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When you watch as many films as I do and especially silent films it’s always exciting and gratifying to make a new discovery that’s truly worthwhile. This set is marketed as REDISCOVERING JACQUES FEYDER FRENCH FILM MASTER and while that is certainly true based on the three films in this collection I would add thatContinue reading “JACQUES FEYDER: A Forgotten Film Master”

Having seen and enjoyed THE HOLY MOUNTAIN some time back, I was really looking forward to seeing this film which is considered by many to be the summit of the mountain film genre. Much has been made of the fact that the renowned director G.W. Pabst (PANDORA’S BOX, DIARY OF A LOST GIRL) was broughtContinue reading “THE WHITE HELL OF PITZ PAULU Is Not What I Expected”

While this set is a dream come true for fans of the 1939 WIZARD OF OZ, it is even more so for those of us who have waited for years to see quality prints of the various silent film versions especially the 1925 feature directed by and starring Larry Semon. This version (along with onesContinue reading “WIZARD OF OZ: 75th Anniversary Edition With A Focus On The 1925 Version on DVD 3”

SIREN OF THE TROPICS was the first of a series of French films featuring legendary dancer and entertainer Josephine Baker and her only silent feature. It is part of a three film set released on DVD by Kino International to honor the legendary performer . SIREN was long thought to have been lost but, likeContinue reading “SIREN OF THE TROPICS: “La Baker”s Film Debut”

Unless you are a silent film enthusiast (and if you’re reading this review you most likely are) then you’ve probably never heard of Olive Thomas. Her death in 1920 at the age of only 25 under mysterious circumstances has kept her name from being totally forgotten but this DVD is the first opportunity for usContinue reading “OLIVE THOMAS: “Everybody’s Sweetheart” Lost and Found”

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”