Silent

  • Alf Nielsen – Dødsklokken AKA The Death Knell (1914)

    1911-1920Alf NielsenDenmarkScandinavian Silent CinemaSilentWar
    Dødsklokken (1914)
    Dødsklokken (1914)

    Quote:
    Death’s bells toll in tune to the march of war. On top of devastating losses, espionage also cripples General Müller’s army. Young Lieutenant Charley is entrusted with the delivery of Dossier 15, a document of utmost importance to the war effort. After a dangerous journey through enemy territory, Adjutant Bertram betrays him – it turns out that he’s spying for the enemy. Bertram replaces Dossier 15 with a worthless piece of paper which leads to Charley’s arrest. Charley must escape to avoid execution and expose the spy.Read More »

  • A.W. Sandberg – Nedbrudte nerver AKA The Hill Park Mystery (1923)

    A.W. Sandberg1921-1930DenmarkMysteryScandinavian Silent CinemaSilent
    Nedbrudte nerver (1923)
    Nedbrudte nerver (1923)

    Quote:
    Police reporter Erik Brandt is sent off for some rest and recreation after solving a murder under the nose of the police. But his well-earned holiday turns out to be a lot more hectic than planned, when the resort is rocked by as string of brutal murders. An attractive young lady who captures Brandt’s heart might be involved. (stumfilm.dk)Read More »

  • Sergei M. Eisenstein – Stachka AKA Strike (1925)

    1921-1930PoliticsSergei M. EisensteinSilentUSSR
    Stachka (1925)
    Stachka (1925)

    A group of oppressed factory workers go on strike in pre-revolutionary Russia.

    Matthew Rovner, Jewish Daily Forward wrote:
    On February 13, 1948, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency announced that film director Sergei Eisenstein, “the son of a Jewish merchant,” was dead at the age of 50. Eisenstein’s father was a prosperous German Jew and his mother Russian Orthodox. Eisenstein grew up highly assimilated, though he was aware of his Jewish heritage. He was friendly with Isaac Babel, and he learned to use Yiddish slang and humor. But Eisenstein’s Judaism had always been marginal to his work as an artist. In his first feature, “Strike,” a serious propaganda film, there is humor, although it is influenced more by Charlie Chaplin than Sholom Aleichem.Read More »

  • Léonce Perret – L’X noir (1915)

    Léonce Perret1911-1920FranceMysterySilent
    L'X noir (1915)
    L’X noir (1915)

    A mysterious evildoer terrifies the French Riviera. That mysterious character, which is hidden under the personality of James Pearce, a diamond-maker, calls himself The Black X. This time, the Black X has noticed the rich jewels of a celebrated singer and, in the company of her henchmen, is preparing to carry out the great robbery.Read More »

  • Paul Leni – The Cat and the Canary (1927)

    USA1921-1930HorrorPaul LeniSilent
    The Cat and the Canary (1927)
    The Cat and the Canary (1927)

    Relatives of an eccentric millionaire gather in his spooky mansion on the 20th anniversary of his death for the reading of his will.Read More »

  • Gaston Modot – Conte cruel (1930)

    1921-1930DramaFranceGaston ModotSilent
    Conte cruel (1930)
    Conte cruel (1930)

    The escape of a man during the Spanish Inquisition.
    The only film directed by actor Gaston Modot,
    the merciless tale of Villiers de l’Isle-Adam “Conte cruel”Read More »

  • Holger-Madsen – Ned Med Vaabnene AKA Lay Down Your Arms! (1914)

    1911-1920DenmarkHolger-MadsenScandinavian Silent CinemaSilentWar
    Ned Med Vaabnene (1914)
    Ned Med Vaabnene (1914)

    An upperclass war widow marries again. The new husband is also an officer, and soon he has to go to the next war. At the outbreak, she’s the only one who does not cheer about it. And the terrors of war soon bring almost all of her friends and relatives, among them generals and high government officials to the same conclusion: War does not pay.Read More »

  • Erich von Stroheim – Greed (1924)

    Erich von Stroheim1921-1930DramaSilentUSA
    Greed (1924)
    Greed (1924)

    The first rough cut of Greed allegedly ran around 8-9 hours. Von Stroheim submitted a 5 hour version to MGM, who eventually cut it down to 2+ hours after Irving Thalberg – who had fired von Stroheim when they both worked at Universal – was placed in charge of post-production following the Metro/Goldwyn merger. Von Stroheim disowned this version of the film, but it is the only surviving version known to exist. Even in its truncated form, Greed is considered to be one of the greatest films ever made.Read More »

  • Gaston Ravel – Tao (1923)

    1921-1930DramaFranceGaston RavelSilent
    Tao (1923)
    Tao (1923)

    Quote:
    Jacques Chauvry, the new government delegate for a French protectorate in Cambodia, meets the young Soun who, due to a series of circumstances, will become heir to land that houses a large oil field. Tao , an evil mestizo, along with his minions, tries to get hold of these lands, terrorizing the locals by appearing disguised as the “spirit of evil”.Read More »

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