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.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Those Country Kids - 1914
Country: United States
Language: English
Stars: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle,
Mabel Normand and Al St. John
Release Date: 20 August 1914
(USA)
Production Co: Keystone Film
Company
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Genres: Short | Comedy
The Gusher - 1913
Country: United States
Language: English
Director: Mack Sennett
Stars: Ford Sterling, Mabel
Normand and Charles Inslee
Release Date: 15 December 1913
(USA)
Production Co: Keystone Film
Company
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Genres: Comedy | Short
When Mack Sennett formed Keystone
in 1912 he took Mabel Normand with him. The studio was built in Edendale near
down-town Los Angeles. "The Gusher" is one of the many, many movies
he made at this time.
Mabel has two suitors - an oily
con man, whom she mocks in a very funny scene where she is shown twiddling a
fake moustache and making her feelings very clearly felt. Even in this early
comedy her natural fun comes through. The one she really loves is clumsy yokel
Ford Sterling, who is determined to buy an oil well that the con man has for
sale. The conman gets a local fellow to pour oil over the property. Ford falls
for it and buys it - Mabel and he are to be married. Then the fellow confesses
that it was just a scam - there was no oil. Of course, the next minute oil
really is discovered and Ford and Mabel are over-joyed. Just as they are about
to get married the conman comes back on the scene. He throws a lighted match on
the oil and the screen spectacularly erupts in a crimson fire ball. Everyone
then gets in on the act - there are all the townsfolk, Mabel in her wedding
veil, the Keystone Cops make a brief appearance, Mabel has to fend off the con-
man's oily advances and Ford has to stop falling over his own feet.
The film ends on a positive note. The fire is still
polluting the skies but Ford has proved he is a man and not a mouse by fighting
the conman and protecting Mabel's honour.
Her Torpedoed Love - 1917
Country: United States
Director: Frank Griffin
Stars: Louise Fazenda, Ford
Sterling and Wayland Trask
Release Date: 13 May 1917 (USA)
Production Co: Keystone Film
Company, Triangle Film Corporation
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Plot Keywords: Two Reeler
Genres: Short | Comedy
Getting Evidence - 1906
Country: United States
Language: English
Director: Edwin S. Porter
Stars: Paul Panzer
Release Date: October 1906 (USA)
Also known as: Getting Evidence,
Showing the Trials and Tribulations of a Private Detective (USA - long title)
Filming Locations: Asbury Park,
New Jersey, USA; New York City, New York, USA
Production Co: Edison
Manufacturing Company
Runtime: 14 min
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Plot Keywords: Cuckold
Genres: Short | Comedy
A jealous husband arrives in the
office of Hawkshaw, a private detective. The husband is certain that his wife
is being unfaithful, and he wants the detective to produce photographic
evidence. The detective tails the wife, and thinks he has caught her, but a
sudden mishap prevents him from getting a photo. Despite this and further
setbacks, the dedicated detective presses on, determined to fulfill his
assignment.
Connections
Featured in Edison: The Invention of the Movies (2005)
(Video). The entire film is included on the DVD
A Strong Revenge - 1913
Country: United States
Language: English (intertitles)
Director: Mack Sennett
Stars: Mack Sennett, Mabel
Normand and Ford Sterling
Release Date: 10 March 1913 (USA)
Also known as: The Rivals (USA -
reissue title); The Shoemaker's Revenge (USA - working title)
Production Co: Keystone Film
Company
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Genres: Short | Comedy
That Little Band of Gold - 1915
Country: United States
Language: English
Stars: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle,
Mabel Normand and Phyllis Allen
Release Date:15 March 1915 (USA)
Also known as: Before and After
Marriage (USA - working title), For Better or Worse (undefined)
Production Co: Keystone Film
Company
Runtime: 25 min (2005 alternate
version)
Sound Mix: Silent
Color: Black and White
Plot Keywords: Opera | Divorce |
Alimony | Kiss | Flirtation | Mother In
Law | Ring | Jealousy | Drunkenness | Tattletale | Mother Daughter Relationship
| Wedding | Engagement | Maid | Restaurant | Wine | Smoking | Butler
Genres: Comedy | Short
A happy young couple become engaged, and soon
afterwards they are married. But after their marriage, the husband begins to
stay out carousing with his friends, leaving his wife at home with her mother.
Then, when the three of them go to the opera together, the husband spots one of
his friends in another box. Soon the domestic difficulties reach their
peak.
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