2007 was a banner year for silent movies on DVD. At least 10 major releases occurred that have brought notable films from the silent era back to life for a 21st century audience. No longer a thing of the past, silent movies are alive and well and are available for a whole new audience to enjoy.
It’s ironic that it took new technology to rescue old technology that was once new technology itself. Thanks to digital imaging it is possible to completely restore a silent movie based on only a few frames from various reels. Add a newly recorded soundtrack and you have what is known as a Deluxe Collector’s Edition or more recently the Ultimate Edition.
Three new releases feature titles that are familiar even to those who aren’t silent film fans. They are NOSFERATU (the first Dracula movie from 1922), BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN (1925) and PANDORA’s BOX (1929). All have been restored using the best surviving materials. For NOSFERATU and POTEMKIN, their original scores have been newly recorded while PANDORA’S BOX gives you a choice of four different scores.
Other newly restored titles may be more enjoyable to those new to silent movies as they are more mainstream and are American rather than European. They include 1927’s THE CAT & THE CANARY, the prototype “old dark house” comedy-thriller, THE IRON HORSE, a 1924 epic Western from John Ford, Lon Chaney’s THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1923), and the first version of THE JAZZ SINGER (1927) with Al Jolson. Although often thought of as the first “talkie”, it’s actually 90% silent with a few musical interludes.
A word of warning before you buy. The vast majority of silent movies are in the public domain as their copyrights have expired after 75 years. As a result, there are countless low budget offerings out there that are a travesty of the silent film experience. The best known companies for silent film releases are Kino International and Image Entertainment. When you see their name on the DVD, you know you’re getting the best available version.
The prices on these releases are about the same as any new DVD but the difference in quality is astonishing. Remember the old saying “you get what you pay for”?. Nowhere is that more true than with silent movies on disc. The Kino and Image titles come loaded with extras that actually make them a real bargain. However, the real steal of the year is Warner Bros’ THE JAZZ SINGER, a 3 DVD set which features a disc devoted to old vaudeville acts.
POSTSCRIPT – 1/22/22: Image Entertainment is no longer around and their titles are now handled by Flicker Alley which has emerged as THE silent movie release label. Other recommended labels are Milestone Films and any silent titles from the Criterion Collection.
The Capsule Critic 