A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound and in particular, no audible dialogue. He is considered to have been one of the finest mimes and clowns ever caught on film. Here are some of the best and most influential silent films ever made. Griffith one of the most challenging of all film masterpieces, d. The silent film era was characterized by significant power struggles, as individuals and corporations fought to capitalize on the burgeoning industry additionally, the era was shaped by innovative actors and directors, including d. During this period, many techniques had to be invented completely from scratch, and the language of film making was born. Movies silently is a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, and as an amazon associate i earn from qualifying purchases. He is most recognized as an icon of the silent film era, often associated with his popular character, the little tramp. Not all, of course, but many of these advancements came within the silent era, the infancy of global cinema. Considered to be one of the most pivotal stars of the early days of hollywood, charlie chaplin lived an interesting life both in his films and behind the camera. Who are the most important silent film era directors for. The silent movie producers brought famous films such as benhur, the ten commandments, the circus and many others.
Most influential directors in film history and their. Often a parody of what people think of as silent movie acting. Another influential phenomenon initiated in prewar france was the film dart movement. The gold rush is acclaimed as one of the best and most influential films ever produced.
During the silent era that existed from the mid1890s to the late 1920s, a pianist, theater organistor even, in large cities, a small orchestrawould often play music to accompany the. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the tramp, and is considered. Regarded as one of the most influential actors and filmmakers of the silent comedy film era, lloyd was also a stunt man, director. It also introduced violence to cinema like no other film before. One of the most influential comedians of the silent film era.
The progressive silent film list is a growing online collection of information on more than 23,400 silent and sound films produced from 1888 through the end of 1929. One of the first surrealist films ever and without a doubt the most notorious and popular surrealist film of its era, and the most influential one of all time. Silent films started in the 1890s, a time when technology wasnt as advanced so most filmmakers had to. For nearly the first forty years of cinema, most movies were released completely silent. Most influential, significant and important films in. In accordance, many regard the era of silent films as a time when some of the masterpieces of the movie industry were crafted and presented to audiences. Analysis of walle and silent films walleandeveforever. Silent film stars limo gets new lease on life in durango. Charlie chaplin was a comedic british actor who became one of the biggest stars of the 20th centurys silentfilm era. Additionally, the era was shaped by innovative actors and directors, including d. Most comics concurrent or following keaton were influenced by his enduring and seminal work deadpan comedy and precise. By 1916 there were more than 21,000 movie theatres in the united states. Director sam wood, author elinor glyn, mary pickford, douglas fairbanks and rudolph valentino pose for an informal picture at the famous playerslasky corporation studio. In not much more than 30 years, a new visual vocabulary was invented, explored to.
Tcm reveals their list of the 10 most influential silent films. The 10 most influential films of the decade and 20 other favorites. Edison constructed at the laboratory the worlds first motionpicture stage, nicknamed the black maria, in 1893, and the following year kinetoscopes, which had peepholes that allowed one person at a time to view the moving pictures, were introduced with great success. Charlie chaplin, who was called a mine of intelligence, created united artist film distribution company with the partenership of d. The most famous and influential people from the 1920s. The most famous and influential people from the 1920s by thethirs nov 2, 2016 the 1920s brought on the rise of mass media, the attraction of the silver screen, books, sports, and broadway shows, meaning that famous people from the era were the. Colorado virtual library, connecting people and libraries throughout colorado.
Compiled by a committee of tcms inhouse film historians, tcm host robert osborne and the artists french director, michel hazanavicius, the list covers the years 1915 to 1928. History of the motion picture the silent years, 191027 britannica. A ranking of the most influential people in the history of the movies. Its most famous fragment, by far, is when the character played.
Harvard film archive to screen famous directors silentera films. Man embracing woman in still from the pleasure garden. Top 15 greatest silent films top 15 greatest silent films im surprised there isnt already a list like this. The great lover of the silver screen was born john cecil pringle july 10, 1899. For newbies seeking a little knowledgeor diehards up for a debateturner classic movies has unveiled a list of the 10 most influential silent films. Their advent marked the end of the nickelodeon era and foretold the rise of the. Alfred hitchcock is one of the most iconic and influential filmmakers of all time. Our cochief film critics say these were the films of the 2010s that made a. His film, the big parade, turned out to be the second highest film to earn good revenue in the silent film category.
She was not the only powerful woman in the silent era. That said, even going back to these early days, people like to. American film masterpiece the most important picture of the silent era. Lloyd made nearly 200 comedy films, both silent and talkies, between 1914 and 1947.
The 10 best silent movie stars in pictures film the guardian. Harold lloyd ranks alongside charlie chaplin and buster keaton as one of the most popular and influential film comedians of the silent film era. The silent era of hollywood set a lot of things into motion in terms of how movies were made and sold. Harvard film archive to screen hitchcocks silentera films harvard. Bbc announces 28 most influential people of the 20th. Grifith, duglus farebanks and mery pickford and made movies as a woman of paris 1925, the city lights 1931. A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound in silent films for entertainment, the. The film concluded with a climactic battle at a river gorge, with the dramatic crash of the pursuit train into the rock river in the films most spectacular scene and the most expensive shot of the entire silent era. My site only recommends products or services i use personally or are directly related to the subject of my posts. One of the most influential westerns ever made, and one of the first westerns. During this period, many techniques had to be invented completely from scratch, and the language of filmmaking was born. Tcm unveils list of 10 most influential silent films. The authors of the film 100 web site discontinued and unavailable and published book in 1998 ranked the one hundred most influential people in the history of the movies. The most widely accepted japanese word for this narrator is benshi, although the term changed over time.
Charlie chaplin sir charles spencer chaplin, kbe 16 april 1889 25 december 1977, known as charlie chaplin, was an english comic actor and film director of. The film 100 available in book form expanded the data originally published on the film 100 site. The 50 most influential people in movie history imdb. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In not much more than 30 years, a new visual vocabulary was invented. Dw griffiths influential but hugely controversial the birth of a nation. The film is an unauthorized adaptation of bram stokers 1897 novel dracula. The comparisons between walle and silent films auditory sound was not yet able to be recorded in the late 1800s, so motion picture with live sounds and music were put together to create the silent film era.
The idea of combining motion pictures with recorded sound is nearly as old as film itself, but because of the technical challenges involved, the. The height of the silent era from the early 1910s in film to the late 1920s was a. This isnt a utopian future its hollywoods bygone silent era. He is best known for his bespectacled glasses character, a resourceful, successseeking gogetter who was perfectly in. In 1998, the american film institute chose the gold rush as one of the 100 greatest films ever made. History of silent movies silent film resources octane. The dreamers making movies during that period are the pioneers, the grandfathers of todays cinema stars. Griffiths first great feature demonstrates filmmaking innovations and a shocking example of. Big stars were one of the main ways studios tried to. In silent films for entertainment, the plot may be conveyed by the use of title cards, written indications of the plot and key dialogue lines.
Lillian gish 18931993an early pioneer of the motion picture industry, the first lady of the cinema lillian gish far left in photo was one of the biggest stars of the silent film era with. At 80, silent films most influential preservationist gives advice to his successors on where and how to find lost classics. Chaplin referred to the film as the picture that i want to be remembered by. The edison laboratory two was abandoned, and the silent movie was born.
Lang was already the most modern filmmaker of the era. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading hollywoods most famous silent film actresses. The era of silent cinema was one of the most creative periods in human history. The term silent film is something of a misnomer, as these films were almost always accompanied by live sounds. Most early motion pictures are considered lost because the nitrate film used in that era was. Though he is known as one of the actors of the silent film era who failed to make a successful transition to the times of talkies, show biz was quick to dub him as the great lover during 1920s. Nosferatu, eine symphonie des grauens is a 1922 silent german expressionist horror film directed by f. I had seen or heard several of these stars but there were many that i did not know anything about. Sir charles spencer chaplin kbe 16 april 1889 25 december 1977 was an english comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. The silent film society of chicago, founded in 1998, has ensured that silent films can still be seen at three art deco theaters in chicago. It gives a short biography of 100 silent film stars, directors, etc. The artist, michel hazanaviciuss glorious ode to silent films and the winner. On the whole, however, silent movies still lead a fairly marginal existence today.
The silent movie provided entertainment to people for decades and provided the industry with a springboard to talking pictures, and the movies we know today. Chaplin became one of the most famous actors as well as a notable director, composer and musician in the early to mid hollywood cinema era. John gilbert is ranked as the 28th most influential person in the history of film in the book the film 100. The silent era was a manless eden for women in film. Viewers will vote after each icons episode before finale to crown the most influential person of 20th century. Both were comic geniuses of the silent era, but chaplins humour is rooted in a. Top 15 greatest silent filmstop 15 greatest silent films im surprised there isnt already a list like this. Griffith, douglas fairbanks, mary pickford, and others. I liked that it gave at least one or more pictures of each person.
Silent movies were just that movies that did not have any talking or music in them. The 30 most influential movies in cinema history taste. Arguably, the finest film of the silent era, but quite certainly, the most beautiful pictorially, according to william k. Widely considered as the most important filmmaker of his generation, he pioneered the featurelength movie and many enduring cinematic tech.
411 1434 451 449 1484 1481 1392 127 1382 317 264 1195 617 1363 60 125 35 509 790 1373 1323 1521 1053 386 85 1320 480 965 837 149