Author: Fritzi Kramer

  • Silent Cinema: Essential Shorts 1896-1914

    About one hundred years ago, the American film industry experienced an upheaval that was arguably more important and game-changing than the switch to sound which came over a decade later. Since the beginning, motion pictures had been, well, short. From a few seconds in the 1880s to 10-30 minutes in the 1910s, the movies were slowly getting longer but they were not yet commonly feature-length.(The first feature film is generally reckoned to be The Story of the Kelly Gang, ...

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  • Silent Cinema: Common Silent Mistakes

    Silent film is an art like no other, but it also has a few complications that can snare unwary newcomers. Today, we are going to talk about some of the common mistakes made by new silent film viewers and easy ways to avoid them.Underestimating the size of the silent eraThe silent era is generally reckoned to have lasted from the mid-1890s to 1930, later if you count the 1930s silent films from Asia and Europe. With three to four decades of films to cho...

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  • Silent Cinema: Silent Movies 101

    You've decided to bite the bullet and give silent movies a try. Maybe you are taking some film history courses. Maybe you realized your knowledge of film started post-1930. Maybe you're just curious. Whatever your reason may be, you are going to have an exciting journey of discovery.If you are like most viewers, there will be a learning curve. Silent movies are not just sound movies with title cards added. They are a completely separate visual art and deserve to be treated as such...

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  • Silent Cinema - Four Intriguing Silent Film Actors

    Of the hundreds of stars who won the public's heart during the silent era, only a tiny fraction is remembered today. It's time to shine the spotlight back on a few of them. Last time, we discussed five enchanting actresses of the silent era. This time, we will be sharing four intriguing actors.This isn't a list of the 'best' actors of the silent era or the ones who are famous today. Rather, it's a collection of four actors whose work deserves a closer look by modern movie fans. We...

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  • Silent Cinema: Five Enchanting Silent Film Actresses

    One of the great pleasures of being a silent film fan is the feeling of digging for buried treasure. Many of the era's stars have not been discussed in decades and some have been forgotten for more than a century.We're going to look at a tiny sample of the talent on display during the silent era. This isn't a list of the 'best' actresses of the silent era or the ones who are the most famous today. Rather, it's a collection of five talented women ranging from the famous to the forg...

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  • Silent Cinema: Seven Reasons to Love Silent Movies

    Let's be honest, silent films do not have the best of reputations. Often dismissed as corny, cliched and ridiculous (usually by people who have never actually seen one), silent cinema has gotten very little respect. Fortunately, the tide is turning, and more and more film fans are discovering how vibrant and intriguing these movies really are.Of course, watching silent films is still not a common hobby. In fact, the most common question I get is, 'How did you start watching those?...

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  • Silent Cinema: From Russia to Paris

    Russian film enjoys a reputation among fans of silent cinema that is on par with the best works of France and Germany. Casual fans would be forgiven for thinking the Russian film industry did not exist at all before the Revolution since most of the famous films were created after the rise of the Soviet Union.Nothing could be further from the truth. For a full decade before the collapse of the monarchy, Russian actors and directors were creating films of intelligence and beauty. An...

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  • Silent Cinema: Films for the Silent Novice

    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...

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  • Silent Cinema: The Best Silent Films You've Never Heard Of

    Today we are going to be taking a look at the runners-up, the also-rans. The silent movies that are wonderful and enjoyable, perhaps very popular in their day (and probably known to silent film buffs) but don't seem to get the same amount of attention as their more famous siblings.Pandora's Box, The General, Metropolis, The Gold Rush... This article is not about them. It's about stepping off the beaten path and maybe discovering something magical.

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  • Silent Cinema: Paris in Silent Film

    Ask anyone to name the cities with the greatest cultural impact and Paris likely makes the list. Hollywood loves Paris as much as anyone, and that love goes all the way back to the silent era. Of course, no two filmmakers are going to see a city in the same way and this is where things get interesting. We are going to be looking at the assorted ways Paris was portrayed in silent film. Those Wacky Middle Ages The most lavish films set in Paris take the ...

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