Silent Movie History Films
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| HARD LUCK (1920) This Buster Keaton two reel comedy includes the "lost" final scene that was recently discovered in a French archive. It is low quality, but still reads. The final scene in this film was said to get the biggest laughs of any silent film. This closing scene was the brain child of the film's director, E. Francis Cline. |
| Birth of a Nation by D.W. Griffith - Trailer (1915) Two brothers, Phil and Ted Stoneman, visit their friends in Piedmont, South Carolina: the family Cameron. This friendship is affected by the Civil War, as the Stonemans and the Camerons must join up opposite armies. The consequences of the War in their lives are shown in connection to major historical events, like the development of the Civil War itself, Lincoln's assassination, and the birth of the Ku Klux Klan. |
| 1927 Wings Trailer Fan made trailer for William A. Wellman's Wings. Won oscar for best production. It is more melodramatic than this trailer let think and also a bit dated. In my opinion it is not a great great film, too melodramatic for my taste, there's a dozen of better films made that same year. But it is entertaining. If you think you can handle it, it's maybe worth a look. |
| "Ku Klux Klan Saves the South" - from Birth of a Nation "THE BIRTH OF A NATION" (1915) PART 6: KU KLUX KLAN SAVES THE SOUTH |
| Erich von Stroheim - "The Man You Loved to Hate" A segment from a 1979 documentary by Patrick Montgomery. This small segment concerns von Stroheim's first big break in Hollywood. |
| A Clip from "The Mysterious Lady" Watch this ten minute clip from, "The Mysterious Lady" starring Greta Garbo and Conrad Nagel (1928). |
| A Theda Bara Slide Show Tribute is paid to the original vamp in this selection of images of the silent film star Theda Bara set to some pleasing, non-descript music. |
| "The Crowd " part I The Crowd (1928) is a genuine, immortal, timeless American silent film masterpiece from director King Vidor, whose earlier big WWI epic The Big Parade (1925) had been a major box-office hit for MGM studios. To capture the authenticity of the city, the director sometimes used a 'hidden camera' in his on-location shoots in New York. Stylistically, the film, in various places, resembles the German expressionist films of F. W. Murnau and Fritz Lang, although it also uses fluid and natural camera movements. King Vidor received an Academy Award nomination as Best Director, and the film itself was nominated as Best Unique and Artistic Picture in a short-lived award category. |
| "The Golem" A clip from the classic 1920 German Expressionist silent horror film "The Golem" gets a new soundtrack by Hollywood composer Carvin Knowles" "For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by Der Golem, the great Jewish monster of clay who only comes to life when Truth is in his breast". |
| Metropolis by Fritz Lang Incredible scenes from METROPOLIS, the movie which was made in 1925 to 1926 by German Ufa and directed by Fritz Lang. The music added is from the Shostakovich Symphony No.11. |
| Jesse Lasky: This is Your Life Hosted by Ralph Edwards in 1957, this clip from the T.V. show "This is Your Life" featured guests Bessie Lasky, William Lasky, Richard Arlen, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Jesse Lasky Jr. Cecil B. DeMille and Adolph Zukor. |
| "A Fool There Was" The silent film actress Theda Bara in her 1915 film, "A Fool There Was". |
| A "Birth of a Nation" Documentary An informative analysis of D.W. Griffith's racist film, "Birth of a Nation" (1915). |
| THE LITTLE DARLING "THE LITTLE DARLING" (1909), directed by D.W. GRIFFITH. |
| A Blanche Sweet Clip A musical, bitter-sweet clip from "Showgirl In Hollywood" (1930). |
| A Clip from "Intolerance" (1916) D.W. Griffith made the 1916 movie "Intolerance" partly in response to criticism of his racist film "Birth of a Nation." Intolerance, which runs about 3 hours, has 4 separate plots which are interwoven. Three are historical but one is set in modern times. It involves a mill owner who cuts wages to have more money for his sister's charities. A strike ensues with tragic consequences. The irony of squeezing the poor to obtain funding for charity is the key point. The film reflects labor unrest that periodically erupted in early 20th century America. |
| "Robin Hood" -Starring Fairbanks Pictures (1922) A short 2:00 clip from this once-lost silent film, starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. |
| Little Annie Rooney - Trailer (1925) Tough slum girl (Mary Pickford) faces a crisis of the heart when the boy she loves (William Haines) is accused of shooting her cop father. Her brother stalks the accused slayer and finally shoots him down in the street. Mary rushes to the hospital and offers her blood for a life-saving transfusion, even though she thinks she'll die. |
| BLIND HUSBANDS "Blind Husbands" was produced by Carl Laemmle in 1919. It was directed by Erich von Stroheim and the man played the lead as well. It is yet one more movie in which von Stroheim looks fabulous in an Austrian officer's uniform. Silent film with titles in English and French. |
| "Safety Last" starring Harold Lloyd Those who have seen 'Benny and Joon' may know that Johnny Depp was imitating various gags made famous by silent comics Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Charlie Chaplin. Towards the end of the movie, he climbs up the side of a building, definitely a Harold Lloyd thing. This is a scene from Lloyd's most famous ledge-walking film, 'Safety Last,' in 1923. It is set to 'Swinging' by Rachel Portman, and it is the soundtrack from Depp's Lloydesque scene in 'Benny and Joon.' Harold's lady here is Mildred Davis. She had replaced Bebe Daniels to be Harold's second leading lady. But this was Mildred's last movie, because she married Harold that year and retired to become a mom. She was replaced by Harold's third leading lady, Jobyna Ralston. |
| "A Sammy in Siberia" starring Harold Lloyd In this short film released on April 6, 1919 Harold plays a U.S. soldier in Russia. |
| "Over the Fence" starring Harold Lloyd The Glass Character makes it's debut in "Over the Fence", released on September 9, 1917. |
| Harold Lloyd in "THE FLIRT" Please enjoy this terrific clip fom Harold Lloyd's 1917 comedy, "The Flirt". |
| A Clip from "The General" starring Buster Keaton A small segment of Keaton's most well-loved movie. |
| Buster Keaton Performing Stunts in The General Buster Keaton Performing Stunts in The General with commentary from Buster Keaton Rides Again. |
| "One Week" starring Buster Keaton The American love for special effects can be seen in this clip. |