Silent Beauties: 01/27/12

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.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Seljačka svadba u Hrvatskoj - 1922

Country: Croatia
Also known as: Peasant Wedding in Croatia
Genre: Documentary

St. Kilda, Its People and Birds - 1908

Country: United Kingdom
This was the first film to be shot on the Hebridean island of St. Kilda, and should not be confused with the later film from 1928 ('St. Kilda - Britain's Loneliest Isle'), which is more closely concerned with the population that would later be evacuated from the island forever. This earlier film was by the pioneering bird cinematographer, Oliver Pike, and focuses on the island's bird population, as well as the St. Kildans' remarkable methods of snaring sea birds for food and gathering eggs from the precarious cliff face. To achieve the spectacular shots of the bird colonies and birds in flight, Pike had to develop his climbing skills, with the aid of the locals, burdened as he was with a heavy film camera

Reykjavik, Capital of Iceland - 1926

Country: United States, but filmed in Iceland.
Director: Burton Holmes.
A tour of Iceland and its capital in1926. For more about Burton Holmes visit www.burtonholmesarchive.com. For licensing information contact www.globalimageworks.com

Seeing Paris #3 - 1920s

Country: United States, but filmed in France.
A tour of the landmarks of Paris in the 1920's by Burton Holmes. Burton Holmes looks over boulevard from balcony, Avenue de Opera, Opera Garnier, traffic, Cafe de la Paix, restaurant, waiters, outdoor cafe, men strolling in straw hats, sailors, newstand, shoe shine, Porte St denis, Porte St. Martin, Bastille Day celebration, parade, policemen, WWI soldiers marching with rifles, horse cavalry, Lafayette statue, Parc Monceau, reflecting pool. For more about Burton Holmes visit www.burtonholmesarchive.com.

Seeing Paris #1 - 1920s

Rotterdam en z'n Havens - 1925

Country: Netherlands
A 13 min. documentary about the Rotterdam harbours.

Rotterdam Binnenstad - 1920

Country: Netherlands
Documentary about daily life in Rotterdam, pre-WWII. Traffic, city walkers, shopping streets.

About Bananas - 1935

Country: United States
Complete presentation of the banana industry from the clearing of the jungle and the planting to the shipment of the fruit to the American markets.
Producer: Castle Films
Sponsor: United Fruit Company
Audio/Visual: Si, B&W
Keywords: Agriculture: Bananas; Central America
Creative Commons license: Public Domain