Best Silent Movies

From Charles Chaplin, starring Charles Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill, Florence Lee, Harry Myers
Rated G

City Lights is a silent comedy film directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin. The film follows a tramp (Chaplin) as he befriends a blind girl and falls in love with her. In order to make money so he can help the girl, he gets involved in a series of comedic hijinks, all while trying to keep his identity a secret. Over the course of the movie, his luck eventually turns around and he is able to help the girl regain her sight, allowing them to continue their relationship. The film was a major success upon its release and is considered a classic of the silent era.

From Fritz Lang, starring Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel, Gustav Fröhlich, Rudolf Klein-Rogge
Rated Not Rated

Metropolis is a 1927 German expressionist science-fiction film directed by Fritz Lang. Set in a futuristic urban dystopia, the film follows Freder, the wealthy son of the city's master, and Maria, a working class prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences. As the workers of Metropolis suffer oppression and upheaval, a mad scientist creates a robotic version of Maria, which incites the workers to revolt. A destructive battle between the classes ensues, culminating in a sacrificial act of redemption that ultimately reconciles the social divide. The film is widely regarded as a landmark in cinema due to its innovative special effects and art direction.

From Charles Chaplin, starring Charles Chaplin, Merna Kennedy, Al Ernest Garcia, Harry Crocker
Rated Passed

The Circus is a silent comedy film directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin, released in 1928. The film follows Chaplin's iconic character, The Tramp, as he unwittingly becomes involved with a struggling circus. After his remarkable performance as a clown act, The Tramp is hired on as a regular performer, only to find the circus in financial trouble. The Tramp must find a way to save the circus, while also trying to protect a beautiful tightrope walker from a menacing rival. With the help of an acrobatic monkey and a loyal dog, the Tramp manages to save the circus and win the heart of the tightrope walker.

From Sergei Eisenstein, starring Aleksandr Antonov, Vladimir Barskiy, Grigoriy Aleksandrov, Ivan Bobrov
Rated Not Rated

Battleship Potemkin is a 1925 silent film directed by Sergei Eisenstein. The film is an example of the montage-style of filmmaking that Eisenstein was known for, and is considered a landmark of film history. The story follows the crew of the Battleship Potemkin, a Russian warship, as they revolt against the oppressive regime of their Tsarist officers. After refusing to eat maggot-infested meat, the crew mutinies and is eventually joined by the people of Odessa. The mutiny is eventually suppressed by the Tsarist forces, but the people of Odessa continue to resist. The film is notable for its use of innovative cinematography, editing, and musical score to create a powerful emotional effect. Its iconic Odessa Steps sequence has been frequently referenced and parodied in other films. Its themes of revolt and oppression are still relevant today, making Battleship Potemkin a timeless classic.

From D.W. Griffith, starring Lillian Gish, Robert Harron, Mae Marsh, F.A. Turner
Rated Passed

Intolerance is an epic silent drama film directed by D.W. Griffith, released in 1916. The film consists of four separate stories from four different time periods, all illustrating different forms of intolerance. The first story, set in ancient Babylon, follows the story of a young prince and the unjust treatment he receives from the King. The second story, set in Judea during the time of Jesus, focuses on the injustices suffered by the people of Jerusalem at the hands of the occupying Romans. The third, set in France during the time of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, follows a young Huguenot couple as they struggle to survive during the religious violence. The fourth story is set in modern-day America and follows the struggles of a working-class family against the injustices of the labor system. Through the four stories, Griffith masterfully uses his signature techniques of cross-cutting, parallel editing, and montage to illustrate the tragic consequences of intolerance and the power of love to overcome it. Intolerance was a critical and commercial success, and it remains one of the most influential films of all time.