Interesting Books on American Silent Cinema?*

Picked up a signed copy of Kevin Brownlow’s The Parade’s Gone By-,(hardback copy)

Aniy other interesting books on American silent cinema ?

 

Any other books textural or coffee table pictorial on American silent cinema?

 

Years ago History Detectives had a segment on some guy who found a piece (maybe 20 seconds) of silent film in his attic or somewhere. They took it to some guy who was an expert on the silent film era. So much so, he instantly recognized the actor and knew all about him. Perhaps track this episode down and find the guy's name. I think he had written some books. His home office was loaded with books, films, and posters all pertaining to the silent era.

 

This is a good reference book

 

'The Parade's Gone By" is the bible of silent film history; it's what got me interested in the mid-70s.
Others by Kevin Brownlow:
"Napoleon", his story of Abel Gance's monster film, and the restoration of it.
"The War, the West and the Wilderness" about how the Western migrated towards California as the studios moved out there.

Also, if you haven't seen it, check out Nitrateville.com; it's about silent film in general and new releases on DVD and BR. Good fun resource.

C.

 

Thx

thank you for suggestions!!!
Incredible, but Brownlow is still alive.
Would like to get my hands on his Hollywood tv series 1980 ( complete VHS collection).

 

I met Kevin B in 2012 in San Francisco during the screening of the restored "Napoleon"; it was so nice, after all these years of admiring his work, to finally shake his hand and say: "Thank You."

C.

 

I picked up 'Silent Clowns' by Walter Kerr not long ago. It's obviously specific to silent comedy, but it's a pretty good book overall.

https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Clown...643045464&sprefix=silent+clowns,aps,68&sr=8-1

 

Seems the 1960s up till the 1980’s there was a interest in silent cinema per se… maybe as it was only 40/60 years earlier. It’s over a hundred years now, yikes . Saying that I’d love to see Taschen do a giant coffee table Silent cinema pictorial book ala Helmut Newton small door sized photo book.

 

The signed book I got cost £24( used ) a bargain.

 

Any modern films cover that period other than Chaplin( Richard Attenborough)or Hollywood Cowboy( Hearts Of The West)?

 

When I was a kid (early 70s) they still seemed to garner a bit of attention and it was not unusual to see one on television. In particular, a lot of Charlie Chaplin, Keystone Cops, and some early Laurel & Hardy. PBS would show some of the standouts including the notorious Birth of a Nation complete with disclaimers.

Of course, those were different times and things moved slower compared to now.

 

Are they blank pages???

 

Shame there’s no official dvd version of 1980 tv series. Copyright problems I believe?

 

The Artist is one, top of my head.

Singin in the Rain and Silent Movie (Mel Brooks) also, but they’re not as modern.

 

it was on YouTube for a long time.

 

The Artist ?
Great example.

 

What series?

 

Kevin Brownlow “ Hollywood “ 10 part documentary series 1980. Available on VHS only no dvd / blu ray / 4K.

 

If you like nerdy technical historical stuff, one of my favorite books is Film Style and Technology: History and Analysis by Barry Salt. The Silent Era is covered in the first half of the book. Of course it also covers silent film production in other parts of the world.

 

Guess a niche market 2022.
For connoisseurs only!!!!

 

All episodes of Brownlow's "Hollywood" are on YouTube.

 

Did they restore the last episode?
Missing earlier.

 

Not unlike what Eddie Muller does with curating and hosting TCM's Noir Alley on Sun. early AM & 10AM,with the intros not unlike a class,Jacqueline Stewart hosts Mon. @ midnight Silent Sunday Nights. Her interests in film curation and books about Afro-American films,but film preservation and restoration with pre-sound films is expansive. Sometimes the intros are better than the scheduled film. The TCM on air talent nickname her The Professor. Smart,literate but knows her audience. One doesn't need a textbook or take notes.

 

What do you think of Carl Davies scores?