Summary

The chronicle of motion-picture show dates back to the late 1800s , and manyfilms made over 100 old age agoare still acclaimed and enjoyed by film lover . Although many watcher may palpate the black - and - lily-white , understood earned run average of movies to be an alienating sphere , those willing to delve into the far past will be reward with a treasure trove of cinematic wonders as engaging and enthralling as the best advanced movies . This was a meter of incredible experimentation , and the influence of the tremendous one C - onetime films can still be get a line in the work of contemporary histrion , director , and writer .

Some ofthe well silent moviesare over 100 geezerhood honest-to-goodness and let in highly influential films in genres such as comedy , phantasy , horror , and even experimental semi - documentaries . This era let in acclaimed filmmaker like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton , who have remained at the forefront of cinematic discourse a century since some of their near work was released . While it can be difficult to screw where to startle with flick of the past , these century - erstwhile films have a lot to offer contemporary viewing audience .

15The Astronomer’s Dream (1898)

Directed by Georges Méliès

Cast

An stargazer go down asleep and has a strange pipe dream involving a pansy queen and the Moon .

The French director Georges Méliès led many of the most important proficient and narrative development in the history of cinema , as proven by his extraordinary three - minute of arc movieThe Astronomer ’s Dream . Méliès was a talented magician who starred in the film himselfand found it on one of his own magic acts . With Méliès as the nominal astronomer , The Astronomer ’s Dreamincluded an visual aspect from Satan himself and a mysterious disappearing woman . With impressive visual effects , The Astronomer ’s Dreamstill has the power to amaze viewers more than 100 age later .

14The Great Train Robbery (1903)

Directed by Edwin S. Porter

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The Great Train Robbery is a seminal 1903 silent film aim by Edwin S. Porter . Widely accredit as one of the first American activeness films , it depicts a grouping of bandits carry through a train robbery and subsequent getaway . take in a dynamic narrative style , the film is notable for its innovative use of editing and cross - keen technique , pose the fundament for future cinematic storytelling .

The Great Train Robberywas one of the most notable films of the other days of American cinema and among the substantially - known silent Western flick ever . Inspired by the real - life history robberies of iconic Western pattern like Butch Cassidy , this legendary 12 - minute feature was an unprecedented success for the way it blended dynamic activity with striking ferocity . Porter also claimed this was the first Western to tell a storey , although film scholars have afterward questioned the validity of this claim .

Custom image of The Man Who Knew Too Much (Original and Remake)

13Oliver Twist (1922)

Directed by Frank Lloyd

Oliver Twist is a soundless film version of Charles Dickens ' novel . Directed by Frank Lloyd , the motion-picture show stars Jackie Coogan as the nominal orphan , who faces various hardships and encounters a mold of memorable character , including Fagin , present by Lon Chaney . The storyline follows Oliver ’s journey from a workhouse to the street of London , reflecting the theme of poverty and child exploitation central to Dickens ' workplace .

The works of Charles Dickens have long been fodder for first-class moving-picture show adaptations , and this see correctly back to the silent era withOliver Twiststarring Jackie Coogan . Having already left his mark on the flick diligence with his star role opposite Charlie Chaplin inThe Kidthe year before , Coogan ’s function inOliver Twistsignaled him as one of the very first bona fide child genius . As a visually stunning silent film , Oliver Twistcaptured the spirit of the original novel , and its timbre was only surpassed by David Lean ’s extraordinary retelling in 1948 .

12A Woman Of Paris (1923)

Directed by Charlie Chaplin

A Woman of Paris : A Drama of Fate is a dumb drama directed by Charlie Chaplin have Edna Purviance as Marie St. Clair . The celluloid tell the story of a woman who becomes involved with a wealthy knight bachelor while dealing with the aroused side effect from a past relationship . Revolutionary at the time for its aboveboard and matured delineation of complex romantic and social theme , it commemorate Chaplin ’s pivot away from comedy .

Although Charlie Chaplin was chiefly do it for slapstick drollery , the fabled filmmaker try his paw at a genuine drama withA Woman of Parisin 1923 . Asthe only celluloid of Chaplin ’s in which he did not appear as an actor , this attractively point mum movie explored a woman buck between sexual love and comfort after bleed into her former fiancé . While contemporary audience who expected more of Chaplin ’s signature tune comedic style were intelligibly disappointed byA Woman of Paris , forward-looking viewing audience will be reward with a powerful amatory drama .

11The Ten Commandments (1923)

Directed by Cecil B. DeMille

Director Cecil B. DeMille may have felt the need to revisit his spiritual epicThe Ten Commandmentswith his iconic 1956 remaking , which expanded on its story in scale and scope , but his original moving picture was already an astounding accomplishment . As a retelling of the scriptural story of the Exodus , DeMille pushed special effects to their absolute limit point to credibly depict Moses separate the Red Sea in a visually impressive scenery , even by today ’s standard . As a major box office hit at the sentence of its going , The Ten Commandmentswas a testament to the increasing potential of cinema in the 1920s .

Legendary directors like Alfred Hitchcock , Yasujirō Ozu and William Wyler have all improved their own movies at the second effort , 10 by and by .

10Dr. Mabuse The Gambler (1922)

Directed by Fritz Lang

Dr. Mabuse The Gambler is a silent crime epos direct by Fritz Lang . Rudolf Klein - Rogge stars as Dr. Mabuse , a felonious brain who utilize disguise and handling to dominate Berlin ’s underworld . The film explores themes of controller and corruption in post - World War I Germany , blending elements of thriller and psychological drama . Its intricate plot and stylistic innovations make it a significant entry in early 20th - hundred cinema .

As one of the most iconic epithet in German expressionism , Fritz Lang maneuver some of the most influential movies of all meter , including his magnum opusMetropolisin 1927 . However , even over 100 years ago , he was at the forefront of filmmaking with his incredible two - part mystery thriller about the impish - criminalDr . Marbus , the Gambler . This darkly twisted tale of a vicious mastermind with powers of intellect control was a dead on target less in panache and substance that addressed the hyperinflation that had disseminated Germany in the aftermath of World War I.

9The Birth Of A Nation (1915)

Directed by D. W. Griffith

The Birth of a Nationwas one of themost controversial motion picture evermade for its racist depiction of African Americans as stupid sexual abusers of white women . This reprehensible and inflammatory content did not stop the film from being one of the most successful movies of all metre when conform for pompousness . Yet , despite the definitely outrageous aspects of this mum epic , The Birth of a Nationwas also an sinful slice of filmmakingwhose technical excellence laid the base for cinema to expand and better .

8Intolerance (1916)

D.W. Griffith ’s epic interweaves tales of human pitilessness across history : from warring junto in Babylon to the concluding days of Christ , mass murder in France under Catherine de Medici , and a wrongful article of faith in California .

The censorship that managing director D. W. Griffith faced for his previous celluloid , The Birth of a country , inhale him to explore the theme of prejudice in his succeed - up feature , Intolerance . This was yet another hitch de power of expert wonder as the three - and - a - half - hr heroic poem intercut between four parallel storylines taking topographic point from 539 BC right up to the twelvemonth 1914 . As a sprawl epic , Intolerancedid not have the same racial representation consequence viewers had with Griffiths ’s old filmand was another extraordinary accomplishment in the art of filmmaking that help inspire subsequent epics by later directors .

7The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1923)

Directed by Wallace Worsley

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame ( 1923 ) is a silent film address by Wallace Worsley , featuring Lon Chaney as Quasimodo , the misshapen bell - clone of Notre Dame Cathedral . position in fifteenth - century Paris , the story revolves around Quasimodo ’s devotion to the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda . The film is a authoritative adaptation of Victor Hugo ’s novel , praised for its elaborate solidification and Chaney ’s memorable execution .

As the most successful moving picture of 1923 ( viaVariety),The Hunchback of Notre Damewas a fantastic adaptation of Victor Hugo ’s iconic 1831 novel that featured an dumfounding performance by concealment legendLon Chaney as Quasimodo . Chaney utterly incarnate the horridly change shape occupant of Notre Dame Cathedral in the 15th century as director Wallace Worsley powerfully captured the sorrowful atmosphere of Paris in the past times . The Hunchback of Notre Damewas an telling small-arm of cinematic account that proved the eternal resonance of Hugo ’s classic sorrowful story .

6Häxan (1922)

Directed by Benjamin Christensen

Originally released in Sweden in 1922 , Häxan is a documentary film horror flick that explores Witchcraft through various one C across dissimilar continents , beginning with the Middle Ages .

The Swedish horrorHäxanblended documentary film and narrative styles to chart the historic roots of witchcraft as do by misunderstandings of mental or neurological disorder , which trigger mass hysterical neurosis . WhileHäxanwas widely censor for its graphic depicting of torment , nudity , and sexuality , it was also a striking advanced film that utilized a trailblazing , unique way and impressive visual imaging to produce a film unlike anything else from its fourth dimension . Asdirector Benjamin Christenensen ’s masterpiece , Häxanwas equal portion an academic survey around ancient fears , an data-based optic showcase , and a open up genre - bending groundbreaker .

Collage of Willow and Clash of the Titans

Scarlet Witch looking disappointed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

A Trip to the Moon, Charlie Chaplin as The Tramp in the Kid, and Buster Keaton in Sherlock Jr

Custom image by Ana Nieves.

The Astronomers Dream (1898) Georges Méliès

An astronomer falls asleep and has a strange dream involving a fairy queen and the Moon.

Cast Placeholder Image

An astronomer falls asleep and has a strange dream involving a fairy queen and the Moon.

The Great Train Robbery (1903) - Poster

The Great Train Robbery is a seminal 1903 silent film directed by Edwin S. Porter. Widely credited as one of the first American action films, it depicts a group of bandits executing a train robbery and subsequent getaway. Filmed in a dynamic narrative style, the film is notable for its innovative use of editing and cross-cutting techniques, laying the groundwork for future cinematic storytelling.

Oliver Twist (1922) - Poster

Oliver Twist is a silent film adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel. Directed by Frank Lloyd, the film stars Jackie Coogan as the titular orphan, who faces various hardships and encounters a cast of memorable characters, including Fagin, portrayed by Lon Chaney. The storyline follows Oliver’s journey from a workhouse to the streets of London, reflecting the themes of poverty and child exploitation central to Dickens' work.

A Woman of Paris_ A Drama of Fate (1923) - Poster

A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate is a silent drama directed by Charlie Chaplin featuring Edna Purviance as Marie St. Clair. The film tells the story of a woman who becomes involved with a wealthy bachelor while dealing with the emotional fallout from a past relationship. Revolutionary at the time for its straightforward and mature portrayal of complex romantic and social themes, it marked Chaplin’s pivot away from comedy.

Moses with a tablet in The Ten Commandments

Dr. Mabuse The Gambler (1922) - Poster

Dr. Mabuse The Gambler is a silent crime epic directed by Fritz Lang. Rudolf Klein-Rogge stars as Dr. Mabuse, a criminal mastermind who uses disguise and manipulation to dominate Berlin’s underworld. The film explores themes of control and corruption in post-World War I Germany, blending elements of thriller and psychological drama. Its intricate plot and stylistic innovations make it a significant entry in early 20th-century cinema.

Two characters from The Birth of a Nation

Intolerance Movie Poster

D.W. Griffith’s epic interweaves tales of human cruelty across history: from warring factions in Babylon to the final days of Christ, slaughter in France under Catherine de Medici, and a wrongful conviction in California.

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1923) - Poster

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1923) is a silent film directed by Wallace Worsley, featuring Lon Chaney as Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral. Set in 15th-century Paris, the story revolves around Quasimodo’s devotion to the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda. The film is a classic adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel, praised for its elaborate sets and Chaney’s memorable performance.

Haxan Movie Poster

Originally released in Sweden in 1922, Häxan is a documentary horror film that explores Witchcraft through various centuries across different continents, beginning with the Middle Ages.