Your favorite silent movie?

[Catherine]

I've asked fellow members as well as me this difficult question - there are so many choices! I would say "IT" starring Clara Bow, is up there. Another great, from my favorite era of the twenties is "Our Dancing Daughters" starring Joan Crawford. There is a spontaneity about the silents, which I adore. Flesh and the Devil, with Greta Garbo and John Gilbert is another. I happened to view this film in all its glory at Radio City Music Hall in NYC with a fully restored film on the big screen and a 60-pc orchestra - awesome!!!

[pinkfairygirl]

My very favourites are Flesh and the Devil, The Eagle and Pandora's Box.

[Elizabeth F.]

"Metropolis", "Camille", "Nosferatu", "The Phantom of the Opera", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp", and "Sherlock Jr" are some of my favorites.

[Edward G]

Hi Bill,
My vote has to go for Buster Keaton's last truly great move- "Steamboat Bill, Jr". Keaton fans usually go for "The General" or "The Navigator" but "Steamboat Bill, Jr" to me has everything in the Keaton cannon. His kinetic thrill comedy (the cyclone and other bits of business) , great situations (the jailbreak scene and the hilarious one at the hat shop) and a beatifully played romance with the beautiful and relatively unknown Marion Byron. Ernest Torrence provides memorable support too. If anyone hasn't seen it check it out now! Even the single instrument (organ) soundtrack adds to the charm of this timeless movie. It's his crowning achiievement in my humble opinion...

[Andi B. Goode]

I must admit I've only seen a handful of silent films - and by handful I literally mean 4 or 5 - (they're dreadfully difficult to find to hire where I live...and to buy, as a matter of fact) but, out of what I've seen, I enjoyed 'The Lodger' and 'Pandora's Box' the best. I also rather enjoyed 'Metropolis' but I've the worst attention span so it was a bit long for me. I know that's a blasphemous thing to say but I was mainly enthralled by it's visual qualities moreso than it's story. I must seem such a philistine!

[Edward G]

Not a philistine, Andi - just honest. After all it was Groucho Marx who famously said that the length of a movie should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder! Anyway, many people are drawn to Metropolis directly because of it's way-ahead-of it's-time style and the even now it's fabulous still futurisic look. Amazing for a film made in 1927! I bought a version of the film poster a while back and even the poster image is still iconic in movie circles... It can be slowly paced in places but it's worth hanging in just to enjoy the rich visuals - who could ever forget Brigitte Helm as the sexiest robot ever!

[Lawdy Miss Clawdy]

i like Spring Fever, it's really cute. I also enjoy Chaplin's movies

[Penny]

I agree, Spring fever is sooo cute! Joan and William Haines made such a wonderful couple.

[diane byrnes]

I can't even think about what silent film is my favourite. Years ago I saw Fritz Lang's "Spies" and was
completely bowled over by it . I bought it last year but haven't viewed it yet. Who knows whether
I will still find it absolutely smashing or not. Anyway my husband was keen to see it so we may
watch it soon. I saw a lot of silents when I was young (I am not from those days but I grew up in
Sydney and belonged to a few old film clubs). Lately I have started to renew my interest in them.
I think "It" and "Mickey" are fantastic films to watch if you are new to silents. "Mickey" (1917) is
a Mabel Normand film about a wild mountain girl who is sent to the city by her prospector uncle
to become refined and ladylike. Needless to say Mabel teaches her horrible relatives a thing or
two. It is a lovely Cinderella story.

[diane byrnes]

My daughter bought a postcard of your Blue Moon poster in Paris. I actually printed it out for her and
she was completely suprised. The post card didn't have anything about stockings on it (it was obviously
doctored) but behind the girl was the Eiffel Tower.

[Edward G]

Hmmm.
A toss-up between The Gold Rush (1942- ie. Chaplin's re-issue of his 1925 classic with narration and music added) and the timeless "Steamboat Bil Jr" (1927) from Buster Keaton.....

[Elizabeth Ann]

My all-time favorite silent is Fig Leaves with Olive Borden and George O'Brien. It's a wonderful comedy from 1926 about a modern day Adam and Eve. There is a big focus on fashion with costumes designed by Gilbert Adrian. You can see some clips on my web site OliveBorden.com

[Lisa Freemont]

I was actually entering this thread to say THE GENERAL! It's brilliant! And the remastered dvd makes it seem like it was made yesterday!

Bill said:

Hi,
I just got an invite to this forum and your discussion is the first one that caught my eye. Umm! it is hard to be definite about a favourite silent film since there are some great ones and they are very diverse. For example there are some great comedies and then there are some great dramas. But I am going to name one that impresses me and it is after studying the film that I came to like it even more. It is entitled THE GENERAL and was made in 1927 by Buster Keaton. There is a lot one could say about this film because it has so much in the way of innovative photography and the excellent talents of Buster Keaton.
Well, that is my first thought on the choices.

Bill