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Some of my Favourite Silent Films

 Silent movies fascinate me. Here's a couple of my favourites!

The General (1926) Buster Keaton and his train

The picture above seems to epitomize for me, the nature of "The General". Everything he does, from the film's suspenseful action, to its romance, and to its understated comedy, is played with great intensity. In this exciting drama set during the Civil War and based on the true story of the Great Locomotive Chase, Buster Keaton directs and stars as Johnnie, a train engineer set out, as Buster often is in his films, to be a hero. I named the train as one of the principle players too :) His use of the trains is spectacular (I want to give you a spoiler but I'll refrain). “No shortcuts,” Keaton said. "It’s got to be so authentic it hurts." And it shows. This film is full of magnificent stunts and sequences, based on the real stories and on real photographs of the civil war. The comedy is quietly brilliant and quirky, set against a more serious story than you might be expecting from a silent comedian. According to Orson Welles, it's "the Civil War movie, nothing ever came near it, not only for beauty but for a curious feeling of authenticity .. it is imbued with real and curious dignity. No one has brought us that close". IMDB

Sherlock, Jr. (1924) with Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton

I have already reviewed this another post, go it here.

Safety Last (1923) Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis

If you've never seen Harold Lloyd, you need to! I discovered his films last year and now he's a favourite with my hubby and me. Lloyd is one of the most personable of the silent stars, always brimming with energy and optimism that always make you love his character. In Safety Last, Harold, "the boy", goes off to the city to make his fortune so he can marry his sweetheart. This is full of clever, unexpected tricks and incidents, from the simple storyline of the first half to when it switches to a "thrill picture", with hilarious yet gasp-worthy stunts near the end. Safety Last contains one of the most famous shots of Harold Lloyd hanging with the clock face. I don't know if Safety Last is my favourite; Speedy and some of Lloyd's short films are excellent (but I haven't seen them as recently so need to re-watch before I review :) But Safety Last is a great place to start!

Wings (1927) with Clara Bow, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Richard Arlen

Wings came almost at the end of the silent era, and it embodies the greatness that was achieved in film over the whole era. It is thrilling and it is real! No green screen or special effects here, the World War 1 air battles they were portraying were being fought and filmed with the actors doing alot of their own stunts and flying. (To fully appreciate the film, one should watch the featurette that usually accompanies the DVD version, or even just read up on it. It's fascinating to find out how groundbreaking this film was.) The photography of the air battles are absolutely breathtaking; the ground battle scenes are carried out with great detail and keep you on the edge of your seat. Two of the leads, Buddy Rogers and the top film actress of the time, Clara Bow, are full of boundless activity and feeling that keep your eyes glued to the screen. Also includes a brief appearance from a young Gary Cooper! See it on IMDB

Thief of Baghdad (1924) Douglas Fairbanks, Julianne Johnston, Snitz Edwards

The "Thief of Baghdad" is a swashbuckling tale adapted from "One Thousand and One Nights" or the "Arabian Nights". It stars Douglas Fairbanks, and I mean stars; he's the one of the original movie stars. If you want to watch silent films, you have to see a Fairbanks picture (Well, you should see America's Sweetheart Mary Pickford too, but I had a hard time deciding which of hers to discuss on here). This movie is memorable for its photography, lavish sets, and its early visual effects (the flying carpet is here!), but even more so for its acrobatic and utterly charming "Thief", played by Fairbanks. This film does have some slow parts, but overall it is a fascinating fantasy story audiences must have thrilled to in 1924, and that we can certainly appreciate today. See more at IMDB. 

The Kid (1921) Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan

To be honest, while I deeply respect Charlie Chaplin for his pioneering work in the film industry and his indisputable talent, I generally prefer other silent movies over his work. Chaplin has a very unique style to his Little Tramp character, and his comedy, while quietly funny or meaningful, is not in my top silent movie choices. The film of his which actually impressed me most is his later non-silent film, The Great Dictator, which was brilliantly executed and ahead of its time in challenging the ideals and goals of Hitler. But enough about that, I'm here to talk about "The Kid". I finally watched it in order to review it for this, and I actually really enjoyed it! It's all Chaplin here, even the score is composed by him. It's the story of the Tramp finding and raising an abandoned baby. There is a beautiful scene where he first finds and  reads the note from the baby's mother and decides to care for the child. Chaplin's interactions with "the Kid" are genuinely sweet and natural. Chaplin pulls off a dance-like style during a fight scene with a bully which I found hilariously effective. This film was influential about a whole new style of films, combining comedy with a more serious subject. Each scene is carefully crafted and beautiful. A must-see. Check out IMDB for more.


The Crowd

The Crowd feels like it was made today, and coming from me that might be an insult. So let me clarify, it isn't :) This movie looks and feels fresh, and draws you in from its early sequence, the camera flitting from the crowded city streets all the way up a skyscraper, through the window into a room full of desks (Opening Sequence of "The Crowd").  It's the story of an "Everyman" who works in an office, meets his wife, falls in love, and gets married. It's the rather sad story that follows his life and the events that happen to his family, and his struggle to survive. The director, Gore Vidal, strove for realism and this film is poignant and moving. See on IMDB.

I included a quote in the first post on this blog which I think sums up my love for silent film so well. These movies are valuable and important. In watching these, we get a glimpse into the past that we otherwise would not get. I hope you get a chance to see some of these gems!

"There was great excitement, and great fervour, and great sense of romance and adventure. They didn't know what they were working in. They didn't know what the future would be. They didn't know what they were doing. They knew that every picture broke boundaries. Some one new thing would be done. A new way of handling the camera. A new way of cutting. A new way of lighting. And they would be so excited by it! And I think some of that simplicity, and some of that fervour and excitement is in the films. And that's why they're valuable and lovely." (Agnes De Mille)

Top 5 (or 6) Movie Couples

My original criteria for this list was couples we love from the screen that starred together in at least 5 films. The ones I came up with far exceeded that. So here they are!


#1 William Powell and Myrna Loy (13 films together)

Everybody loves these two! We especially remember and love them for their witty, fun portrayals of Nick and Nora from the Thin Man series. Here's a link to a great description of their films. And here's a clip of some of their lines to give you an idea if you've never seen them before. But I urge you to just go watch the whole movies! You're in for a treat.

#2 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (10 films together)

This is my favourite on-screen couple. They just made magic when they danced. Despite the sometimes weak plotlines and dialogue of their movies, their dancing more than makes up for it. Just lovely. Descriptions of their films are here. "Swing Time" and "Top Hat" are some of their most popular, and might be a good place to start. If you're looking for something with a bit of a less "fluffy" script (but with less spectacular dance sequences unfortunately) "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" is a very sweet film, and well-acted by both Astaire and Rogers.

#3 Nelson Eddy and Jeanette Macdonald (8 films together)

These two people are very special .. not only were they very talented singers and excellent actors, but they were also really in love. This chemistry comes across on the screen whether they are engaged in funny banter (as they usually are at the beginning of their films) or portraying being deep love. Here's their films. And I've provided a clip of a couple of their movies (first from "Naughty Marietta", others from "New Moon"). I apologize for the rather awkward throwing together of random clips but its hard to get their movies and I just wanted you to get a little taste of their work to hopefully whet your appetite for more.

#4 Walter Pidgeon and Greer Garson (8 films)

Strong actors in and of their own right, you could enjoy Greer Garson in "Good-bye Mr. Chips" and Walter Pidgeon in "How Green Was My Valley". But these two always have something special when they're together on screen. As more "mature" actors, they were usually paired in roles as husband and wife and they did an incredible job portraying the fondness, respect, and fun in their characters' relationships. Which should you see first? How about Mrs. Miniver  which I'll review at a later date.

#5 Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn (9 films)

Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn were enormous stars. They were adored by fans, and there's no denying there's a certain spark to their on screen interactions, and a deep affection for each other in real life. The last movie they made together right before Spencer Tracy passed away. Their films are usually "battle-of-the-sexes" type plots, with Hepburn ever the strong, feminist woman. So not usually my cup of tea, but Tracy and Hepburn are still enjoyable to watch.

Okay, while I was reading to refresh on some of these couples I was reminded of another. So make it 6. Is that okay? It doesn't seem kosher to have a list of 6. Or this can be our bonus.

#6 Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland (8 movies)

These two are cute together! I've only seen "Babes on Broadway" and some of the "Andy Hardy" movies. The scenes with Rooney and Garland are always fun and delightful, but the movies themselves are pretty average in terms of plot, dialogue, etc. Worth seeing if you're a huge fan of either though, just to see them so young and yet so talented. Find out more here.


Which movie couples (from black and white film) do you like the best and why? I might have named some of them, or maybe there's a couple you thought of (they don't have to have starred in more than one film together :)

Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn

Ten Reasons to Love Black and White Movies (Part 2)

Stalag 17 (1953) with William Holden, Don Taylor, Otto Preminger

As I'll probably say often on this blog, I think some of the best films are those that are based on plays. Emphasis is on developing the story and building the climax, and on strong dialogue, and that carries over into the movies. This is case with Stalag 17. It is a look into a POW camp during World War II, and the suspense builds throughout the pictures as members of the barracks realize their escape attempts are being foiled by a "stoolie". I especially appreciate the narration from "Cookie", the closest thing Holden's character, Sefton, has to a friend. The film has some comedic elements, some of which I appreciate, some of which I could do without, but I still think it's a wonderful film, and one that needs to be watched by more people. IMDB


Roman Holiday  (1953) with Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Eddie Albert

This is a delightful romance and comedy shot entirely on location in Rome, with the incomparable William Wyler (Ben Hur, Best Years of our Lives) directing. It features Audrey Hepburn in her first American film, for which she won an Oscar. In what I consider to be the best movie of her career, she is simply stunning. She is perfectly matched with the wonderful Gregory Peck, and they are accompanied by Eddie Albert (of Green Acres, Oklahoma fame), providing a lot of the laughs. Audrey plays the part of a princess, tired of her duties, and escaped to find holiday in Rome, even if just for the day. This fairy-tale-like tale has a wonderful, unique ending (that's all I can say). My favourite "romantic" film. See it IMDB

Citizen Kane (1941) Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten

Orson Welles was only 25 years old when he directed, co-wrote, produced, and starred in Citizen Kane, and I think that is part of what makes this such an innovative, audacious film. It is rightly considered a masterpiece, but like many of these great films, you'll probably need to watch it a couple times to fully appreciate all its glories. The camerawork is just "Wow!", the lighting and special effects (for example, it is said some of the "newsreel" footage was dragged across pavement to get that gritty, real newsreel quality) are truly noteworthy. Just as fascinating is the real-life back story on which Welles based the film  - that of newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. It's an engrossing, yet sad story, framed and told in a way that was truly pioneering for its time. Heck, for any time. You can't top it today. I'm not going to go into much more detail of the plot - you just need to see it! IMDB 

Sherlock, Jr. (1924) with Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton

Buster Keaton was a genius, both as a director and actor. He is one of the "Big Three" silent film comedians, but he's my favourite because he was so incredibly creative, technical, passionate, and sometimes even dangerous in his work. Sherlock, Jr. is often overlooked for Buster's other films, like the General (which I'll review in another post), but Sherlock Jr is my favourite because it was the first Buster Keaton I ever watched. And I think it's a good place to start if you've never seen his films. It combines all of the elements Buster was so gifted in: comedy, pathos, action and excitement, and jaw-dropping gags, stunts, and camera tricks. Sherlock Jr. opens with Buster working at a movie theatre, yet aspiring to become a detective (and of course win the hand of his lady while he's at it). The opening scene with Buster reading "How to be  Detective" just gets me every time! This film is included in "1001 Movies you should see before you die". That's pretty serious folks. See it on IMDB or just go watch it now!

It's a Wonderful Life (1946) with James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore

This is not a Christmas movie. This is a masterpiece about one man, and through him we learn about ourselves. I think we tend to watch this movie so many times we can miss out on how utterly genius it is. James Stewart is George Bailey. And George Bailey is us, or at least someone we can relate to. The plotline is carefully developed and the story of a whole lifetime is told, making us deeply invested and interested in George and those around him. Every time I watch it I'm surprised to find something new; last time I was surprised at how very socialist and political this movie really is. Frank Capra was saying something .. important things about "working and paying and living and dying". This came at the end of World War I, and wasn't originally well-received, but it has stood the test of time and is relevant, fresh, and loved. I won't say too much about the plot, because probably everyone has watched this at least once in their life. But I urge you ... go watch it again. Not at Christmas time, and with a critical eye. And just see if you don't think it's one of the best movies ever made. I do. IMDB

Ten Reasons to love Black and White Movies (Part 1)

So, to start us off, I thought I'd stay pretty broad and list some of my favourite black and white movies. I wanted the list to be evenly sprinkled with both well-known and rare films. I wanted to start out pretty general, not sticking to any genre because I intend to explore those more in depth in future posts. Well, needless to say, this list was hard to put together! There's so many favourites I plan to discuss later, so know this is just the beginning!

So here it goes. Not a top 10 and not in any particular order, but ten movies that come to my head when I think of why I love black and white movies.


The Shop Around the Corner (1940) with James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, Frank Morgan

This rather simple film centers around the employer and employees of a shop in Budapest, Hungary. The always wonderful James Stewart plays the lead male, Mr. Kralik, opposite Margaret Sullavan. These two do not get along at work, but are falling in love as anonymous pen pals. It's the inspiration for the modern flick "You've Got Mail". Not only is the blossoming relationship between the two leads a joy to watch, but also the relationships between all the people in the shop - the gruff, distracted boss Frank Morgan (some of you might know him as the Wizard from "Wizard of Oz"), Kralik's soft-spoken and loyal friend Pirovitch, the funny errand boy Pepi, and a host of other talented supporting actors. The story feels like a play, with an interesting, well constructed plot and a script that can be funny and thoughtful by turns. See it on IMDB

My Darling Clementine (1946) with Henry Fonda, Victor Mature, Walter Brennan 

This western, crafted by the consummate director John Ford, is a retelling of perhaps the most famous story of the Old West - that of the Gunfight at the OK Corral. This may not be the most faithful depiction of the story, but I think it celebrates the legend in a special way. One of the best elements of this film is its cinematography. The scenes shot in Monument Valley are beautiful, but perhaps just as beautiful are those in the saloons or on the streets and porches of Tombstone. Another memorable aspect of the film is Henry Fonda's portrayal of Wyatt Earp. He gives us what a reviewer on IMDB called a "folksy" character, and in my opinion steals the show from anybody else who has played Wyatt Earp. He plays his part with understated charm, poignancy, wit, and strength. The story is quick-paced and engaging, culminating in the great gunfight. See it on IMDB

How Green Was My Valley (1941) with Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Roddy Macdowell

Another John Ford film (can you tell I like him?). It's the story of a whole family and the joys and trials that come to a family. It is seen through the eyes and narration of Huw, the very young Roddy Macdowell. The mother and father, played by Donald Crisp and Sara Allgood, are strong, especially Sara Allgood in some of her "confrontation" scenes! But it is also the story of a way of life. It's unique and lovely, set in a Welsh mining town at the turn of the century. It's about the hardships and exploitation they suffer, but also the joy and community they participate in. And there's some funny scenes where two characters teach Huw how to fight the bullies, and also offer their services for besting the biggest bully of all, Huw's teacher. The best part of the film for me may be the lovely scenes where the workmen sing together in Welsh. I've watched this one since I was a little kid with my whole family, and it still is enjoyed every time I watch it with others. Some trivia .. this one actually beat out Citizen Kane for an Oscar in 1941 (there's an interesting story behind that). See it on IMDB

Casablanca (1942) with Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid

Here's one that's more well known, often considered the quintessential classic black and white film. It's often thought of as a romance, but I think the most significant relationship here is between the people and the war. This film was in the making just on the brink of America entering World War II. Humphrey Bogart, previously known for gangster type roles, gives us a memorable performance as Rick, owner of the nightclub Rick's Cafe in Casablanca.  The film immediately draws you in with its almost newsreel-like beginning. It progresses through its theme of refugees trying to escape war-torn Europe through Casablanca while also giving us the more central story between the main characters. The plot is intricate and unpredictable, the themes are important, and the lighting beautifully done. This movie gives us several famous and favourite movie lines, and it's one you'll want to watch several times to appreciate fully! See it on IMDB

Shadow of Doubt (1943) with Joseph Cotten, Teresa Wright, Henry Travers

This is one of Hitchcock's movies from the 40's, and he often said it was his favourite of his films. I would agree. Shadow of Doubt is the perfect film. The script was written by the famous playwright, Thornton Wilder, who wrote the definitive American play, Our Town. And you can tell. It is like a perfectly constructed play. (I'm using perfect too much, aren't I?) It presents a picturesque vision of a family's life in a small town in America in the 1940s. That family is full of  well-drawn, well-rounded, quirky yet earnest characters (including Henry Travers brilliantly playing the father, known for his role as Clarence in "It's a Wonderful Life"!) That vision is shadowed by the coming of their Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten will give you chills), who first seems to illumine life for his young niece and namesake Charlie (played by the lovely Teresa Wright in her favourite film) until she begins to discover more about his dark past. Another up-side of this film is that it's usually in excellent quality, making it feel fresh and vibrant, and making you appreciate the great lighting and camera work. See it on IMDB

To be continued! Let me know if you want help accessing any of these movies.

You're Invited ... to Classic Movie Nights!

This blog takes its name from the classic movie nights my husband (before we were married) used to organize with friends. We got to know each other a little bit better through those times, and eventually started dating. That was, of course, just a small part of what drew us together, just a small fraction of our love story. But now as we are married, and moving around alot, wherever we go we try to keep up the tradition of classic movie nights whether they are with good friends, or for just the two of us. These are nights to enjoy movies that are beautiful, movies of eras gone by.

I have been a fan of movies from the 1900s-1950s for a long time, and I wanted to create this blog to present a fan's review of what I consider some of the best movies of that time span. I know the term "classic" extends, of course, beyond these periods. But I wanted to celebrate with you, dear reader, the beauty and richness of black and white films. I hope this blog will inspire you to have some "classic movie nights"  of your own.

"There was great excitement, and great fervour, and great sense of romance and adventure. They didn't know what they were working in. They didn't know what the future would be. They didn't know what they were doing. They knew that every picture broke boundaries. Some one new thing would be done. A new way of handling the camera. A new way of cutting. A new way of lighting. And they would be so excited by it! And I think some of that simplicity, and some of that fervour and excitement is in the films. And that's why they're valuable and lovely." (Agnes De Mille)