Silent Musicals

[Danny]

A thought just came to me while watching the excellent E.A.Dupont film "Moulin Rouge" (1929). Like his similar work, Piccadilly, he incorporates many musical numbers of stage performances. This made me think that there might be a sub genre of films that could be given the oxymoronic title of "Silent Musicals."

Although I don't remember silent "singing", there have been other moments of music and dance in silent film. Of course the music depends on the soundtrack inserted in the movie. The example of "Moulin Rouge" is a good one. The synchronized music fits the action perfectly.

Can anybody think of some other examples of musical performances in silents?

Danny

[telical]

Phantom of the Opera. There are many silent composer biopics where I'm sure there
must be some performances.

[greta de groat]

Mae Murray's dance numbers in several films.

greta

[entredeuxguerres]

Like his similar work, Piccadilly, he incorporates many musical numbers of stage performances...Danny

Since he or any other film-maker could count on the orchestra pit to provide a very satisfactory substitute for the "unheard" stage music, the idea of a "silent musical" isn't entirely oxymoronic. Singing couldn't be simulated by the theater orchestra, that's true of course, but otherwise, the orchestra seems a better stand-in for stage music than title cards for conversation.

[Donald Binks]

"Revue of Revues" (1929) is a complete Parisian stage show!

[Arndt]

"Revue of Revues" (1929) is a complete Parisian stage show!

The German silent DIE DAME MIT DER MASKE (The Lady with the Mask) from 1928 likewise contains large chunks of a musical stage review.

[entredeuxguerres]

Very near the pinnacle of my wish list is Lubitsch's So This Is Paris (1926), which features an "Artist's Ball" scene that must be sensational in a good print with an appropriate score. My copy, alas, is so dark & dingy that I've got to strain to make out what's happening. (TCM is supposed to have a better copy, but if so, they can't have aired it, or better copies would be available in the old-movie underworld.)

[Big Silent Fan]

Can anybody think of some other examples of musical performances in silents?

Two come to mind that were exceptional. The KINO video release of "The Birth of a Nation" had a spot-on musical accompaniment for the early ballroom scene, timed exactly with the dancers in the room.

Then, for actual singing in a silent film, there's "Evangeline," which ends as a sound picture with Evangeline singing a song to her dying love.

[Harlett O'Dowd]

The silent version of THE SONG AND DANCE MAN contains a full stage number, reputed to be "Beware of the Girl With the Fan" from GEORGE WHITE'S SCANDALS OF 1925.

Then there's that sub-sub-genre, silent film adaptations of successful stage musicals. Some, like KID BOOTS, have nothing particularly "musical" about them. Presumably the same can be said for the lost ROSE MARIE. But there are others: SALLY, OH LADY, LADY! that may.

I've forgotten, are there any extended musical sequences in SALLY, IRENE AND MARY?

[Eric Cohen]

Once considered lost, but recently screened, sans Vitaphone music soundtrack, at Cinecon and Capitolfest:
Good Time Charley(1927)-a "non-talker" directed by Michael Curtiz with Warner Oland, Helene Costello and Clyde Cook.

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