A List Of My Favorite Silent Cinema Films
When you think of cinema, one of the first things that probably comes to mind is the process of shooting a silent movie. Although many modern movies are available with live action, many of the most memorable movies are made with special effects and/or music to create a more “immersive” experience for the audience. Silent films are, essentially, a film without any synchronized live sound. Although this is the most traditional form of movie making, there are many different styles of silent movies. Many of the classic movies were actually filmed using some form of a silent process. Although some modern movies still use this method, they are very different from the traditional methods of silent film.
Probably the most well-known and most recognized style of silent cinema is that of Italian horror master Benido Benito. This film was released in 1937 and was made by the great German filmmaker F.W. Murnau. The film itself tells the story of a group of Moorish vampires who take up residence in an old castle, killing anyone who crosses their path. Although Benito makes several appearances throughout the rest of the movie, the true origins of this vampire are never revealed.
Another great Italian silent cinema includes Joanna Roman’s “The Womb of Souls”. In this movie, Joanna Roman plays the role of Countess Maria de Montespan, who lives in the medieval village of Caligari. Her life is controlled by her evil stepmother, who seeks to kill her because she has the power to make the dead rise.
One other type of Italian horror cinema worth mentioning is the works of German Expressionist and filmmakers Goebel and Eisenstein. These two produced some of the most unique films ever made on the subject of expressionism. Goebel is best known for assembling the elements of a successful melodrama while Eisenstein is best known for his surrealist short films. In addition to” Eisenstein”, there was “Ulysse Nue”, which was made by Egon Feffer.
A classic example of the type of silent cinema that was made in Germany was “Chicks from a Cage”. This is about a group of young women who are locked in a small cage and are forced to perform different sexual acts in order to pass time. After the performances are over, they are returned to their bunks in the prison and told that they have passed their time.
Probably one of the most mysterious and least known films of the modern era of silent cinema is “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”. This movie was made by the legendary director Sergio Leone. Some have suggested that the movie is a remake of the famous spaghetti western “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. However, there is no evidence that this is the case. The story surrounds an ugly divorce where the wife of a rich Spanish countess has an affair with a French soldier.
“The Man Who Played with Your Heart” is the third of four movies starring Jean Sheppard. He plays David Storey, a deaf mute whose only command is to obey. He develops a friendship with David Baster, who is played by Charles Bronson. The late George C. Scott also appears in this film, as does Peter Lawford.
No list of the greatest films of all time would be complete without mention of “A Woman in the City”. It is about a beautiful young woman (emitting a reddish glow from her face as she stands on the balcony) who travels to New York City. There, she works as a call girl. Her good looks draw the attention of a number of wealthy men who try to get her part of the business. She eventually falls in love with a man named Joe Wednesday. This movie remains the standard in the history of silent cinema as it shows a beautiful woman overcoming all the obstacles to love and romance.
