MovieChat Forums > The Bat (1926) Discussion > Excellent!

Excellent!

posted 14 years ago by PACman66
6 replies | jump to latest

“The Bat” could be the best silent film ever! Certainly this film aged much better then a lot of it’s contemporaries! The copy I got (apart from a few damaged scenes) looks great! This is pure ensemble acting … Like watching a play unfold on stage.
My only gripe: I got this movie on a Mill Creek 4-DVD budget boxed set called Undead: The Vampire Collection… (Not that this film has anything to do with the “undead” but that’s another story…)
My problem is, with regard to the DVD’s running order: Right before this movie, was “The Bat” with Vincent Price, which was a direct remake of THIS film!

I loved BOTH versions… But I wouldn’t recommend watching Bat ‘59, then watching Bat ‘26 right after.

But this was a great film.

Atmospheric, spooky, and (at times) laugh out loud funny! A strange silent film… Almost ahead of it’s time.

Trust me,
Swan
My, you're nosey, aren't you?

[–] LbFilmFanatic 14 years ago

I can only regard it as the best silent movie as it is the only one that I have genuinely seen that's silent (although on the DVD that I own of the 1926 "Bat" there is orchestrated music, which was pre-recorded from it's time in cinemas, as Orchestras literally played the music in the Cinema Hall). Although, Nosferateu is another old silent and ambient classic that I truly hope to get. But this movie was very good.

I liked how the Bat is on the run for the police, but in his midst he encounters a person come out the bank with a lot of money, so he decides to follow him. And then the haunted house scenery comes along (which I think is really nice to look at). The Bat is identical to Batman, as it was the inspiration for the character. I mean how he grapples on Buildings just to get up to them, his dark manner, his shadow that resembles the current and most famous Bat Signal. The only difference is this is a criminal genius.

Anyway, I agree it's a good movie. As long as anybody appreciates the silent, but eerie music (which usually kicks up the moods) and the dialogue spread around in writing then they should be able to watch this movie no problem.

The signature is truly mightier than the name!

[–] novastar_6 14 years ago

I loved BOTH versions… But I wouldn’t recommend watching Bat ‘59, then watching Bat ‘26 right after.

That's funny because that's pretty much what I did. I had watched the '59 version all my life and knew it backwards and forwards, and then I found out there were previous versions, so I got them, only first I got The Bat Whispers, and THEN I got this one, but I love them all, they're terrific, and the first two are really funny.

[–] LbFilmFanatic 14 years ago

Yeah, that's funny, as I have no recollection of watching '59. In fact I actually was considering buying that one beforehand, but Bat '26 was so hard to find that it was inevitable not to buy that one initially. But subsequently I still haven't persevered in buying the advanced remake, but I shall eventually (I think Vincent Price is, as well as dapper, the epitome of horror stories. They may not be the scariest, but his voice characterizes fear and encompasses the tone so well simultaneously).

The signature is truly mightier than the name!

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] PACman66 13 years ago

Sounds like fun! I'll be right over!
>:o)

Trust me,
Swan
My, you're nosey, aren't you?

[–] randy605 8 years ago

I noticed the music on this movie has been used throughout TV history for strange, mysterious captivating situations particularly in series like the Twilight Zone and maybe some purely dramatic but suspenseful shows. I'm talking about the long broad orchestral notes, eventually joined by harpsichord. If you've watched lots of old TV you should recognize it. Certainly a big plus in an already entertaining movie.