Author Archives: chipkaufmann

When it comes to quality silent film releases on home video, Milestone Films is one of the top companies. The British film HINDLE WAKES is a masterpiece. It shows fully what the silent cinema was capable of when all the necessary elements were in place. Based on a famous play about life in the LancashireContinue reading “HINDLE WAKES (1927): Milestone Films Release Is Simply Exquisite!”

Carl Theodor Dreyer remains one of the world’s most interesting filmmakers. He, Victor Sjostrom and Mauritz Stiller were the first to explore the Scandinavian psyche in the early days of silent film. He was the most introspective of the three as PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC, DAY OF WRATH, and GERTRUD clearly demonstrate. Among theContinue reading “LEAVES FROM SATAN’S BOOK Is Interesting But Heavy Handed”

A lot of attention has been paid to this film first on screen in special showings and now on DVD thanks to the presence of Anna May Wong. Her performance is indeed a revelation but there’s much more to the film than just Anna. PICCADILLY is visually a very stylish film thanks to the trademarkContinue reading “PICCADILLY (1929): More Than Just Anna May Wong”

Here is another example of running across an item totally by accident and finding something extremely worthwhile. I wasn’t looking for this title. In fact I didn’t even know that it existed. But what a find! This 2 disc set contains a DVD and a CD of Caruso recordings and was put out by BMGContinue reading “ENRICO CARUSO: VOICE OF THE CENTURY Is A Great Find For Opera Lovers And For Silent Film Fans Too”

Thanks to the renewed interest in silent films brought about by video technology, a whole new generation is being introduced to the timeless comedy of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and others. But every time you laugh at their antics you should thank Max Linder the French comedian who did it all first. MaxContinue reading “LAUGH WITH MAX LINDER Highlights The First Comedy Superstar”

In his book THE PARADE’S GONE BY Kevin Brownlow mentions THE CHESS PLAYER and other films by Raymond Bernard as being among the treasures of late silent cinema so it’s no surprise that his Photoplay Productions was responsible for this magnificent restoration. What is surprising is that the restoration was done in 1990 and isContinue reading “THE CHESS PLAYER: A Magnificent Restoration Of A Long Lost Silent Epic”

f proof were ever needed that silent films were an art form unto themselves as opposed to just a primitive warm up to the talkies then Alla Nazimova’s SALOME’ is it. Even 80 years after its initial release SALOME’ remains art with a capital A. This is not necessarily a good thing as works thatContinue reading “SALOME / LOT IN SODOM Make For A Truly Bizarre Double Bill”

Billed as “one of the best films you’ve never heard of”, CAPTAIN FRACASSE gives us the rare opportunity of viewing a late silent film from outside America. This 1929 French swashbuckler is based on a well known French novel by Theophile Gautier and was directed by the Brazilian born director Alberto Cavalcanti. He is bestContinue reading “CAPTAIN FRACASSE: Stylish French Silent Film Restored.”

I have seen the VHS version of this which is exactly the same as the DVD. It is worth it alone for THE COOK which I feel may be Arbuckle’s masterpiece. All of his best comic bits including his incredible acrobatic ability with objects (throwing knives, flipping pancakes behind his back) are on full displayContinue reading “THE COOK May Be Arbuckle’s Masterpiece”

THE MATINEE IDOL is a minor Frank Capra comedy made shortly after he came to Columbia in 1928. While certainly not top drawer it already deals with many themes which Capra would expand on as his career progressed. Comic bits, sentiment, and the determination of “the little guy” to succeed are well blended in thisContinue reading “THE MATINEE IDOL (1928): Early Frank Capra Plus A Great Documentary”