Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and looks aren’t everything… but they are today! Just for fun, tell me which silent stars are just plain breathtaking.
We’re purely talking about looks here. Talent, personality and quality of films don’t come into it. (Of course, plenty of beautiful silent stars scored at the top for all three.)
There are no wrong answers, just share your favorites!
For my picks, Sessue Hayakawa easily bests all comers in the gents division:
And Lupe Velez is my choice for the ladies (but Dorothy Mackaill very nearly pulled an upset):
I’m looking forward to your gushing choices! (Don’t feel like you have to have two or that you are limited to two. Gush away in any number or combination!)
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Movies Silently 
Rudolph Valentino is my choice for men (the complete symmetry of his whole body is honestly wild, he looks like a painting) and for women my choice is Clara Bow! Though my choices are kinda obvious picks…
Hey, some choices are popular for a reason 🙂
Dorothy Janis
Louise Brooks
Louise Brooks was a walking goddess. Douglas Fairbanks Sr was a right hunk.
Your favourite chap, Ivan Mosjoukine, was also one gorgeous man. 😉
😀
Norma Talmadge and Rudolph Valentino.
Yay Norma!
Dolores Costello
Ivan Mosjoukine
Reginald Denny was incredibly handsome and athletic! Corinne Griffith was stunning!
Boy, tough question. As soon as I post this I’ll think of some others, but right now Esther Ralston and Doris Kenyon come to mind. Maybe Lars Hanson or John Gilbert.
I knew it would happen. I changed my mind. Charles Ferrell for the male star.
For men, Richard Barthelmess. His face was just spectacular to look at, a kind of otherworldly handsomness. Also Gary Cooper.
For women, Louise Brooks is my popular choice, but I also submit the lesser known Mary Duncan. I saw her in City Girl. She was gorgeous!
Valentino for me is number 1, duh. Gilbert Roland was also beyond gorgeous. I concur with Sessuye Hayakawa, too. Ronald Colman, too. Female beauty, Vilma Banky, Mary Pickford (just look at her wedding portrait!), Claire Windsor, Norma Talmadge
Mary Duncan and Charles Farrell in “City Girl” and “The River”, also my favorite silent film romantic couple.
For me, Jean Harlow parading around half-naked in Laurel & Hardy’s DOUBLE WHOOPEE is some of the hottest 30 seconds in silent film.
Ooooh! I like this! Okay, for the ladies it’s Florence La Badie, Mabel Normand, and Anna May Wong; for the gents it’s Buster Keaton (such a face!), Sessue Hayakawa, and Hugh Allan.
Maude Fealy. Check out her IMDB pic https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0269863/?ref_=nv_sr_1
For me: Billie Dove, Jobyna Ralston, Esther Ralston, Mary Pickford, Bessie Love, Lois Wilson, Mary Philbin, Thelma Todd, Paulette Goddard, Jewel Carmen, Dolores del Rio, Dolores Costello, Edna Purviance, Jane Novak, Eva Novak, Marceline Day … there are probably more I could think of but I believe I’ve got a pretty good start.
Personally I think Charles “Buddy” Rogers is one of the cutest guys of the silent era. I fell for him the minute I saw him in “My Best Girl”.
Other handsome actors are Rudolph Valentino, Ramon Novarro, Charles Farrell, Buster Keaton, Antonio Moreno and Raymond Hackett.
And for girls… Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, Lillian Gish, Olive Thomas, Nancy Carroll… and of course there are many more but I just can’t of anyone else!
*I just can’t think of
I second that!
I knew you would!
I have to go with Dolores Costello, Louise Brooks, Viola Dana, Maude Fealy, Garbo. For the men, I so agree about Sessue Hayakawa, John Gilbert, Gilbert Rowland, Ivor Novello
Biograph era Lillian Gish is the most stunning, heartbreakingly beautiful actress I ever saw.
Absolute ditto on this. It made me happy to see someone else recognize this, and I couldn’t have said it better myself!
I’m crushing on Fay Wray right now.
What an interesting thread to read through! I’ve got two pairs of stars to put forward: Enid Bennett and Milton Sills (my fan worship of The Sea Hawk will forever know no bounds!), and Janet Gaynor and George O’Brien (ditto Sunrise).
All of the above, plus Olga Baclanova. May I introduce a “not handsome but interesting ” theme for the men and nominate Conrad Veidt?
Certainly!
I’d go for Louise Brooks, Mabel Normand, Raquel Torres, and Thelma Hill
I’d go for Helen Carruthers (a.k.a. Peggy Page), Louise Brooks, Mabel Normand, Raquel Torres and Thelma Hill
I would go for Corinne Griffith, Blanche Sweet and perhaps Dorothy Mackaill. As for men i nominate Ivor Novello.
Greta Garbo and Corinne Griffith, definitely. I have no particular favorites among the male ‘beauties,’ maybe just say John Gilbert and Charles Farrell.
For the fellas: Ramon Novarro and Sessue Hayakawa
For the ladies: Mary Philbin and Norma Shearer
Got to be Louise Brooks and the benighted Olive Borden.
For me it’s Jobyna Ralston & Betty Compson for the ladies and Buddy Rogers and Charles Farrell for the men.
Rene Adoree and Lilian Gish plus Rudolph Valentino and John Gilbert
This list could easily turn out to be very, very long, but we’ll see how it goes!
For the girls, I think Olive Thomas, Dolores Del Rio, Mary Astor, May Allison, Mary Pickford, Janet Gaynor, Lillian Gish, and Esther Ralston were all so beautiful. As for the guys, I’d have to go with Rudolph Valentino, Charles Farrell, Richard Barthelmess, Ronald Colman, Gary Cooper, Buster Keaton, and Buddy Rogers.
There’re just so many gorgeous silent movie stars, ok?
A very difficult question. Sessue Hayakawa certainly is a perfect choice. I would like to add Joseph Schildkraut. Regarding the ladies, to name the most beautiful star is even harder. My pick would be either Olive Thomas or Eve Southern.
Yes, don’t overlook Joseph Schildkraut. Once saw Valentino in Moran of the Lady Letty on a big screen. He didn’t have to do anything, just stand still for the camera. It was a transformative experience.
Male actor: Lars Hanson
Female actor: Mary Astor and Camilla Horn
Ramon Novarro (of course) and Marceline Day.
I’m a little late to the party, but I’ve got to wax on Mary Astor for the females– totally otherworldly and gorgeous! Honorable mentions to Marie Doro and Biograph-era Pickford and Gish. And, I’ve also got to throw in my hat for Charles Farrell for the menfolk– or, William Haines. Charles is more the rugged, “whatta man!” type, while Billy is just plain adorable and the kind you’d wanna spend time with!
Oops, I got my Gaynor costars confused — I meant George O’Brien, not Charles Farrell! Also, I’d be amiss if I didn’t include Ramon Novarro, especially in The Pagan 😉
Helene Darly in The House of Mystery is really beautiful. I don’t know if I’ve seen her in any other films, but she comes off as really charming and graceful in this serial.