The Sound of Silent - General Discussion Discussion

[–] GlenEllyn (21078) 5 years ago

I've watched a few, but I'd be hard pressed to recall which ones. The thing about silent movies is that you truly have to watch and focus on them - you can't just listen to the dialogue. By the way, this is also true of many cartoons.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

I've only watched clips here and there. True, you have to keep your eyes glued to the screen.

Another factor is they had both live music and sound effects (the video I posted is a cool ultra short doc on that), to enhance the experience.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21078) 5 years ago

I watched the video. I've always enjoyed seeing how sound effects are done. Rather fascinating, to be sure, and definitely an art form.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

An all-but-lost art form, like radio sound effects and the ability to play music live as a soundtrack. Although I suppose sound effects for modern films may not be all that different.

I found it interesting that the people who did the effects for silent films were drummers! At least to start with.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21078) 5 years ago

Agreed - I didn't realize that they were drummers. I guess it makes sense, though.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

If it started out as being percussives, then yes. I suppose they were.

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I love silent films. I don't think there is any secret to enjoying them, I just really like them. It really depends on what people like. If you enjoy epic adventures, watch a an epic silent film. If you like silly comedies, watch a silent comedy. There are lots of great silent films for every taste. My personal favourite silent films are:

1. Safety Last! (1923)
2. Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916)
3. Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
4. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)
5. The Freshman (1925)
6. Metropolis (1927)
7. Sunrise (1927)
8. Wings (1927)
9. The Wheel (1923)
10. The Crowd (1928)

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

Thanks, Allaby! It's nice to have a list to start out with.

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

You're welcome. Always happy to recommend great films.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

I may start with Metropolis but a couple others sound promising.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21078) 5 years ago

Metropolis and Wings are on my list.

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[–] slimone (7996) 5 years ago

The Passion of Joan of Arc was a very moving film.

I've been trying to find The Man Who Laughs (1928) but can't find it anywhere.

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I am not a fan. I have tried a couple of times but there so many others things to watch.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

There are a lot of things to watch, but the idea of watching early works and getting into the mindset of the audience back then is appealing to me. The reality has proved to be otherwise so far, but I'd like it if that'd change.

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I do love old movies especially film-noir from the 40s and 50s. Silent films remind me of mime which drives me a bit crazy.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21078) 5 years ago

Not a Marcel Marceau fan, eh? I get it, though. Mime can be a bit...creepy.

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Humans were meant to talk.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21078) 5 years ago

Maybe "mime" is what the first humans practiced? Makes you wonder how language started. Grunts to words - hmm.

Sorry, too deep a subject for now, I think.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

You've got a lot of company in disliking mime. What is it about mimes that you don't like?

I'm fime with mime 👨🏻. The only problem with it is no one I know of is innovating with it, so it's the same old, same old.

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

it is not captivating to me. as you said there are limits to what you can do with it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEsfpRrfXf4

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

I think there are many new ways to innovate in mime, but the problem is few people like mimes anymore, and lots of people are very vocal about making fun of them. Who would want to be a mime now? Hard enough to try to make it in the arts, without starting off 20 miles behind the starting line.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21078) 5 years ago

I think another problem is that people today have less patience. They want it now, so waiting to interpret the message from a mime is too much to ask - just tell me what you're trying to say and get on with the story.

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[–] ShogunofYonkers (71625) 5 years ago

I've only seem 3 that I recall:

A Trip to the Moon (02)
The Chiefs Daughter (11)
Nosferatu (22)

I enjoyed the stories and watching something that was a technological marvel a century ago is really interesting
And despite what might be called a 'slow pace' Nosferatu remains very creepy to this day!

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

I've seen clips of Nosferatu and agree. He was creepier than Dracula by a long shot.

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[–] AndyKing1967 (33799) 5 years ago

Harold Lloyd comedies are genius.

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I love Harold Lloyd! His films are great.

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[–] AndyKing1967 (33799) 5 years ago

If you haven’t already, check out any of the documentaries about him. He was a fascinating man.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

Again, I've only seen clips, but a documentary on him might be a good entrée to his films. Thanks for the suggestion 👍

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[–] AndyKing1967 (33799) 5 years ago

Honestly, you’ll see his influence in scores of more modern films.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

Such as? Is it all in the realm of slapstick or physical comedy?

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[–] AndyKing1967 (33799) 5 years ago

Let me put it this way, you know how there’s loads of ‘Wizard of Oz’ references in modern culture (There’s no place like home. I guess we’re not in Kansas anymore etc etc), well it’s the same with his films, only in a visual sense (certain scenes being copied). Trust me, once you’ve seen a couple of his classics, you’ll start seeing his influence in other films.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

So in scenes, not just about slapstick or physical comedy.

At this point, here's Harold Lloyd to me:

1. Wore a straw hat
2. Wore black-framed round glasses
3. Possibly a bow tie
4. Liked to hang perilously by the hand of a tower clock
5. Something about train shenanigans
6. Had an amazingly beautiful estate
7. Skin appeared to be preternaturally white

Ta dah!

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[–] AndyKing1967 (33799) 5 years ago

Pretty much.
The hanging off the clock tower has been referenced numerous times in other films or media.
However, he did his own stunts and blew two fingers off his hand when one went wrong.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

The only one I can think of is in Back to the Future. ... Someone was hanging off the tower clock's hand in that, right? 😀

"However, he did his own stunts and blew two fingers off his hand when one went wrong."

That's dedication 😳

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[–] GlenEllyn (21078) 5 years ago

Wow. This pretty much lines up with my impressions of Harold Lloyd. Time for me to learn more.

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

Music thread?

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I screwed up. lol

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[–] Destinata (2599) 5 years ago

“The General,” by Buster Keaton. I’d hated silents up to that point, and they had a series on PBS hosted by Orson Welles that featured it one night. By the time it was done, I was slack-jawed, realizing I’d just seen a masterpiece. I know you’ve seen one scene from it — an old-time locomotive getting half-way across a bridge before it collapses and falls into a river. It’s used as a meme, but at the time it was the most expensive piece of film ever shot.

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