Tag Archives: Silent Cinema

393. City Lights

Four years after the advent of sound in cinema, Charlie Chaplin insisted on making a silent movie the entire plot for which hinged on not being able to see.

376. The Passion of Joan of Arc

In Carl Theodor Dreyer’s silent masterpiece, the story isn’t so much told through the Saint’s eyes as it is read on her face.

340. Mon Oncle

Writing, producing, directing and starring in his own films Jacques Tati was a true auteur, influencing the likes of David Lynch, Tim Burton and Wes Anderson.

250. Slow-Motion

Once considered avant-garde, slow-motion is now the mainstay of every action film. Here are some of the best and most innovative uses of the technique.

215. Great Scenes – Part One

What makes for a great scene? Performance? Conflict? Dialogue? Visuals? Music? Combine them and you have atomic weight.

171. Three Days of the Condor

Adapting James Grady’s straight forward thriller, Sydney Pollack delivered a commentary on dehumanising institutions.

98. Peter Weir – Master and Commander

Peter Weir: 6 Oscar nominations, no wins. No other living director has been so denied the statuette. Does it matter?

Alien

This video-essay on Ridley Scott’s Alien examines the origins of horror and science-fiction and uses them to illustrate the disparate themes, ideas and influences that came to bear on the film’s creation.


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