of a young woman caught between an abusive home life and the Asian shopkeeper who loves her. Fascinating for its unique-for-the-time portrayal of gender issues and racial issues. The first silent film I ever saw, and one of the all time classics.
Our Dancing Daughters (1928)
A young Joan Crawford stars as one of three flappers in this fun, frivolous late-era silent. Written by women and featuring strong, independent female roles, this is another film that holds up surprisingly well under modern scrutiny.
Metropolis (1927)
The most famous of all the silents, this futuristic science-fiction tale has gorgeous sets and groundbreaking special effects. Heavy on the metaphor and allegory, this is one of the many blue collar-versus-white collar morality tales produced at this time. This film was almost lost forever, but it was restored and re-released in 1984. Nobody who calls themselves a film buff should miss this one.
Das Tagebuch einer Verlorenen [Diary of a Lost Girl] (1929)
Another silent restored and re-released in 1984, this film features the legendary Louise Brooks [of Pandora's Box fame] as Thymiane, a girl who is raped, put in a halfway house, becomes a prostitute, inherits money, marries, is widowed... just about everything that could happen to a woman of this period. Sordid and explicit for its day, this movie holds up exceptionally well.
La Bohéme (1926)
Lillian Gish and John Gilbert star as Mimi and Rodolphe in the classic story based on the novel by Henri Murger. Edward Everett Horton [best known as a narrator on the Rocky and Bullwinkle show and for his comedic roles in Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers films like Shall We Dance] also stars as Colline. At 95 minutes, this is an engaging and quickly-moving version of the tale.
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Epinions.com ID:
verbalgirl
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Reviews written: 101
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About Me:
Barista, secretary, screenwriter, music addict. What else is there?
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