Any Silent Film Fans?

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I just saw at Sam’s Club a box set of Walt Disney’s first featured character, Oswald the Rabbit. These cartoons are pre-talkie cartoons (before 1929). I am considering buying them to see what they’re all about. By the package, it says that a new musical score was created for the special release of these very earl Disney cartoons. If anyone has already watched this series, what was your impression?
 
I was wondering what movie would you suggest on Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks? I remember seeing a film of theirs in class in college but I’m not sure which one it was.
 
Edwin1961 said:
I was wondering if there are any Silent Film fans here.

Recently I’ve regained my fond appreciation for the early silent films. (I originally discovered my liking of silent films in college in 1983.) Some of my favorites I now have on DVD.

Just wondering, what are your favorite silent films and actors/actresses?

My Favorites:
  • Way Down East (1920) Directed by D.W> Grifith and starring Lillian Gish.
  • Metropolis (1927) Directed by Fritz Lang (German epic film, and early sci-fi classic
  • City Lights (1931) Charlie Chaplin
  • Modern Times (1936) Charlie Chaplin’s last film featuring “The Little Tramp” Also the last silent film of it’s era. (Chaplin took a chance with this film in the new era of talking pictures).
I also have some early films about Jesus that were silent films and my favorite is King of Kings (1927). I remembered seeing this one on tv as a kid in the late 1960’s during Holy Week and now was able to find it on DVD.
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Oh, you bet. At one time I wanted to be a film director whole 'nother story

Pretty big fan of Buster Keaton and D. W. Griffith, and I liked anything Mary Pickford was in. I’m sad now that my cable company does not carry TCM.
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
Oh, you bet. At one time I wanted to be a film director whole 'nother story

Pretty big fan of Buster Keaton and D. W. Griffith, and I liked anything Mary Pickford was in. I’m sad now that my cable company does not carry TCM.
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What are your favorite films by Mary Pickford?
 
Edwin1961 said:
I just saw at Sam’s Club a box set of Walt Disney’s first featured character, Oswald the Rabbit. These cartoons are pre-talkie cartoons (before 1929). I am considering buying them to see what they’re all about. By the package, it says that a new musical score was created for the special release of these very earl Disney cartoons. If anyone has already watched this series, what was your impression?
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Last Wednesday, I bought the Walt Disney Treasures DVD set on Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series. These are a set of pre-Mickey Mouse cartoons from 1927-28. The DVD set has a documentary about how Disney created Oswald and how these cartoons are back in Disney’s possession.

I watched the first disc and you can see the early workings that lead up to Mickey Mouse. (Oswald somewhat even LOOKS like Mickey Mouse in some respects). I haven’t see the second disc yet.

I would suggest if you have never seen silent cartoons, check this set out. Some of the early animation techniques aren’t really all that bad. I’ve seen silent cartoons from pre-1920 and the Oswald set is certainly a set up in animation.

Oswald was also the FIRSt cartoon character to be commericalized for product endorsement and memorabilia.
 
The early silent horror flicks are still worth a watch. My favorites are “Nosferatu”, “Phantom of the Opera” with Lon Chaney, “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” comes to mind.
 
For Mary Pickford, I’d recommed Sparrows and Stella Maris. In Stella Maris, Mary plays the heroine and her hunchbacked maid.
 
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