Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 15, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 15, 2014 in Blog, GIF, Humor Clara Bow gives a not-so-fond farewell to her castmates in the poverty row potboiler Parisian Love. As was the case in so many of her early films, the plot is thin but Clara sparkles. If you ever have to...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 14, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 14, 2014 in Video Review 2 Welcome to my second-ever video review! This time, I am sharing Barbed Wire, a beautiful silent drama starring Pola Negri. She’s a French farmer. He’s a German soldier. Her farm has been converted into a POW camp. Not the...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 13, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 13, 2014 in Blog, Books We are used to tie-in novels as part of the inevitable marketing campaigns that accompany films and movies nowadays. However, silent films had their own tie-ins and we are going to look at a special one. Judex is called a...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 12, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 12, 2014 in Blog, GIF, Humor Lupino Lane once more delights with his cute physical comedy. In this case, he helps himself into a theater box with a judicious yank on the seat of his pants. This is from Only Me, a delightful comedy short...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 11, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 11, 2014 in Blog, Fun Size Review John Barrymore is the famous lover who likes his ladies in both quality and quantity. He genuinely falls for Mary Astor’s virginal damsel and ends up incurring the wrath of the Borgias. The costumes are a visual banquet...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 10, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 10, 2014 in Video Every silent movie fan has an obscure comedian they have taken a shine to. Mine is Clyde Cook. He is best known for providing comic relief in big films like Barbed Wire, The Docks of New York and The Winning of...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 9, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 9, 2014 in Blog, Silent Movie Review In a noirish narrative of guilt, conscience and self-absorption, Cecil B. DeMille takes us into the head of Raymond Hatton’s embezzler. Terrified of being caught, he manages to fake his own death but the long arm of the...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 8, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 8, 2014 in Blog, GIF, Humor In the 1923 marital comedy, Adam’s Rib, Anna Q. Nilsson is trying to step out on Milton Sills with Theodore Kosloff (for goodness sake, why?) but she has been given away when a string of beading catches on his...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 8, 2014

This is my contribution to the 31 Days of Oscar Blogathon hosted by Once Upon a Screen, Paula’s Cinema Club and Outspoken and Freckled. Be sure to check out the other wonderful contributions. On May 16, 1929, the very first Academy Awards were handed it. Not yet called the Oscars,...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 7, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 7, 2014 in Blog, Fun Size Review It’s the story of an impoverished teen, a kindly minister, gossipy neighbors and a $10 hat. Griffith spins an alluring confection of small town America that both satirizes and celebrates the culture. Lionel Barrymore and Mary Pickf   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 6, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 6, 2014 in Video Review 13 Here it is! My very first video review. It’s been in the works for six months and I am delighted to be finally unveiling it. I am covering one of the most famous (and kitschiest) silent films ever made,...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 5, 2014

At what school did you learn to be a detective, Holmes? Elementary, my dear Watson, elementary. It’s time for some updates! First, let’s talk about the blogathons. I am participating in the 31 Days of Oscar Blogathon hosted by Once Upon a Screen, Outspoken & Freckled and Paula&#8217   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 5, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 5, 2014 in Blog, GIF, Humor Nell Shipman is absolutely adorable in Back to God’s Country and I have the GIF to prove it! Just look at her reaction to her husband (Wheeler Oakman) when he doesn’t pay enough attention to her. A well-placed noogie...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 4, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 4, 2014 in Blog, GIF, Humor You see, officer, there was this guy in a lion suit. I had not choice but to attack him! He kept patting the flank of my scarecrow costume… Why are you arresting me? Random threats of violence. Yet another...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 3, 2014

Red Hot Romance (1922) Status: Fragments survive in the Library of Congress Today, I will be featuring a forgotten film that is most notable for who was behind the camera. Victor “Gone With the Wind and Wizard of Oz” Fleming directed. Anita Loos and John Emerson wrote the script. The...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 2, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 2, 2014 in Blog, Theme Month On February 17, 1914, motion picture audiences were presented with both a new movie company (the future Paramount Pictures) and a new director, Cecil B. DeMille. The centenary of this debut is a cause for celebration and everyone is...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 2, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on February 2, 2014 in Blog, Silent Movie Review Cecil B. DeMille takes another stab at the domestic comedy– this time with cavemen thrown in for good measure. The tale concerns married couple on the shady side of thirty. Their union seems doomed when the wife starts...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on February 1, 2014

It’s a cliche that bears repeating: Silent films were not really silent. Music remains an essential aspect of the silent movie experience and a great score will elevate any film it accompanies. Donald Sosin has been creating silent movie music since 1971 and his work can be found on dozens...   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on January 31, 2014

By Fritzi Kramer on January 31, 2014 in Blog, GIF, Humor I love this title card. I wish I could find an excuse to say it in the real world. While making a sweeping gesture and looking dramatically at the rafters, of course. It’s from A Romance of the Redwoods....   read more

Movies Silently Posted by Fritzi Kramer on January 31, 2014

Well, it has been an excited event but all good things must end. Here she is, the champion of the Silent Leading Ladies Tournament: I am so happy that Pola emerged the winner. She has become something of a cause on this site, I continue to be more and more...   read more