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Post by The Question on May 25, 2008 7:01:20 GMT -5
I'm fond of old movies and managed to finally watch one of Universal's early silents that I hadn't previously seen - The Cat and the Canary (1927), which I enjoyed a lot, I thought it was a fun black comedy/mystery flick with some nice set pieces and atmosphere (also interesting to see how many conventions are still being recycled today that were present in that movie).
I've talked to a few people in the past who can't bring themselves to watch silent films, they found them too slow, the actors too OTT, too "jumpy" etc. Personally, I think those are just necessary products of the technology and I find them charming and an integral part of the experience, but I wondered if I'm in the minority? Anyone else here a fan of silent cinema? Or the opposite, and if so why?
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Post by Hug_the_Dead on May 25, 2008 10:48:39 GMT -5
I've seen only one silent film, Nosferatu (1922). I love it, and have watched it numerous times. I think the acting is very much needed for a silent film. If Max Schrek(sp) hadn't been so OTT, he would just be some freak with a white head. We needed to know he was a bad motherfucker, since he couldn't express it in sound.
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Coffin Jim
Administrator
What is blood? It is the reason to exist!
Posts: 619
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Post by Coffin Jim on May 25, 2008 10:56:58 GMT -5
I enjoy silent films, or at least the ones I've seen. I think the old, grainy film stock and lack of dialogue can actually improve a horror film's atmosphere. My particular favorites are Haxan (1922) and Nosferatu (1922).
Though it's not horror, I also saw Voyage to the Moon (1902) the other day and really enjoyed it.
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Post by willtreadway on May 25, 2008 11:33:53 GMT -5
Metropolis is one of my favourites. It's just so epic. I just got Cabinet of Dr Caligari yesterday, I'll let you guys know what I think when I get around to watching it.
Another silent worth mentioning is Diary of a Lost Girl (Germany 1929), not horror per-se, but still damn disturbing. It's about this chick who is raped, gives birth, put in a brothel, and general fucked over in life.
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Post by foolfool08 on May 25, 2008 12:02:22 GMT -5
I have only seen two, Pantom of the Opera '25 and The Hunchback of Notre Dame '23, both 9/10 and great films.
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Post by nocityforyoungguns on May 25, 2008 22:54:05 GMT -5
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Nosferatu are among my favorite films of all time. I'm a big fan of atmospheric films, especially when it comes to the horror genre. The two films I mentioned have some of the best atmosphere ever depicted in a film. And as someone mentioned above, Häxan is also a great film that I need to rewatch. If anyone is interested, they have the original Frankenstein short from 1910 on youtube. Part One:www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6QlCIu-pCQ&feature=relatedPart Two:www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyodwYH0cjc&feature=related
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carlitos_lohan
Gorehound
"Yo solo me visto si el gui?n lo exige"
Posts: 30
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Post by carlitos_lohan on May 26, 2008 1:16:01 GMT -5
For some reason, silent films are either hit or miss with me. I fucking love like 5, while I really could hardly even sit through other 3 (I know, I haven't seen that many anyway!).
My favorites are defenitely Haxan and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Both masterpieces! The first one is certainly a creepy movie, way ahead of it's time too. I have alway seen it as a precursor to 70s nunsploitation movies... As for Dr. Caligari, pure surreal awesomeness, very well done.
The other day I was watching The Phantom Chariot '21, and it was going real good until I had to turn it off. Very similar to Haxan in style, so fans of that one might want to check it out!
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Post by Matttttttttttt on Jun 24, 2008 15:46:24 GMT -5
I love silent films, but I can't say I'm too cultured in them. Of the ones I've seen, Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari are my favorites. There's just something about that old, classic feeling that I love. It makes me feel like I'm back in that time period, like that old episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? I think it was called "The Tale of the Movie Madness" where Dr. Vink comes to save the old theater and Nosferatu gets out of the screen one night. Great episode...but anyway, yeah, I love silent movies.
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