Silent Recommendations for Kids

[TinaC]

I listened to the recent episode with Lobster films and the restoration of the Melies films. Mike had mentioned that his son's first silents were Melies and he had read the Hugo Cabret book. My son had a similar experience with Melies and also has an interest in others like Rin Tin Tin and Charlie Chaplin.

What recommendations for early films would you give to kids that show interest?

[boblipton]

Our Gang.

Bob

[Rodney]

The Mark of Zorro was very popular with my kids, as well as The Black Pirate (though that one is bloodthirsty). Sherlock Jr also. My nephews showed Sherlock Jr to all of their friends.

[Wm. Charles Morrow]

Our Gang.

Bob

I'd also say Our Gang, as well as any of the Laurel & Hardy comedies. I was at a screening of silent shorts last year where Wrong Again went over especially well with some kids in the crowd.

[Dean Thompson]

You say your son has an interest in Chaplin. Has he seen The Circus? It's wonderfully funny; I went to a screening some years back, and the kids there were laughing their heads off. Listening to them holler was about as satisfying as the movie itself!

[Dave Pitts]

Agreed on The Circus -- the tightrope scene with the rogue monkeys is perhaps Chaplin's most wonderful single gag. Modern Times is also irresistible -- the feeding machine will knock kids silly.
Also Keaton shorts -- Cops, of course, One Week of course. I think The Scarecrow has the 'mechanical house', doesn't it?
Thief of Bagdad for kids with longer attention spans & an interest in fantasy.

[Nick_M]

Frankly, anything. MGM: When the Lion Roars and Greed were enough to hook me.

[wich2]

I guess a lot depends on the age where we define the term "kids"...

But, GREED?

Teenager, yes; Kid, no.

I'd agree with the choices in these threads:

Silent Clowns, and Doug's adventures.

- Craig

[TinaC]

You say your son has an interest in Chaplin. Has he seen The Circus? It's wonderfully funny; I went to a screening some years back, and the kids there were laughing their heads off. Listening to them holler was about as satisfying as the movie itself!

Thank you for the recommendation. He mostly watches the shorts (he liked Easy Street and Dog's Life) and has seen a feature, the Kid. I've actually have not seen the Circus yet myself so should be a good one to watch together.

[TinaC]

The Mark of Zorro was very popular with my kids, as well as The Black Pirate (though that one is bloodthirsty).

I never thought of some of Douglas Fairbanks' movies.

The fact he did his stunts and jumps with no help is impressive and that would interest my son.

[TinaC]

Thanks everyone for the recommendations. I have a list now to keep him occupied while he still has an interest in it.

[s.w.a.c.]

Harold Lloyd went over well with me when I was a kid. Speedy and Safety Last seem like good choices.

[MaryGH]

Kids might like Tom Tyler's "The Texas Tornado" (1928), "Call of the Desert" (1930) and "Canyon of Missing Men" (1930) which are all available on DVD.

[FilmGauge]

There's THE WIZARD OF OZ (1925) with Oliver Hardy. Very timely now with STAN AND OLLIE in release.

[silentfilm]

There's THE WIZARD OF OZ (1925) with Oliver Hardy. Very timely now with STAN AND OLLIE in release.

If Semon's The Wizard of Oz was the first silent movie that I ever saw, I probably wouldn't have ever watched another one...

[Brooksie]

I've always thought Peter Pan (1924) would be a nice one to watch with kids, especially given that they may already be familiar with the story.

[wich2]

There's THE WIZARD OF OZ (1925) with Oliver Hardy. Very timely now with STAN AND OLLIE in release.

If Semon's The Wizard of Oz was the first silent movie that I ever saw, I probably wouldn't have ever watched another one...

Yikes, yes! I don't think that one's a good "gateway," at all...

- Craig

[Big Silent Fan]

What recommendations for early films would you give to kids that show interest?

Carl Dreyer made a fun version of "Once Upon a Time" (1922), incorporating themes from many of the famous classics. The 75 minute film is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laq7bUolQXw.
A small part of the story is told with still images, but the story is very much intact.

I second the recommendation for the Silent, "Peter Pan." J. M. Barrie had a part in it's production, so it's sure to be faithful to the writer's book.

The 1946 French language film, "Beauty and the Beast" is available to rent on line from Amazon. The language is told simply and there aren't nearly as many subtitles as you'll find in newer French films.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_an ... 1946_film)

[s.w.a.c.]

The Mark of Zorro was very popular with my kids

It also went over big with a young Bruce Wayne, as I recall, although it wasn't his favourite movie night of all time.

[wich2]

The Mark of Zorro was very popular with my kids

It also went over big with a young Bruce Wayne, as I recall, although it wasn't his favourite movie night of all time.

[Brooksie]

Another that comes to mind is the Max Fleischer Out of the Inkwell series, which is a lot of fun.

[Rodney]

The Mark of Zorro was very popular with my kids

It also went over big with a young Bruce Wayne, as I recall, although it wasn't his favourite movie night of all time.

Yes, of course. "Aside from that, Master Wayne, what did you think of the film?"

And more to the point, it went over well with Bob Kane...

For kids of a certain age, it would be fun to watch Zorro, then afterwards explain that Fairbanks' "Mark of Zorro" is where Bob Kane came up with the Batman idea, and have them suggest what they think were the inspirational cues in the movie.

[boblipton]

The Mark of Zorro was very popular with my kids

It also went over big with a young Bruce Wayne, as I recall, although it wasn't his favourite movie night of all time.

Yes, of course. "Aside from that, Master Wayne, what did you think of the film?"

And more to the point, it went over well with Bob Kane...

For kids of a certain age, it would be fun to watch Zorro, then afterwards explain that Fairbanks' "Mark of Zorro" is where Bob Kane came up with the Batman idea, and have them suggest what they think were the inspirational cues in the movie.

Nothing kids like better than being tested.

Bob

[Battra92]

My daughter is 3 and loves watching Georges Méliès films, particularly A Trip to the Moon. She even had some moon pajamas for a while that she liked because of the short.

As a kid, I remember my favorites were probably Buster Keaton shorts and features but some Chaplin as well. Of course I was the odd middle schooler who got up early to watch The Iron Horse on AMC and The Big Parade on TCM.