In this film, David Wark Griffith tells four stories in parallel, three from history, and one fictional modern one. The historical episodes are the fall of ancient Babylon, the crucifixion of Christ, and the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre of the Huguenots. The modern story tracks a young woman and man that find each other but seem to be fated to lose Continue reading…
silents
Though done in 1936, almost a decade after talkies had come into their own, this is essentially done as a silent, thus falsifying my claim Continue reading…
German silent of the expressionism period, directed by Murnau. An adaption of Dracula.
Dracula or “Count Orlok” is played with stunning presence Continue reading…
This early silent movie is about a mutiny during czarist time on the battleship Potemkin. Director Eisenstein takes the mutiny Continue reading…
Buster Keaton is a Confederate who tries to take back a train that has been stolen by the Yankees. This leads to all Continue reading…
Early silent. Typical of the “German Expressionism” and you soon see why: almost every set looks like Continue reading…
The modern high-rise, impersonal megapolis has been created by dominant capitalist Fredersen (Alfred Abel) along with his evil inventor Rotwang (Klein-Rogge). The capitalist and his “court” live up high, in a place of godlike, Olympian imagery. Continue reading…
This movie began as a silent, then the producers decided to switch to sound. Some scenes are still silent or pseudo-silent (voices without need to lip sync). But one can watch it as comfortably as a normal talkie, as most of the scenes, and all the critical ones, have Continue reading…
Alfred Hitchcock silent, based on Noel Coward play.
The opening title, “easy virtue is society’s reward for a slandered reputation,” declares the theme of the movie.
Larita (Isabel Jeans) is falsely but understandably accused of adultery by alcoholic husband. Convicted in court, she tries to start over, but can she escape the hideous past? is the question.
Undoubtedly meant as a critique of bourgeois morality, read: hypocrisy. This is a favorite theme of twentieth century playwrites. Continue reading…
This was the last silent movie by Buster Keaton. Talkies were already being produced, but the sound stages were a scarce resource: there was overlap in the production of both types, until capitalization permitted talkies to drive the silents out for good.
Nevertheless, sophisticated sound effects were added and put into synchronization using a technique called Continue reading…
