One of the most popular movies from the silent era, this historical saga shows the origins and effects of the Civil War through the destinies of two families -- the Northern Stonemans and the Southern Camerons. Although it has been credited with securing the future of feature length films as well as solidifying the language of cinema, the film attracted controversy and justified criticism and protests for including a sympathetic depiction of the lynching of a black man by a white mob and attempting to provide historical justification for segregation. Directed by D.W. Griffith. Categories: Drama, History, War, Classic, Silent Film. Year: 1915.
The Birth of a Nation
In his last true silent film, Charlie Chaplin once again plays his well-known character, the Little Tramp. This time, the Tramp meets a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill), who ends up mistakenly believing that the shabby man is a millionaire. After falling in love with the girl, the Tramp attempts to raise money for an operation that could correct her eyesight, even though it will mean that she will discover his true identity. Directed by Charlie Chaplin. With Florence Lee, Harry Myers, Al Ernest Garcia and Hank Mann. Categories: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Classic, Silent Film. Year: 1931.
City Lights
While playing golf, Buster Keaton knocks himself out with an errant shot and wakes up to find that an escaped convict has traded clothes with him. Once in prison, he learns that he is to be hanged. He eventually changes clothes with a guard just as prisoner rebellion begins. Directed by Buster Keaton. Categories: Comedy, Short, Silent Film. Year: 1920.
Convict 13
At the start of the Civil War, Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) enlists as a soldier, but it is decided that he is too valuable as an engineer. Later, after Union spies capture his two loves - Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack) and his locomotive, "the General" - Johnny sets out to rescue both, and to prove to Anabelle Lee that he isn't a coward after all. Directed by Buster Keaton. Categories: Comedy, Romance, War, Action, Silent Film. Year: 1927
The General
Horace Greely (Buster Keaton) is a hapless young man who leaves the big city to start a new life out west. After falling off a train near a ranch, Horace makes hopeless attempts at cattle wrangling and dairy farming before falling in love with a cow named Brown Eyes. Directed by Buster Keaton. With Howard Truesdale and Kathleen Myers. Categories: Comedy, Silent Film. Year: 1925.
Go West
Charlie Chaplin directs and stars as the Little Tramp, his lovable loner with dirt in his pockets and a heart made of gold. Setting out into Alaska as a gold prospector, the Tramp meets a strange cast of characters including Big Jim McKay (Mack Swain), Black Larsen (Tom Murray) and the alluring Georgia (Georgia Hale) who he pursues with his trademark humor and unflagging optimism. With Jack Adams and Henry Bergman. Categories: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Romance, Classic, Silent Film. Year: 1925.
The Gold Rush
Dziga Vertov, one of the founding fathers of filmmaking, explores everyday Soviet life during one day in 1929. While exploring film techniques and the reaction of the public to the filmmaker among them, this movie is a celebration of the cinematic process, from shooting to editing to the reception of the audience. Category: Documentary, Classic, Silent Film. Year: 1929.
The Man with the Movie Camera
Maria (Brigitte Helm) is the leader of the working class in a future society divided between workers and thinkers. After meeting Freder Fredersen (Gustav Frohlich), the son of Johhan Fredersen (Alfred Abel), who is the Lord of their city, Maria falls in love, playing into the hands of the heartless Lord Fredersen who wants to rid Metropolis of its poor working masses. Directed by Fritz Lang. With Fritz Rasp and Grete Berger. Categories: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Classic, Silent Film. Year: 1927.
Metropolis
The legendary Charlie Chaplin directs and stars as the famous Little Tramp in his last silent film, an incendiary criticism of industry, technology and its effects on the worker. With classic slapstick humor, the Tramp struggles to survive with the help of a lovely urchin (Paulette Goddard). Directed by Charlie Chaplin. Categories: Comedy, Romance, Classic, Silent Film. Year: 1936.
Modern Times
The mysterious Count Orlok (Max Schreck) seems like one more creepy eccentric in town, until his lust for the beautiful young Nina Harker (Greta Schroder) pushes her husband Jonathon (Gustav von Wangenheim) to desperation as the evil lord of darkness weaves a web designed to catch them all. Directed by F.W. Murnau. With Alexander Granach, Georg H. Schnell and Ruth Landshoff. Categories: Horror, Thriller, Classic, Silent Film. Year: 1922.
Nosferatu
Willie McKay (Buster Keaton) returns to his Appalachian homestead in 1830's America to claim a family inheritance. But, after falling for a young woman (Natalie Talmadge) he meets on the trip, he finds himself in the middle of a longtime family feud. Directed by Buster Keaton. Categories: Comedy, Family, Silent Film. Year: 1923.
Our Hospitality
In this short, Buster Keaton plays every person in a vaudeville playhouse. From the orchestra to the stagehands, from the stage dancers to the audience, Keaton plays each with comic mastery. Directed by Buster Keaton. Categories: Comedy, Short, Silent Film.
The Playhouse
In this short, two farmhands (Buster Keaton and Joe Roberts) share a cottage full of mechanical devices designed to make their lives easier. As part of his rivalry with Roberts for the farmer's daughter (Sybil Seely), Keaton disguises himself as a scarecrow and causes trouble for his roommate and the farmer (Joe Keaton). But, when Keaton stops to tie his shoe, the girl accepts what she thinks is his kneeling proposal. Directed by Buster Keaton. Categories: Comedy, Short, Silent Film. Year: 1920.
The Scarecrow
A projectionist (Buster Keaton) who is studying to be a detective, proposes to his true love (Kathryn McGuire), only to have his rival (Ward Crane) frame him for the theft of her father's watch. The disappointed young projectionist returns to his job and while projecting the film, and dreams that he is Sherlock Holmes looking for some stolen pearls. Directed by Buster Keaton. Categories: Comedy, Short, Romance, Fantasy, Silent Film. Year: 1924.
Sherlock Jr.
William Canfield Jr. (Buster Keaton), a mild-mannered young man, is caught in the middle of a bitter rivalry between his father (Ernest Torrence), a steamboat captain, and another Mississippi riverboat owner. This silent classic contains the famous stunt in which a two-story wall falls over while Keaton stands unharmed, passing through an open window. Directed by Buster Keaton. Categories: Comedy, Romance, Family, Silent Film. Year: 1928.
Steamboat Bill, Jr.