Silent Beauties: 11/08/11

This site is dedicated to the preservation of memory of silent films. Although they were quite important in the evolution of cinema, they remain virtually forgotten nowadays. Since the best way to understand the present is taking an attentive look at the past, here you have some movies, pictures, interviews, etc. on silent cinema. Some occasional material on sound films will also be presented. I hope you enjoy getting to know a bit more about the beauty and sheer fun of these golden oldies.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The Danger Girl - 1916

Country: USA
Language: English
Director: Clarence G. Badger
Stars: Gloria Swanson and Bobby Vernon
Release Date: 25 August 1916 (USA)
Production Co: Keystone Film Company
Runtime: USA: 18 min | 20 min (DVD)
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Plot Keywords: Actor Shares First Name With Character
Genres: Comedy | Short
Madcap Gloria disguises herself as a man, in order to lure a "dangerous" vamp away from her beau, Bobbie. Although some sources list Mack Swain in the cast of this film, he does not appear. The rotund actor who appears briefly in the restaurant sequence is not Swain.
Hilarious 1916 comedy short teaming Gloria Swanson with Bobby Vernon.
Swanson is slightly bored with her beau (Vernon) until he starts being interested in another girl. She's also being pestered by "last season's beau" so she decides (of course) to dress as a boy and cause some trouble.
Swanson as a boy is just terrific. She has fun with all the "boy" mannerisms and is a terrific physical comic. Vernon is also a top comic but long forgotten because his career was mostly in shorts and died with the coming of sound.
In 1916 Swanson was still a teenager and already a star. The way she uses her smile and eyes is just amazing and you can'y take your eyes off her. It's no wonder she would go on to be one of the biggest stars of the 20s. She is amazing.

The Tourists - 1912

Country: USA
Language: English
Director: Mack Sennett
Stars: Mabel Normand, Charles West and William J. Butler
Release Date: 5 August 1912 (USA)
Filming Locations: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Production Co: Biograph Company
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Genres: Comedy | Short
A print of this film survives in the UCLA Film and Television Archives.
Released as a split reel along with the comedy What the Doctor Ordered.

What the Doctor Ordered - 1912

Country: USA
Language: English
Director: Mack Sennett
Writer: Dell Henderson
Stars: Mack Sennett, Kate Toncray and Mabel Normand
Release Date: 5 August 1912 (USA)
Filming Locations: Rubio Canyon, California, USA
Production Co: Biograph Company
Runtime: 10 min (16 fps)
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Genres: Comedy | Short
Released as a split reel along with the comedy The Tourists.

Carmen - 1915