Tweet top 10 silents to watch after the Artist

I agree. How about something infinitely more simple but fun, like THE MATINEE IDOL, or OUR MODERN MAIDENS? With THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC many, many newbies will probably just say. "My God, what ugly looking people!" I also find JOAN almost to painful to watch. Very disturbing movie.

Mitch,

Ha, ha! You need to see SAPPHO if you think THE MAN WHO LAUGHS is risqué. THE RIVER too

Jeffrey,

I have seen the forty-five minutes that remain of The River. One of my favorite Borzage films, just from seeing that fragment. Mary Duncan is very sensual. Getting away from "racy" for a moment, how about the little known Borzage film Lucky Star? A powerful performance by Charles Ferrell as a disabled war veteran (his best in my opinion), and my favorite Farrell/Gaynor pairing.

So how about these :

Show People (1928)
It (1927)
Wings (1927)
The Big Parade (1925)
Sunrise (1927)
City Lights (1931)
The Kid Brother (1927)
Our Hospitality (1923)
My Best Girl (1927)
The Iron Mask (1929)

I would still opt for The General (assuming that you have the blu ray), but otherwise this is a great primer list for silent film. And actually I might substitue The Circus for City Lights as in my experience this is a better film for modern audiences. But those are the most modern films I can think of for a "typical" audience.

JOAN OF ARC at No 1??
It would probably be the first and last silent a newbie would ever watch.

I agree.

For the first movie, how about something in the newbie's line of interest ?
For instance, I am a fan of The Phantom of the Opera and I was introduced to silents through the Lon Chaney version.
Someone appreciates Hugo ? Hunchback and The Man Who Laughs.
Something like that. Just a examples, but you know what I mean.

The problem with THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is you need a good print for one. 2 a decent score. And for 3 it is not indicative of the original film as it was in 1925. The 1929 re-issue is virtually a completely different, and much better film. Sadly, the 1925 cut survives in hopelessly compromised condition, from 3rd rate Show and home 16 MM transfers. When my friend Christine saw PHANTOM for the first time, she gave it a dismal review. She found the story extremely weak. And that was the no longer available Photoplay Productions restoration with a Carl Davis score. She did not know that this was the based on the heavily altered continuity of the 1929 re-issue. And Christine is a gigantic Silent film fan. She';s seen at least a dozen films that probably no one else on this board has art live events.

Same with HUNCHBACK the only version worth seeing is the David Shepard Film Preservation Associates restoration with the Robert Israel and Donald Hunsburger score from a few years back. The most complete ever issued on home video. Even that is taken mostly from 16 millimeter stock, since no 35 Millimeter prints have been uncovered far as I know. Maybe some bits and pieces? Unfortunately, the vast majority of people are to dense to understand that these films didn't always look this way. Folks still think Silents were blury, jerky, out of focus, full of scratches etc. They will just pick up any inferior transfer from some Public-Domain version of either of these movies. After that they probably will not look any further. Unless you know for sure what you are getting, I can't honestly recommend either of these titles. I continue to be befuddled whey TCM keeps airing an older edition with the James Bernard score?

For the same reason, I can't exactly recommend NOSFERATU either. Unless, you know that you are getting the very best version. Never thought much of the picture until I saw the stunning Murnau Foundation restoration with the new recording of the original 1922 Hands Erdmann's orchestral score. Made a huge impression. Released on DVD a few years ago by KINO in the USA, and Eureka-Masters of Cinema overseas.

:? I agree. How about something infinitely more simple but fun, like THE MATINEE IDOL, or OUR MODERN MAIDENS? With THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC many, many newbies will probably just say. "My God, what ugly looking people!" I also find JOAN almost to painful to watch. Very disturbing movie.

I LOVE silents,& I have only sat through part of Passion of JoA.
It is conceptial to the point of a bit odd.
NOT how to wean a newbie on silents.

I would show Keaton or Lloyd (what a suprise).
If I had to go "deep", I started on a silent Garbo (most 'classic' fans are familiar with her)
But, I think a "fun" comedy would be the way to go.

I would show Keaton or Lloyd (what a suprise).

For newbies I almost always start with SHERLOCK, JR. It's so funny and creative and short(!) that it amost always works.
(The only disaster I've ever had was the one time I showed INTOLERANCE Lesson learned.)

Well, SHERLOCK JUNIOR is great with the Mont Alto or Vince Giordano scores. Crippled by the Club Foot score.

No one has mentioned the Harold Lloyd film that I laugh at the most. HOT WATER! To bad it's out of print, at least in America. Though maybe still fairly easily obtained, not sure? Although not the version with the Adrian Johnston score. Have a special fondness for the Photoplay version, because I must have watched it with my late Mother at least 5 times, and she laughed just as hard the fifth time as the last.

First on my list for people who have seen The Artist but do not know silent films in general would be Show People. For something keeping in that vein but very different I would go with Exit Smiling and then Sherlock Jr.

Joan of Arc is a wonderful film, but only hardcore buffs will like it. I would NEVER start with that with anyone for silent film and to put that at the top of the list is insane by any stretch of the imagination.

Another great film to get people into it is The Cat and the Canary. The Image DVD 2nd edition is beautiful, and the story is well paced enough to keep people interested. Plus it shows the strength of silent film, with its mobile camera and creative photography.

:? Well, SHERLOCK JUNIOR is great with the Mont Alto or Vince Giordano scores. Crippled by the Club Foot score.

I agree.

For newbies I almost always start with SHERLOCK, JR. It's funny and creative and short(!)...

That's a good point. WHAT EVER one chooses I don't think it should be over-long. Starting with something short, fast and fun (like SHERLOCK, JR. or the Lloyd titles already mentioned) would be a good way to learn right away if there'd be any chance the person might be up for something possibly dramatic and longer.

But obviously, too, knowing the person you're showing the film to, plan around your knowledge of what the person likes: comedy, horror, etc.

JOAN OF ARC at No 1??
It would probably be the first and last silent a newbie would ever watch.

Exactly what I was thinking.

:? Well, SHERLOCK JUNIOR is great with the Mont Alto or Vince Giordano scores. Crippled by the Club Foot score.

No one has mentioned the Harold Lloyd film that I laugh at the most. HOT WATER! To bad it's out of print, at least in America. Though maybe still fairly easily obtained, not sure? Although not the version with the Adrian Johnston score. Have a special fondness for the Photoplay version, because I must have watched it with my late Mother at least 5 times, and she laughed just as hard the fifth time as the last.

HOT WATER is on my set. I agree - excellent stuff

Gagman 66 - I didn't mean it has to be any of these movies , I was just trying to illustrate a GENERAL idea- try showing the other person something they are interested in . Yes, preferably a good quality version with a decent score


Edited to add:
Let's take Phantom again.
Someone who's not a Phan may not be impressed.
A Phan, on the other hand, will be glad to see a Phantom who has a decent deformity, instead of a hunk who wears a mask for no reason at all ( and the Persian's there ! )

My list for "If you liked THE ARTIST, you might also enjoy...":

"IT"
GIRL SHY
SEVEN CHANCES
THE KID
ELLA CINDERS
EXIT SMILING
WINGS
OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS
MY BEST GIRL
THE CROWD

My first reaction was "where's Sunrise?"

Thats exactly what I thought. I'd also throw in either The Last Command or The Phantom Carriage.


Nosferatu is a wonderful film, but in it and Metropolis the actors movements are operatic and over exaggerated. In my experience this tends to turn off people who have never watched silent films. I'd go so far as to say for Lang M would be a better film even though technically it isn't silent or maybe one of the early Mabuse films. Also you can't go wrong with some of Sternbergs other films like Underworld or Hitchcock's The Lodger.

IT is a good choice. I'd add 1927's Chicago as well.

I think the key with a newbie to silent films is to make sure the first few films they see surprise them by sucking them into the story and being emotionally gripping or extremely funny. This will keep them coming back for more. I've found Sunrise to the best. People I've shown it to were amazed how much they got into it. Probably expecting to be bored to tears.

My wife, who leans heavily toward serious (non-musical) live theatre and is absolutely no fan of silent film, has at least occasionally tolerated productions such as Seventh Heaven and Lucky Star, as well as the occasional Chaplin or Keaton, to say nothing of The Artist. But the other night she was absolutely blown away by The Passion of Joan of Arc, which was accompanied by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at the Strathmore Music Center in Maryland. I think it's simply a matter of taste: if the viewer is inclined to "off-Broadway" productions that pack a strong wallop, and also show excellent direction and outstanding acting, then Joan is the right film to watch. That doesn't mean she will ever like silent film in general, or even most modern films. But at least Joan was a winner.

Show "The Hypocrites" by Lois Weber. There is a naked
woman for almost the whole length of the movie.

OK So we have more or less established a list of ten pictures -next, how do we get the message out there in order to encourage people new to silents, to sit through these pictures! - I think this is more to the point.

How about Piccadilly (1929) and The Italian Straw Hat (1928) as items not yet mentioned. Even though Piccadilly contradicts this criteria, I'd try to stay away from 'serious' pics for the most part because restrictions of the time limiting what could be addressed can make many films look a little quaint today.

If this introduction could be done in two stages then I'd try comedies for Stage One to get the person into the frame of mind of 'hey, these things are more sophisticated than I thought'. Then with that frame of mind established then branch out into other genres.

[quote="Banned User"]... or maybe one of the early Mabuse films.

Yes.
The first MABUSE film, even with it's length, is a lot of fun and easy to watch.

Speaking for myself, I would never have become interested in silent film through comedies. For me, the dramas and melodramas best capture the soul of the era. I may be atypical, but I have to force myself to watch Keaton, Chaplin, or Lloyd, while I look forward to watching productions like Asphalt, Flesh and the Devil, or any Hart western with pleasure. I don't think there is any universal formula for introducing newbies to silents. People like what they like, and what A and B enjoy may send C rushing to the exits.

Skip individual features and go for documentaries. MGM When the Lion Roars, Hollywood, Unknown Chaplin, etc. Even if only an episode or two. All it really took was the few tantalizing seconds of Greed in MGM... to hook me for good.

Skip individual features and go for documentaries. MGM When the Lion Roars, Hollywood, Unknown Chaplin, etc. Even if only an episode or two. All it really took was the few tantalizing seconds of Greed in MGM... to hook me for good.

Brownlow and Gill's Hollywood is an excellent choice ... if you can find it. About a decade ago TCM showed it all the time, so why not now? Without an official DVD release it would be a good way of exposing classic film fans (the biggest potential market) to a wider array of silent titles. Come on TCM, what are you waiting for?

TCM has not aired HOLLYWOOD in at least 10 years. 2001, or 2002. Part of the problem is that Photoplay Productions doesn't have the rights to the series. If they did it might be a little more accessible. But then TCM, hasn't aired allot of the stuff that Photoplay does control either. Where is WATERLOO? I've been hoping for a premiere the past few years. The last Silent film that Carl Davis scored for Television so far.

:? TCM has not aired HOLLYWOOD in at least 10 years. 2001, or 2002. Part of the problem is that Photoplay Productions doesn't have the rights to the series. If they did it might be a little more accessible.

Photoplay's never had the rights to the series. I'm sure it's just as accessible as it's ever been. TCM has a budget. They could run this series, that they have already runs several times, or get stuff they haven't run from Fox, Columbia, etc.

Hmm, You don't say. This weekend I could have swore that I was watching the Fox Movie Channel. One Fox feature after another, after another on TCM. Never seen that many Fox films programed in a about a 4 night span either.