Cinema Europe
July 7, 2007 8:47 AM Subscribe
Cinema Europe Extraordinary documentary series from the 1990s narrated by Kenneth Branagh which quietly demonstrates that most of anything you thought you knew about early cinema is wrong (embedded Google Videos).
It's a great series, and because the narration tells you what to look for and what's interesting about each film discussed, you don't have to be a silent film nut to appreciate it. I'm continually surprised (although I should know better by now) by how great some silent films are. I recently watched Evgenii Bauer's first film, Twilight of a Woman's Soul, and was shocked to find myself so involved that I was yelling advice to the people onscreen.
posted by goatdog at 9:36 AM on July 7, 2007
posted by goatdog at 9:36 AM on July 7, 2007
You needn't be specifically a silent film nut to enjoy this series. If you are at all interested in the history of cinema, you will enjoy it.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:39 AM on July 7, 2007
posted by Thorzdad at 9:39 AM on July 7, 2007
Turner Movie Classics shows silent films late Sunday nights.
I love the clown tragedies with Lon Chaney Jr.
posted by doctorschlock at 9:39 AM on July 7, 2007
I love the clown tragedies with Lon Chaney Jr.
posted by doctorschlock at 9:39 AM on July 7, 2007
Ooops, I mean Lon Chaney Sr.
posted by doctorschlock at 9:40 AM on July 7, 2007
posted by doctorschlock at 9:40 AM on July 7, 2007
Wow, wow, wow - great FPP - thanks a lot!
I've really enjoyed the Treasures of American Film and this is a good companion.
posted by mctsonic at 10:11 AM on July 7, 2007
I've really enjoyed the Treasures of American Film and this is a good companion.
posted by mctsonic at 10:11 AM on July 7, 2007
so involved that I was yelling advice to the people onscreen.
and did they take it ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 10:21 AM on July 7, 2007
and did they take it ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 10:21 AM on July 7, 2007
and did they take it ?
Yes, happily, they did. Good thing for them, too.
posted by goatdog at 11:11 AM on July 7, 2007
Yes, happily, they did. Good thing for them, too.
posted by goatdog at 11:11 AM on July 7, 2007
I just finished the first part. This is really good , and I look forward to the next five parts. Wonderful find feelinglistless !
posted by nola at 12:32 PM on July 7, 2007
posted by nola at 12:32 PM on July 7, 2007
Makes me wonder when Mike & Kevin are gonna get around to the silent film era.
posted by ZachsMind at 12:51 PM on July 7, 2007
posted by ZachsMind at 12:51 PM on July 7, 2007
Kevin Brownlow, who made this, is responsible for a number of documentaries about and restorations of silent movies, including Unknown Chaplin, which contains one sequence (an outtake from City Lights involving a piece of wood stuck in a grating) that I rank among my Funniest Things of All Time (rolling on the floor, fighting for breath funny), although YMMV.
If this floats your boat, you're best advised to seek out his (formidable) back catalogue.
posted by Grangousier at 1:00 PM on July 7, 2007
If this floats your boat, you're best advised to seek out his (formidable) back catalogue.
posted by Grangousier at 1:00 PM on July 7, 2007
Also a filmmaker in his own right - It Happened Here, an alternate history in which the Nazis successfully invaded Britain, which began as a collaboration between an 18-year-old Brownlow and Andrew Mollo (at that time a 16-year-old history buff), and Winstanley, about the Levellers during the English Revolution/Civil War/Whatever they're calling it these days.
posted by Grangousier at 1:12 PM on July 7, 2007
posted by Grangousier at 1:12 PM on July 7, 2007
For anyone in San Francisco, the Castro is having a Silent Film Festival right now.
posted by vacapinta at 4:14 PM on July 7, 2007
posted by vacapinta at 4:14 PM on July 7, 2007
/off topic, related---
[NyTimes Obituary]
Edward Yang, 59, Director Prominent in New Taiwan Cinema, Is Dead.
posted by acro at 7:55 PM on July 7, 2007
[NyTimes Obituary]
Edward Yang, 59, Director Prominent in New Taiwan Cinema, Is Dead.
posted by acro at 7:55 PM on July 7, 2007
Seconding Grangousier. Every Brownlow and Gill documentary I've seen about early cinema has been outstanding.
posted by pmurray63 at 7:50 AM on July 8, 2007
posted by pmurray63 at 7:50 AM on July 8, 2007
I just watched the Swedish section. Astonishingly beautiful although I really shouldn't have been surprised.
Thanks for the link!
posted by Touch at 10:33 AM on July 8, 2007
Thanks for the link!
posted by Touch at 10:33 AM on July 8, 2007
which quietly demonstrates that most of anything you thought you knew about early cinema is wrong
How so? I saw this years ago (on TVO) and yes, it's great, but it didn't at all demonstrate that most of anything i thought I knew (and indeed know) about early cinema was wrong.
posted by juiceCake at 8:47 PM on July 8, 2007
How so? I saw this years ago (on TVO) and yes, it's great, but it didn't at all demonstrate that most of anything i thought I knew (and indeed know) about early cinema was wrong.
posted by juiceCake at 8:47 PM on July 8, 2007
Here's the really great thing. Many silent films are now public domain. And the Internet Archive has a really great selection, downloadable in various resolutions/formats. So if this documentary whets your appetite, you can go beserk at: http://www.archive.org/details/movies
posted by jimmyjimjim at 9:53 PM on July 9, 2007
posted by jimmyjimjim at 9:53 PM on July 9, 2007
« Older The better, better it gets the more these girls... | Resources for Web Developers Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
Is it an interesting documentary for anybody who isn't a silent film nut to start with?
posted by jouke at 9:26 AM on July 7, 2007