The great moviemakers who are conscious of form—Murnau, Lang, Eisenstein, Dreyer, Hitchcock—all got their start before the talkies, and it’s no exaggeration to see in Welles the only great natural visual artist to arrive on the scene after the advent of sound. François Truffaut So much can be learned from silent films. As the saying goes, "If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants." What are some of your favorite silent movies? (just thinking of F.W. Murnau's Faust blows me away, and I can still clearly recall watching Charlie Chaplin's City Lights at the theater.)
Anything Goes : The great moviemakers who are… by Edwin Adrian Nieves
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it's probably an obvious one but i was really moved by chaplin's 'the kid'. not to mention i'm kind of in love with buster keaton.
Francesca, you just made me think of Bernardo Bertolucci's The Dreamers. Have you seen it? There's a scene where Louis Garrel's and Michael Pitt's characters debate who is better, Chaplin or Keaton.
I have not, but I'll be sure to take a look. I am torn, though I find Keaton more interesting as a person I love everything chaplin stood for. with keaton I always feel tremendously empathetic, like we're related in some way, not in a romantic or obsessive sense...that probably sounds very strange...
but alas both were great actors and directors and I don't think there's much point in comparison.
Also 'the passion of Joan of Arc' (1928) - I should have mentioned it purely for it's turning the historical epic into something more intimate and real... and the emotional impact of Maria Falconetti's performances.
Of course, Dreyer! Awesome mention, and I have to agree with you completely: there is nothing in The Passion of Joan of Arc that is not intimate, real, and emotionally impacting. Dreyer had a superb sense for visual storytelling and Falconetti's performance, just right on.