* * * * (Out of * * * *)
1. Sunrise (1927)
2. Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
3. The Last Laugh (1924)
4. Nosferatu (1922)
5. Faust (1926)
6. City Girl (1930)
7. Tartuffe (1925)
8. Phantom (1922)
9. The Finances of the Grand Duke (1924)
10. The Haunted Castle (1921)
This is the first silent film that I saw that really appealed to me. I remember being floored by the beauty and sophistication of it; mesmerized by 1920’s New York City, how different it was and yet, somehow, it is also the same. The human condition, now and then. I found the scene in the barber shop–the obviously gay barber–so compelling. From there I went on to view silent film differently. It opened my eyes to the medium.
What else can be said of Sunrise? Neither of the city sequences were filmed on actual location, they were all built from scratch. In other words, all of it was stylized. No wonder, it was one of (If not) the most expensive films ever made for the time in American cinema. The human drama is just mesmerizing as you imply. I find it fascinating that this is the film that opened you to silent cinema. Also equally fascinating is that it opened your eyes to cinema as an art form. I see cinema as an art form regardless of quality. Anyway, thanks for dropping by and keep those comments coming 🙂
Wow! I didn’t know that the city sequences were filmed on location. That’s amazing!
I also think of the I Love Lucy episode that references “City Woman”. You know, where Lucy dresses up like the character and tries to intimidate her cousin “Ernie” into heading back home to the Tennessee hills. I love that episode.
“Wow! I didn’t know that the city sequences were filmed on location. That’s amazing!”
I think you misunderstood 🙂 The city sequences were not filmed on actual location, they were built from scratch in California. In other words, the city is an actual Hollywood set (albeit a highly expensive one) 🙂 Other than that, you are right on everything else 🙂
I do actually remember that I Love Lucy episode that references City Girl and yeah that was really funny 🙂 Once again, keep those comments coming 🙂
From your list, I have only seen Nosferatu. I once owned a restored version on DVD, (a 2-disc set, with The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari) then stupidly lent it to a friend, who lent it to someone, else, and it disappeared. Must buy that again soon, and not lend it to anyone!
Best wishes, Pete.
I hear ya 🙂 Always be careful who you lend something too 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂