Silent Films

[Simian]

I've been lucky enought to see both City Lights and Modern Times accompanied by a live symphony orchestra.


Wonderful films, both.

I have a hard enough time not crying at the end of City Lights when I'm watching it on TV Ursa, with the full orchestral accompanyment I'd probably be bawling by the time the credits rolled.

 

[Foxbat]

Just got myself a copy of The Hands Of Orlac. I've haven't seen this yet but it's meant to be a fine example of German Expressionist Cinema.

It's just been released on DVD by Kino for anybody who's interested.

 

[j d worthington]

Just got myself a copy of The Hands Of Orlac. I've haven't seen this yet but it's meant to be a fine example of German Expressionist Cinema.

It's just been released on DVD by Kino for anybody who's interested.

Thanks for passing on the info about this one; I've long wanted to see this film, which was the basis for Mad Love, with Peter Lorre (as well as a few other films, iirc), but I've not seen it around so far. Now there's a chance, anyway....

 

[Foxbat]

Thanks for passing on the info about this one; I've long wanted to see this film, which was the basis for Mad Love, with Peter Lorre (as well as a few other films, iirc), but I've not seen it around so far. Now there's a chance, anyway....

Aaahh! I had a quick look at the extras and there is a trailer for Mad Love (which I believe will be coming out on DVD sometime). Now I know why that particular trailer

 

[j d worthington]

Aaahh! I had a quick look at the extras and there is a trailer for Mad Love (which I believe will be coming out on DVD sometime). Now I know why that particular trailer

If you've not seen it, it's well worth a look. A strange little film, but very impressive in its own way, and Lorre's performance there is quite memorable. It was also one of the handful of films directed by Karl Freund, who was largely known as a cinematographer. (As such, he had one heck of an impressive career, as you can see by the list in the following link

Karl Freund

Chaplin, by the way, after seeing Mad Love is reported to have said that Lorre was "the greatest actor of our time". I'd not go that far, but he certainly wasn't bad....

 

[Foxbat]

Watched Orlac last night - very good film with a nice twisting plot. The transfer was also pretty good with nothing more than the usual dust scratches showing.

Particular mention has to go to the film score - minimalist and sometimes dischordant but somehow compelling. It sat well with the visuals.

My only gripe was that the ending was just a little too tidy for my liking but, considering it was made when cinema was in its infancy, it's well worth checking out.

 

[sunnye]

Wow!
I like silent movies too

 

[ravenus]

@Foxbat: YOU HAVE TO GET THIS.

'Vampyr' Criterion edition (with 200 page book containing the script and the original story Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu which inspired this film, I am SO jumping with joy)

Actually, since you are UK based you can also consider the Eureka Masters of Cinema edition, which lacks the script + story book, but has its own booklet, an additional feature on Baron de Gunzberg who produced and played the lead, and an additional commentary by fanboy Guillermo Del Toro. Other extras same as the Criterion.

 

[Foxbat]

A very nice package you have there Ravenus. My Masters of Cinema edition packaging looks very ordinary compared to it.

 

[dialibra]

i do not like these kind of movies

 

[Aeris]

Here in Utah, we have a place called the Organ Loft, and every weekend they show a silent film with an organist playing live right there in the front. It's the coolest thing ever, and I've been able to see a few classics and comedies.

So far, Buster Keaton and Baby Face are my favorite comedians of that time period, and I got to see 7 Chances just a couple of weeks ago. I thoroughly enjoy it, and going has become sort of a tradition for some of my friends and I. It's so much fun.

 

[Foxbat]

Here in Utah, we have a place called the Organ Loft, and every weekend they show a silent film with an organist playing live right there in the front. It's the coolest thing ever, and I've been able to see a few classics and comedies.

So far, Buster Keaton and Baby Face are my favorite comedians of that time period, and I got to see 7 Chances just a couple of weeks ago. I thoroughly enjoy it, and going has become sort of a tradition for some of my friends and I. It's so much fun.

Organ Loft sounds like a great set-up. A good way to keep the silent genre alive and available to the public as it's meant to be seen

 

[Pride]

I watched a really good silent film the other day.
Beau Brummel was the title.

 

[blacknorth]

Interestingly, the early Soviet SF effort Aelita is currently at youtube:

YouTube - Aelita 1/9

 

[Foxbat]

Picked up a copy of F.W. Murnau's The Haunted Castle on DVD.

According to the blurb, this transfer came from an original negative and a nitrate print.

Not sure if the tinting of the movie is original or has been added.

Either way, it's a big well done to Kino International for what is a superb transfer.

 

[j d worthington]

That's another I need to seek out. I quite like what I've seen by Murnau, and Kino almost always does an excellent job....

 

[blacknorth]

Anyone familiar with the 1916 Danish film Verdens Undergang? It's about a meteor shower that destroys a Danish town. Stunning work for the year and considering there was a war on...

It looks as though they actually used some wrecked Belgian town as a backdrop near the end.

Runs a full 75 minutes.

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

I just watched The General, starring Buster Keaton. What an incredible movie - sheer momentum is its real subject matter, if you ask me, and Keaton's ever-industrious, poker-faced character emerges as a hero of epic proportions through an adventure that is comedic but also somewhat awe-inspiring.

 

[CyBeR]

I've downloaded a couple of days ago "The phantom of the opera" from 1925 and am looking quite forward to watching it.

(Yes, I said downloaded. Don't look so disapproving at me, there's really no other way for me to get some of the films I want here. Amazon takes forever to get anything here and there's no cinemas that play old films. So I'm stuck with what I've got as a solution.)

 

[AE35Unit]

good grief its quiet in here....