Silent Films

[NovaKart]

What are some silent films you would recommend?

So far I've seen, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu, Faust and Birth of a Nation. So as you can see they've mostly been German horror/fantasy. I've also seen a few short silent films like Voyage to the Moon and one about Joan of Ark. Personally I'm not interested in Charlie Chaplin because I hate slapstick, maybe that's an unfair characterization of him but I just don't think I could relate to that kind of comedy. Are there other good silent films to watch?

 

[Ajidica]

Metropolis and October are good. Those are the only two silent films I've seen that aren't on your list.

 

[JtheJackal]

The Thief of Baghdad, its my favorite silent film. If you want more German see Metropolis and The Last Laugh

 

[Racsoviale]

Dr Mabuse or Potemtkin is what comes to mind.

 

[Formaldehyde]

I disagree. Anything with Charlie Chaplin is great.


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Or Buster Keaton.


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Or Clara Bow


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Speaking of which, don't forget the only silent film to win an Oscar:


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[NovaKart]

I don't have anything against Charlie Chaplin I just don't think I would appreciate that kind of humor. I don't really care for war movies either so I don't think I would like Wings or Potemkin. Maybe I'll check out Metropolis and the Thief of Baghdad.

 

[Ajidica]

There actualy are a couple versions of Metropolis on youtube.

 

[JtheJackal]

There actualy are a couple versions of Metropolis on youtube.

The latest version is the only one to see.

 

[Ajidica]

I haven't been able to track it down, but the version on youtube is the second to final version. They are only missing a few scenes (the monk in the Church, Josephats fight with the Thin Man, and Joh Fredersens fight with Rotwang).

 

[Leifmk]

There's a version of The Call of Cthulhu wich was made in 2005 as if it were from about 1928. Black and white, silent, gross overacting, special effects that would have been considered pretty good five years before anyone had seen the original King Kong. It's pretty neat.

 

[NickyJ]

Steamboat Bill Jr. Nothing better than a Buster Keaton film.

 

[Glassfan]

I recently purchased Die Nibelungen (1924, Fritz Lang) - depressing and bloody and yet I couldn't stop watching.

 

[jtb1127]

I would go with Metropolis

 

[Glassfan]

Buster Keaton's The General (1926) is still pretty funny. Based on a TRUE STORY!

 

[jtb1127]

Isn't everything based on a true story?

 

[NickyJ]

Isn't everything based on a true story?

Umm, no. For example, Steamboat Bill Jr.

 

[Glassfan]

Isn't everything based on a true story?

Sorry, I was being sarcastic - Hollywood thinks Based on a True Story is when you keep the names but change the characters, plot and ending. Ergo, the desperate story of The General is turned into a comedy.

 

[Boundless]

Metropolis and The Cabinet of Dr Caligari are both groundbreakingly good films. Fritz Lang in particular was a genius.

 

[bombshoo]

I've always thought the old Harold Lloyd movies were funny. I would name a few, but there was so many of them and a lot of them sort of blend together. They used to always be on television really late at night and I would watch a few before going to bed.