Anyone with experience watching classic films has undoubtedly been taken out of an otherwise engaging, entertaining viewing experience when a film swerves into a heavy dose of racism against African Americans. Even well-made and still remembered Hollywood films like The Lost World (1925), Swing Time …
Continue ReadingErnest Torrence: Silent Hollywood’s Greatest Character Actor
In his nearly fifty film roles, Ernest Torrence perfectly exemplifies the unique skill set required to succeed as a character actor. A towering 6’4″ with a rugged, grizzled face, Torrence backed up his unique physicality with a rare mixture of humor and villainy. While he …
Continue ReadingSparrows (1926)—The Girl with the Golden Curls’ Curtain Call
Mary Pickford skyrocketed to international stardom in the 1910s playing plucky children in films such as Tess of the Storm Country and Fanchon the Cricket. Her popular juvenile image contrasted heavily with her position as one of the most powerful actors and producers in …
Continue ReadingThe Miracle Man (1932): Remaking a Silent Classic
The canon of the greatest films constantly changes as each generation reevaluates yesteryear’s classics and rediscovers previously overlooked films. Oftentimes, films held in the highest esteem by contemporary audiences and critics do not become beloved by later generations. Evolving morals, changing tastes, and decades of …
Continue ReadingThe Ultimate Genre Guide to Silent Movies
To celebrate the second annual Silent Movie Day, I’ve put together a list of 24 silent movies from 12 different genres that showcase the variety of films produced in the heyday of silent cinema (roughly between 1895 and 1930). Click on a favorite genre …
Continue ReadingInk-Stained Hollywood — Book Review
Some of the most valuable sources of information for silent and early sound films can be found in Moving Picture World, Variety, and numerous other motion picture trade publications. Summaries of lost films, gossip about long-forgotten stars, thousands of movie reviews from critics and …
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