Nick's Flick Picks: Movies of the Silent Era

<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFCC" link="#003399" vlink="#003399" topmargin="25" leftmargin="50"> <TABLE> <TR bgcolor="#000000"><TD><img src=stripearlybanner.jpg width=100%> </TD></TR> <TR><TD> <br> <Font Color="#0099CC" Face=Garamond Size=+2><b>Top Ten Films of the Silent Era (Ranked)</b></Font><br> <Font Size=-1><br></Font> <Table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>1. </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><a href=sunrise.html style="text-decoration:none">Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans</a></b></Font> 1927. Dir. F.W. Murnau. With George O'Brien <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A+</b></Font></TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>2. </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">Nanook of the North</Font></b></Font> 1922. Dir. Robert Flaherty. Documentary about an Inuit family <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A+</b></Font></TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>3. </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">The Battleship Potemkin</Font></b></Font> 1925. Dir. Sergei Eisenstein. With Alexander Antonov <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font></TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>4. </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">Metropolis</Font></b></Font> 1927. Dir. Fritz Lang. With Gustav Fr&#246hlich, Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font></TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>5. </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror</Font></b></Font> 1922. Dir. F.W. Murnau. With Max Schreck <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font></TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>6. </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">The Gold Rush</Font></b></Font> 1925. Dir. Charlie Chaplin. With Charlie Chaplin, Mack Swain <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font></TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>7. </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari</Font></b></Font> 1920. Dir. Robert Wiene. With Werner Krauss <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font></TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>8. </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">The Joyless Street</Font></b></Font> 1925. Dir. G.W. Pabst. With Greta Garbo, Asta Nielsen <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font></TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>9. </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">Intolerance</Font></b></Font> 1916. Dir. D.W. Griffith. With Constance Talmadge, Robert Harron <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font></TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>10. </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><a href=7theaven.html style="text-decoration:none">7th Heaven</a></b></Font> 1927. Dir. Frank Borzage. With Charles Farrell, Janet Gaynor <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font></TD></TR> </Table> <br> <Font Color="#0099CC" Face=Garamond Size=+2><b>Top Shorts of the Silent Era (Chronological)</b></Font><br> <Font Size=-1><br></Font> <Table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>&#150 . </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">A Trip to the Moon</Font></b></Font> 1902. Dir. Georges M&#233li&#232s. With Henri Delannoy, Brunnet, Farjaut</TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>&#150 . </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">The Great Train Robbery</Font></b></Font> 1903. Dir. Edwin S. Porter. With Broncho Billy Anderson</TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>&#150 . </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">The Life of an American Fireman</Font></b></Font> 1903. Dir. Edwin S. Porter. With Arthur White</TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>&#150 . </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">The Lonedale Operator</Font></b></Font> 1911. Dir. D.W. Griffith. With Blanche Sweet, Francis J. Grandon</TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>&#150 . </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">The Immigrant</Font></b></Font> 1917. Dir. Charlie Chaplin. With Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance</TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>&#150 . </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">The Smiling Madame Beudet</Font></b></Font> 1922. Dir. Germaine Dulac. With Germaine Dermoz</TD></TR> <TR><TD width=4% align=right><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1>&#150 . </Font></TD><TD width=96% align=left><Font Face=Garamond Size=+1><b><Font Color="#003399">Entr'acte</Font></b></Font> 1924. Dir. Ren&#233 Clair. With Jean B&#246rlin, Marcel Duchamp, Francis Picabia</TD></TR> </Table> <br> <Font Color="#0099CC" Face=Garamond Size=+2><b>Reviews from the Silent Era</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Size=-1> <Font Color="#009900">★</Font> <b>= Full-Length Review</b> / <Font Color="#0099CC">&#169</Font> <b> = Capsule-Length Review</b> / <Font Color="#FF6600">★</Font> <b>&nbsp= Blog Review</b> (New Window) </Font><br> <Font Size=-3> <br></Font> <Font Face=Garamond><Font Size=-1 Color="#009900">★</Font>   <b><a href=7theaven.html style="text-decoration:none">7th Heaven</a></b></Font> 1927. Dir. Frank Borzage. With Charles Farrell, Janet Gaynor, David Butler <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond><Font Size=-1 Color="#FF6600">★</Font>   <b><a href="http://blog.nicksflickpicks.com/2007/03/chang-drama-of-wilderness.html" style="text-decoration:none" target="_new">Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness</a></b></Font> 1927. Dirs. Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>B+</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond><Font Size=-1 Color="#0099CC">&#169</Font>   <b><a href=cornrwht.html style="text-decoration:none">Corner in Wheat</a></b></Font> Dir. D.W. Griffith. With Frank Powell, James Kirkwood, Linda Arvidson <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond><Font Size=-1 Color="#0099CC">&#169</Font>   <b><a href=contrydr.html style="text-decoration:none">The Country Doctor</a></b></Font> Dir. D.W. Griffith. With Frank Powell, Florence Lawrence, Gladys Egan <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>B</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond><Font Size=-1 Color="#009900">★</Font>   <b><a href=dicksd95.html style="text-decoration:none">Dickson Experimental Sound Film</a></b></Font> 1895. Dir. William K.L. Dickson <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>N/A</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond><Font Size=-1 Color="#009900">★</Font>   <b><a href=excmryqn.html style="text-decoration:none">The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots</a></b></Font> 1895. Dir. Alfred Clark <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>N/A</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond><Font Size=-1 Color="#0099CC">&#169</Font>   <b><a href=hcards09.html style="text-decoration:none">The House of Cards</a></b></Font> Dir. Edwin S. Porter. With Marc McDermott, Herbert Prior, Mary Fuller <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>C</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond><Font Size=-1 Color="#0099CC">&#169</Font>   <b><a href=nerorome.html style="text-decoration:none">Nero, or The Fall of Rome</a></b></Font> Dir. Luigi Maggi. With Albert Capozzi, Lydia De Roberti <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>B+</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond><Font Size=-1 Color="#0099CC">&#169</Font>   <b><a href=smokfary.html style="text-decoration:none">Princess Nicotine; or, The Smoke Fairy</a></b></Font> Dir. J. Stuart Blackton. With Paul Panzer <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>C+</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond><Font Size=-1 Color="#0099CC">&#169</Font>   <b><a href=sealedrm.html style="text-decoration:none">The Sealed Room</a></b></Font> Dir. D.W. Griffith. With Arthur V. Johnson, Marion Leonard <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>D+</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond><Font Size=-1 Color="#0099CC">&#169</Font>   <b><a href=thoshats.html style="text-decoration:none">Those Awful Hats</a></b></Font> Dir. D.W. Griffith. With Mack Sennett, Flora Finch, Robert Harron <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>B</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond><Font Size=-1 Color="#0099CC">&#169</Font>   <b><a href=favfilmswgates.html style="text-decoration:none" target="_new">Within Our Gates</a></b></Font> 1919. Dir. Oscar Micheaux. With Evelyn Preer, Charles D. Lucas <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font><br> <br> <Font Color="#0099CC" Face=Garamond Size=+1><b>More Grades from the Silent Era</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Size=-1><b>Unreviewed titles I have seen recently enough to grade</b></Font><br> <Font Size=-3> <br></Font> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <b>The Birth of a Nation</b></Font> 1915. Dir. D.W. Griffith. With Lillian Gish, Henry B. Walthall <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>B+</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <a href=brokblos.html style="text-decoration:none"><b>Broken Blossoms</b></a></Font> 1919. Dir. D.W. Griffith. With Richard Barthelmess, Lillian Gish <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <b>Destiny (Der M&#252de Tod)</b></Font> 1921. Dir. Fritz Lang. With Lil Dagover, Bernard Goetze <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>B+</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <b>Different from the Others</b></Font> 1919. Dir. Richard Oswald. With Conrad Veidt, Fritz Schulz <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>B</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <b>From the Manger to the Cross</b></Font> 1912. Dir. Sidney Olcott. With Robert Henderson-Bland <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>B</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <b>The Jazz Singer</b></Font> 1927. Dir. Alan Crosland. With Al Jolson, Warner Oland, Eugenie Besserer <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>B</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <b>The Last Laugh</b></Font> 1924. Dir. F.W. Murnau. With Emil Jannings, Maly Delschaft, Georg John <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <b>The Merry Jail</b></Font> 1917. Dir. Ernst Lubitsch. With Kitty Dewall, Harry Liedtke, Agda Nielson <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <b>Secrets of a Soul</b></Font> 1926. Dir. G.W. Pabst. With Werner Krauss, Ruth Weyher, Pawel Pawloff <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>B+</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <b>The Sheik</b></Font> 1921. Dir. George Melford. With Rudolph Valentino, Agnes Ayres <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>B</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <b>True Heart Susie</b></Font> 1919. Dir. D.W. Griffith. With Lillian Gish, Robert Harron <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>B+</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <a href=wings.html style="text-decoration:none"><b>Wings</b></a></Font> Dir. William Wellman. With Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Richard Arlen, Clara Bow <Font Color="#FF0000"><b>A</b></Font><br> <Font Size=-3> <br></Font> <br> <Font Color="#0099CC" Face=Garamond Size=+1><b>Also from the Silent Era</b></Font><br> <Font Face=Garamond Size=-1><b>The memories are fading, but they're somewhere in my brain</b></Font><br> <Font Size=-3> <br></Font> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <b>Greed</b></Font> Dir. Erich von Stroheim. With Gibson Gowland, Zasu Pitts, Jean Hersholt<br> <Font Face=Garamond Color="#003399">      <b>Sherlock, Jr.</b></Font> Dir. Buster Keaton. With Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, Ward Crane<br> <hr> <Font Face=Garamond> <table cellpadding=12><tr> <td>Trackbacks:</td> <td><b><a href=moviessilenthome.html target="_top">Permalink</a></b></td> <td><b><a href=moviesearly.html target="_top">Early Cinema</a></b></td> <td><b><a href=movarchs.html target="_top">Home</a></b></td> <td><b><a href="http://blog.nicksflickpicks.com" target="_new">Blog</a></b></td> <td><b><a href=email.html target="_top">E-Mail</a></b></td> </tr></table> </Font> </center> </body>