Silent Films 1920s

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

City Lights is a 1931 silent comedy film written, produced, and directed by Charles Chaplin. The film follows The Little Tramp (Chaplin) as he falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill). In order to raise funds for the girl to have an operation that would restore her sight, the Tramp must make some sacrifices and endure a number of comedic mishaps. Along the way, he meets a wealthy man who is unaware that the Tramp is not wealthy himself. The film ends with the Tramp still providing for the flower girl when her sight is eventually restored. City Lights is considered to be one of Chaplin's best works, as well as one of the greatest films of all time.

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

Metropolis is a 1927 German expressionist science-fiction drama film directed by Fritz Lang. The film is set in a futuristic urban dystopia and follows the attempts of Freder, the wealthy son of the city master, and Maria, a poor worker, to overcome the vast gulf separating the classes of their city. When Freder discovers the grim life of the workers in the city, he joins Maria in a quest for a better future for both classes. However, this quest has dire consequences when a mad scientist creates a robotic version of Maria, which incites a revolt among the workers. In the end, Freder and Maria succeed in uniting the two classes, restoring peace and harmony to the city.

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

The Circus is a silent comedy film written and directed by Charles Chaplin in 1928. The plot centers around a tramp (Chaplin) who is mistaken for a pickpocket and thrown into a circus tent. In an attempt to escape, he accidentally becomes a sensation in the circus, and a romance soon follows with the circus owner's daughter. The tramp must then face off against the villainous ringmaster who is determined to put an end to the tramp's newfound fame. The Circus is an enduring classic of the silent film era, showcasing Chaplin's signature blend of comedy, pathos, and humanity.

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 and based on the mutiny that took place in 1905 on the Russian battleship, Potemkin. The film follows the crew's revolt against their cruel officers and the subsequent uprising of the citizens of Odessa in support of their cause. It also chronicles the brutal suppression of the uprising by the Tsar's troops. The film is broken up into five distinct sections: "Men and Maggots", "Drama on the Deck", "In the Streets of Odessa", "The Odessa Steps", and "Meeting the Squadron". Through montage, Eisenstein conveys his message of revolution and uprising, as well as his admiration for the strength of the people of Odessa. The film has become a classic of silent cinema and is widely considered to be one of the most influential films of the 20th century.

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

Intolerance is a 1916 American silent epic drama directed by D.W. Griffith. The film tells the story of four different stories, all linked together by a common theme of intolerance. The stories span across different time periods, from ancient Babylon to the early twentieth century. The four stories focus on a couple’s relationship in the present day, a mother’s struggle to save her children during the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, religious persecution in ancient Babylon, and a contemporary battle between labor and capital. The film is known for its innovative use of parallel editing to tell all four stories simultaneously. Intolerance was a controversial film in its time, but it is now seen as a masterful achievement in storytelling and film-making. It has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.