Celebrate Silent Film
John Barrymore romps through medieval Paris playing a character best described as Robin Hood + Rabble-Rouser + Bugs Bunny. His pranks cause him to run afoul of the crown. Conrad Veidt (in his American debut!) plays the king as a superstitious, nose-picking goblin.
Continue reading “Fun Size Review: The Beloved Rogue (1927)”
Douglas Fairbanks is in peril because his mind is slowly falling apart due to the machinations of the mad scientist next door. To make matters worse, Doug is in love with a young lady who is already promised to another. It will take all his pep and energy to get out of this tangle!
Continue reading “When the Clouds Roll By (1919) A Silent Film Review”
So, this is something a little different for me. After my health scare and reexamination of my website priorities, I have decided that I am going to give myself a little breather and just review whatever tickles my fancy in October.
Continue reading “Theme Month! October 2019: Free for All”
How would you like a stylish, beautiful late silent era production from France? With a new restoration and 4K scan on Bluray? Well, today is your day! L’Argent is on Blu and we’re taking a closer look.
Continue reading “Unboxing the Silents: L’Argent from Flicker Alley”
Ignored upon initial release, this smart drama has since built a following among silent movie fans and for very good reason: it’s excellent.
Continue reading “Fun Size Review: The Canadian (1926)”
Brigands in airships terrorizing the populace of England in that far-off future date of… 1920? Well, the predictions of this adventure picture may not have come true but it’s still a fun little picture.
Continue reading “The Pirates of 1920 (1911) A Silent Film Review”
Raised aboard ship, Leatrice Joy feels it is high time to stop being a sailor and get herself a fella. Armed with magazine relationship advice, she goes ashore and sets her cap at the first man she sees, William Boyd. Leatrice shanghais him but soon has bigger problems when pirates invade her ship.
Continue reading “Fun Size Review: Eve’s Leaves (1926)”
Note: When the site was young, I published quite a few capsule book reviews of silent-related works from my bookshelf so I am dusting them off and reposting them. Enjoy!
Continue reading “Silent Movie Bookshelf: Dark Lady of the Silents by Miriam Cooper”
I had planned to post a review of a British sci-fi film with airships and pirates and whatnot and I still am going to, it will just be a day or two late. I haven’t been well in about two weeks and it turns out that a kidney infection was to blame. I am on antibiotics and on the mend but I am a bit too under the weather to produce the quality of writing you deserve.
Continue reading “Kidney Infections and Destructive Creativity”
The Pordenone Silent Film Festival is just a few days away and while I am not going to be there myself, a movie that I worked on will be screened as part of the program. I am not the producer or the restorer or anything but I did recreate a classic typeface and made authentic title cards!
Continue reading “If You’re Off to Pordenone, Be Sure to See the Title Cards I Recreated!”
Norma Talmadge plays a Chinese maiden (hoo boy) who falls for American diplomat Thomas Meighan. It’s, um, well… It sure is something. I am sorry, China. I am so, so sorry.
Continue reading “Fun Size Review: The Forbidden City (1918)”
This week is Banned Book Week and back in my bookstore working days, I always used to make up a nice little display of banned books, both famous and obscure. In that spirit, I would like to share some censorship cuts inflicted on silent films by the censorship boards of the day.
Continue reading “For Banned Book Week: A Collection of Silent Film Censorship Cuts”
Disclaimer: I do not actually know whether or not your youth was misspent. My apologies to any non-misspenders.
Continue reading “What Were Your Favorite Silent Films During Your Misspent Youth?”
Bonkers script? Check! Purple title cards? Check! Weird plot? Check! Tons of quality entertainment? You bet! Cecil B. DeMille’s wacky time travel romance makes absolutely no sense but that is all just part of the fun.
Continue reading “Fun Size Review: The Road to Yesterday (1925)”
“A Christmas Carol” gets a science fiction makeover in this adaptation of the stage favorite of the same name. A Martian is stripped of his rank and won’t get it back until he has taught a wayward human how to be unselfish.
Continue reading “A Message from Mars (1913) A Silent Film Review”
Poems and other creative writing tidbits dedicated to silent stars is not unusual but this little piece in a 1922 issue of Motion Picture Magazine is a bit different because the author of these poems was Doris Kenyon, a popular star herself.
Continue reading “Poetry About the Silent Film Stars… by a Silent Film Star”
ARRR! Since Talk Like a Pirate Day is the best day of the year and since plenty of silent films had piratical themes, I decided that I would combine these important interests and make a list of pirate films that I think are the bee’s knees.
Continue reading “Celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day with These Piratical Silents!”
Last week, I asked my readers to share how old they were when they watched their first silent film and the results are in! A big thanks to everyone who participated.
Continue reading “Poll Results: How Old Were You When You Saw Your First Silent Film?”
We’re back with another list of top 10 films as published in the Film Daily. Last time, we took a look at 1922 and now we’re advancing to 1923, the latest film year to enter the public domain.
Continue reading “The Best Films of 1923 According to Critics of the Time (and they all survive!)”
Rough and rowdy, this movie is Lubitsch before he finished developing his signature touch but it’s still an amiable romp about a wayward husband, a clever wife and a very naughty chambermaid.
Continue reading “Fun Size Review: The Merry Jail (1917)”
That Onésime is at it again! Our surreal comedy hero decides to speed up his access to his inheritance by speeding up time for the entire world, as one does. A science-fiction-ish, comedy-ish short.
Continue reading “Onésime, Clockmaker (1912) A Silent Film Review”
Anita Page was, of course, one of the popular actresses of the Flaming Youth set and was one of the last surviving grownup silent stars before her death in 2008. Like all stars of the era, she participated (or her studio participated for her) in fan magazine items designed to showcase her talents outside the movies.
Continue reading “Get Ready for Autumn with a 1928 Tam Pattern from Anita Page”
Buckles are swashed in a most lavish manner. Lewis Stone plays an Englishman who must take his look-alike cousin’s place in order to save the throne, etc. etc. but Ramon Novarro steals the show as a deranged dandy. It’s easy to see why this was his breakout role.
Continue reading “Fun Size Review: The Prisoner of Zenda (1922)”
Most fans of silent movies know that nitrate film was a little dangerous. Okay, pretty dangerous. Okay, a dangerous flammable object that creates its own oxygen as it burns and caused (and causes) more than its share of destructive fires.
Continue reading ““You Probably Won’t Burn to Death at Our Theater” Asbestos Ad from 1914″
We’ve done polls about ages and locations but I want to know how old you were when you saw a silent movie for the first time.
Continue reading “At What Age Did You Watch Your First Silent Film?”
Sometimes goofy, sometimes creepy, occasionally romantic but always entertaining. Rudolph Valentino is a sheik who falls for an Englishwoman, Agnes Ayres. What do you do when the lady you love thinks you’re a creep? Kidnap her and confirm all her suspicions, of course!
Continue reading “Fun Size Review: The Sheik (1921)”
There’s malice in the royal palace when King David’s hottest son, Absalom, decides to stage himself a little coup de tat. Lots of stencil-colored Biblical war in this impressive French production.
Continue reading “Absalom (1912) A Silent Film Review”
The first screen adaptation of Chicago was a silent film and a rather saucy one at that. Phyllis Haver is on fire as the heartless Roxie Hart, who shoots her lover and spends the rest of the film attempting to game the legal system in order to get off scot-free.
Continue reading “Fun Size Review: Chicago (1927)”
Every year, the National Film Registry opens up its nomination process to the general public and so this is your chance to make sure that important films are preserved for future generations.
Continue reading “Reminder: The Deadline to Nominate Titles for the National Film Registry is September 15”
Hello all. Just letting you know that tomorrow, the power company in its infinite wisdom will be turning off my power for the entire day.
Continue reading “Power Outage Imminent!”