So, you want to try out these crazy silent movies but you don't know where to start. Never fear, help is on the way! Here is a small list of field-tested movies I have successfully used to introduce people to the exciting world of silent film.

First, a quick explanation: Thanks in part to the 2011 motion picture Hugo, Georges Melies has returned to the consciousness of viewers who may not even like classic or silent films in general. Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton never left the public view. All of these artists are worthy, but my list is going to be a little bit off the beaten path. I hope you don't mind.

I dare say most silent movie fans have a list like this; the films they recommend to share the silent movie love. No two lists are going to be alike but I hope you enjoy mine.

My Best Girl

Mary Pickford is sometimes dismissed as a treacly child impersonator. Anyone who has seen her films knows that nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, her child roles make up a relatively small percentage of the parts she played and her films featured some of the feistiest heroines of the silent screen.

My Best Girl was Pickford's final silent film. It's a romantic comedy in the popular shop girl subgenre. You know the story: Plucky shop girl falls for the boss or (preferably) his handsome son. Pickford's films always boasted the very best of everything and My Best Girl is no exception. From a smashing supporting cast to a well-written story, the quality is present.

This film is great for first time silent movie watchers because it goes down smoothly. There's romance, drama, humor and nary a misstep in the film. Mary Pickford is charming. Her leading man (and future husband), Buddy Rogers, is as sweet as can be. The tale is a familiar one but that doesn't diminish the pleasure of watching it unfold.

The film works well for silent movie newcomers because the romantic comedy remains a popular genre and because the quality of Pickford's work is there for all to see. It's a wonderful way to meet America's Sweetheart in her farewell to the silent screen.

Mighty Like a Moose

I am a devoted fan of the Hal Roach comedy brand. I was raised on Our Gang and Laurel and Hardy so I come by it honestly. Charley Chase may not be quite as famous today but his films are still a delight.

Chase specialized in humor based around absurd situations in daily life. His comedy world is a little mad, a little exaggerated but it still has one foot (or at least a toe) in reality. Chase is a dapper, likable leading man, just handsome enough to be romantic and just goofy enough to be hilarious.

Mighty Like a Moose is one of many comedy short films he released in the silent era. He plays a man with terrible teeth who is married to a woman with a very large nose. Unbeknownst to one another, both go in for cosmetic surgery and emerge as knockouts. They run into each other, start flirting and begin a fling with neither one realizing the other's true identity.

This film works well for silent movie novices because it keeps just enough slapstick to fulfill expectations, but also boasts likable characters and sassy situation comedy. It's a scream. Could we expect anything else from director Leo McCarey?


Judex

I should probably warn you now: Judex is five hours long and is addicting as heck. This is a serial but don't confuse it with American-style cliffhangers. Rather, think of it as a really, really fun miniseries, stuffed with intriguing characters, suspense, humor and a great deal of fun.

Judex is a mysterious caped vigilante who makes his headquarters in the catacombs below a ruined castle. His target is a corrupt banker whose dirty deals have driven his victims to suicide. Judex's nemesis is Diana Monti, a criminal mastermind determined to get her hooks into the banker's considerable fortune. Matters are complicated by the fact that our nasty banker has a beautiful daughter and poor Judex is in love.

Made in France during the First World War, Judex is a rollicking bit of escapism. The unabashedly pulpy narrative never stops moving, the serial is beautiful to look at, and the cast does an excellent job in their respective roles. And, as I said before, this thing is addictive.

Director Louis Feuillade was the master of the serial. Les Vampires and Fantomas have both seen high-quality release in the United States but Judex remains my favorite. The family subplots give it warmth and help deepen the characters. I assure you, this is indeed a fun adventure. If you have never seen a Feuillade serial, you are in for a treat.

This works well for beginners because of its witty story, excellent characters and because it subverts notions of what silent serials were all about.

Show People

Show People is a behind-the-scenes showbiz flick that has everything, romance, comedy and Marion Davies, one of the most underrated stars of the silent era. The story is as cute as a bug. Marion plays a kid from the South trying to make it big in Hollywood with the help of Billy Haines. She succeeds, her head swells, and she forgets the people in her life who matter most.

While the supporting cast is wonderful and there are more star cameos than you can shake a stick at, this is Marion's show all the way. Her character mugs, she flubs her lines, her attempts at glamour are woefully inept. Marion's wicked power of mimicry comes into play as she does her very best Gloria Swanson impression.

The film is utterly charming and filled with laugh-out-loud funny moments from the direction, to the title cards, to the performances, everyone scores a bull's-eye. It works very well for silent film beginners because it is fresh, fast-paced and never slows down for an instant. The numerous cameos will reward established silent film fans but viewers need not be experts in the genre to appreciate the quality of the production.

I hope this list has given you some idea of where to start when entering the world of silent cinema. If you are already a fan, I hope you will give these movies a try. Happy watching!

Fritzi Kramer is the chief cook and bottle washer at Movies Silently, where she opines on all things related to silent film. She lives in central California, which is the part without the palm trees.