Favorite silent movie stars
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spiderwort — 9 years ago(March 17, 2017 01:13 AM)
Female:
Lillian Gish
Maria Falconetti
Greta Garbo
Janet Gaynor
Clara Bow
(I don't remember seeing Theda Bara, but I think she would probably be on the list if I had.)
Male:
Charlie Chaplin
Buster Keaton
Emil Jannings
Lon Chaney
John Gilbert
William Powell -
spiderwort — 7 years ago(May 22, 2018 03:22 PM)
Couldn't agree more. Keaton was a giant, right up there with Chaplin in terms of his extraordinary skills - acting, producing, writing, and directing.
His directorial genius in
The General
(1927) (shared with Clyde Bruckman; tragic story, that one) is rather breathtaking, especially for an art that was still in its infancy. -
spiderwort — 7 years ago(May 26, 2018 01:00 PM)
Two names for me to ponder: Fritz Rasp, and Eric Campbell. I know their films, but can't find pictures of them, so I'm not sure who they are. I look forward to discovering that.
And I just wanted to comment on Mabel Normand. She's of great interest to me because of her history before Hollywood and while in Hollywood. You seem to be highly educated in classic films, so you probably know this. But for those who don't, here's just a bit of her story, forgoing the well-known scandals:
Before she came to Hollywood she worked at the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch in Bliss, Oklahoma, performing in their Wild West show, along with Will Rogers, Tom Mix, Buck Rogers and others. A bit later she began appearing in films they made through their Bison film company in California, which got her to Hollywood.
And once in Hollywood, she became not only a star, one of the most successful and popular of the early silent screen comediennes, but was also a pioneering female writer and director.
Mabel's Blunder
(1914), is a good example of one that she wrote, directed and starred in.
All things considered, I find it so fascinating that this New York born silent star first performed in an Oklahoma Wild West Show before finding her way to Hollywood. I've always felt that her life story is a good film waiting to be made. -
spiderwort — 7 years ago(May 27, 2018 11:24 PM)
Oh, thank you, mike! Yes, I know these faces (especially Campbell), and now I know their names. Campbell had such a unique face. He almost upstages Chaplin at times - and, honestly, who can do that? I remember Rasp primarily from
Metropolis
, but I know I've seen him other films, too; titles, who knows? Thanks again for filling in the blanks. -
spiderwort — 6 years ago(August 23, 2019 10:17 PM)
You know, I've spent my entire long life watching and making films, but for whatever reason I never experienced the Harold Lloyd phenonemon. I've always regretted that. I've seen clips, but not entire films. When I think of him, I see him hanging from that clock. Shame on me.
Can you recommend a particular film that I should use to introduce myself to him and his acknowledged genius? -
spiderwort — 6 years ago(August 23, 2019 10:28 PM)
Oh, yes! His death stopped the world. The next time that happened was with James Dean.
That said, I'm not really familiar with his work. In fact, I don't think I've seen one of his films, only clips. I need to remedy that one of these days. Same with Ramon Navarro.
