Recently, I came across a blog post on SFGate by Mick LaSalle regarding film recommendations for people looking for an introduction to silent films. LaSalle, a highly regarded film historian and author (by me as well - I own a lot of his work), was writing the column in response to people who had recently seen the film "The Artist", a movie made in the style of a silent film. These people were now interested in seeing more examples of the silent film era.
The film that started this whole thing - this year's film "The Artist":
The resulting blog post and his subsequent film choices really burned me up. Those choices made me rant to friends on FaceBook, in grocery stores, in hallways at work, in my carpool, etc. Made me mad enough to ALMOST want to register on SFGate.com simply to rant directly in the comments section of the blog post.
Here's why:
LaSalle initially listed some movies he considered good viewing choices for a novice of silent films. He even made this comment to explain some of the choices:
"I take this question seriously, because I’m very aware of two things: 1) If people see the wrong silent movie, it can turn them off to the form forever; and 2) Most people end up seeing, as their first silent movie, the wrong silent movie."
If LaSalle hadn't made this statement, I might have just looked at his list, agreed with some of the films chosen and not with others, and moved on. However, when I read this statement, I thought...finally! Someone who gets how important it is to introduce silent films carefully!
Then I looked at his list (below are some of his INITIAL choices, before he added more later in the day):
- The Wedding March - a very SLOW von Stroheim vehicle.
- The Passion of Joan of Arc - this is the one choice that really irked me -LaSalle claims it's NOT work to sit through - no, it isn't, FOR SOMEONE WHO ALREADY KNOWS AND LIKES SILENT MOVIES, it is work for a novice!
- Lady of the Night - Norma Shearer vehicle - I, like LaSalle, saw it on TCM and loved it
- The Unknown - a good choice for a novice but LaSalle spoils a great plot point in his caption
- The Student Prince of Old Heidelberg - Norma again - nice film, but for a novice?
- Erotikon - seen it - a little slow for a novice
- Ekstase - same issue as above
- Diary of a Lost Girl - Louise Brooks - drama - not for a novice
- Docks of New York - I like this film, but a slow drama for a novice?
- The Gold Rush - totally appropriate for a novice
...and a few more
In the blog post below the list, he completely insults the Lon Chaney's costume dramas "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "The Phantom of the Opera" - calling them two of the worst Lon Chaney films. He only gives a passing mention to Buster Keaton, saying people often see "The General" but that really, it isn't that funny.
Regarding his choices - There is no easier way to turn someone off to silent films than making them sit through "The Passion of Joan of Arc" or "The Student Prince of Old Heidelberg". While I had no issue with the artistic merits of both these films, I immediately took issue with LaSalle associating these films as "good for silent movie novices". The films are specific, somewhat dated, and in the case of "The Passion of Joan of Arc" artistically beautiful but rather arduous viewing for a novice. He also seemed to waver between just naming films he loved and then excusing it with a "but save it for later" comment, and then naming an actually appropriate film for a novice. If his point was to talk about films for novices, the inclusion of films he simply loved and wanted to name was a mistake.
I sat fuming...flustered and fluttering about like Zazu Pitts trapped in a birdcage. Where was "The Crowd"? Where was "The Cameraman"? Where was "The Big Parade"? Where were "Sparrows" and "My Best Girl"? Hell, where was Harold Lloyd? And Marion Davies?
When I checked back on the blog later in the day, I noticed the list had grown considerably, and many of the choices were apparently added after someone read the comments section under the blog post:
- The Crowd - this movie damn well better have shown up!
- City Lights - good for second Chaplin introduction
- Show People - thank god he finally acknowledged Marion Davies!
- The Cameraman - Keaton shows up
- Spite Marriage - Keaton again
- West of Zanzibar - another great Lon Chaney choice
- Love - Greta Garbo films are never good for novices- they can be slow, overly melodramatic and contain highly implausible plot points. This is not to say they lack artistic merit.
- Our Modern Maidens - I read this as an attempt to add "relevant plot" type movies. NOT this one.
...and a few more
Ok, the list was at LEAST more balanced now. I saw more Keaton, more light comedy and much more relevancy. I saw films that would draw a viewer in and keep them entertained while they learned about the craft of silent movie film making. But the late additions to the list made me think, how much thought had LaSalle put into his initial blog post? How could he miss such films as "The Crowd" and "The Cameraman" in his first pass? Did he really think "The Passion Of Joan of Arc" would really be that much better for a novice than "City Lights" or "West of Zanzibar"?
For what it's worth, here is what I keep in mind when thinking about which film to show to a silent movie novice:
Does the film's content contain some relevancy for today? (The Crowd and The Patsy are good examples of this)
Does the film move at a good pace, so interest is held? (Keaton and Chaney films are good examples of this)
Is the film in good shape, and being shown correctly? (film speed correct, good print, etc)
Then I have to take into consideration the person - what type of movie do they like? Action oriented? Fast paced comedy or more dramedy? Can they tolerate period pieces or costume dramas? I started showing my niece and nephews silent movies when they were toddlers. Old Our Gang comedies, short Chaplin and Keaton films. Then, as they got older...The Gold Rush, the Kid, One Week, Laurel and Hardy shorts, Modern Times....fast paced and familiar faces. Now they want to watch more, and are open to viewing much slower paced films. I created a new generation of fans, and I did it slowly and am glad of that.
To close...I won't list a definitive selection of what films people should see as an introduction to the art of the silent film...but I will list some films that have worked for me when I've introduced a novice to this era of films:
The Patsy - Fast paced comedy with Marion Davies as a neglected younger daughter in a family with Marie Dressler as the mother. The comedy is quick and situations varied, the issues relevant to any era, and it's also a great introduction to female comedians in the silent film era.
The Gold Rush - I've learned to be careful with Chaplin - some of his films, while fantastic, are not appropriate for a first time viewer. The Gold Rush provides well paced comedy mixed in with just the right amount of pathos. It also moves quickly. City Lights, while a personal favorite, is slower in pace and slows down in several spots - I save this film for a second or third viewing of Chaplin films.
The Unknown/West of Zanzibar - Both of these Lon Chaney films, while not as well known as Hunchback or Phantom (which are good films and highly accessible to novice viewers!), are good introductions to Chaney's acting technique. The plots are great, with enough mystery and plot twists to keep the novice viewer's eyes on the screen instead of the DVR clock.
Sparrows - not many novice viewers know of Mary Pickford, and if they do, they picture some 40 year old woman playing an eight year old in short dresses and mary jane shoes. Pickford was MUCH more than this. Sparrows is a good example to show a novice. It's an interesting film to see, and mixes humor with pathos quite well.
One Week - This Buster Keaton short is only 20 minutes long, but a great introduction to his style of comedy timing. A young couple get married and build a "kit" house in the span of a week. Snappy, relevant and a great ending.
After these have been digested and the viewer is interested in more...I offer films like "The Crowd" and "The Big Parade" for examples of great, relevant drama. I offer comedies like "Show People", "Safety Last", "My Best Girl" for longer, more involved comedies. If someone likes the Chaney films...I know I have a true silent movie drama fan - and films like "Ace of Hearts", "Phantom of the Opera" and "Broken Blossoms" are offered.
After that - it's up to them to explore and enjoy.
Final thoughts: To get back to LaSalle's very relevant point...it's imperative to offer the correct silent movie in order to create a fan. I wish more thought had been put into his initial offerings - I can just picture some poor sap that loved "The Artist" watching "The Passion of Joan of Arc" or "Love" and wondering what the hell the fuss is all about.
"You know what's in this case?" she asks her maid..."Half a million bucks"
and then she nails the line:
Barbara Stanwyck delivers this line with all her heart...and because of that, you kinda know her man is screwed.
"I've had a lovely evening...this wasn't it."
OUCH! Did I mention you simply don't ever piss off Joan Blondell?
I've seen tons of Blondell films (the woman made like 30 a year during the early thirties!) and NO ONE ever gets one over on her. She's the BEST DAME EVER.
I actually sat up on the couch and re-wound that one to hear it again. Some lines are so ridiculous that they require mention!
Now, it's not a punchline, but the statement is the whole movie, in one line. THAT'S great writing.
"One was a cry baby and one was a cave man...between the two of them I said goodbye to girlhood"