Tag: Silent Movie

Feb 15 2017

Episode 87 – The Adventures of Prince Achmed

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The Adventures of Prince AchmedOn this episode, we take a look at the oldest existing feature length animated film – The Adventures of Prince Achmed.  Our friend Cetius joins us to discuss this silent film created using silhouette.  It is remarkable to watch the film and recognize how much influence it has had on cinema over the years.  We highly recommend taking a look at this film.  You won’t be disappointed!

Next up, we will take a look at another groundbreaking animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!

The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926)
The Adventures of Prince Achmed poster Rating: 7.8/10 (7,080 votes)
Director: Lotte Reiniger, Carl Koch
Writer: Lotte Reiniger
Stars: N/A
Runtime: 80 min
Rated: Not Rated
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Drama
Released: 20 Jun 1929
Plot: A handsome prince rides a flying horse to faraway lands and embarks on magical adventures, which include befriending a witch, meeting Aladdin, battling demons and falling in love with a princess.

Feb 15 2016

Episode 64 – The Phantom of the Opera

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Phantom of the OperaOne episode later than promised, we watch the 1925/1929 version of The Phantom of the Opera!  Why do we list two dates?  You’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out!  Not only do we discuss this fine silent film, Tim also spends a not insignificant amount of time ranting about the 2004 musical.  If you happened to like the 2004 musical, you may want to skip past that part of the podcast because he will destroy your dreams.  Aside from Tim’s epic hatred of the musical, we do talk about some of the color processing involved in the film, Lon Chaney’s makeup, and a lot of other things that involve the film we actually watched.

Our next film will be La Belle et la Bette!

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
The Phantom of the Opera poster Rating: 7.5/10 (20,671 votes)
Director: Rupert Julian, Lon Chaney, Ernst Laemmle
Writer: Gaston Leroux, Walter Anthony, Elliott J. Clawson
Stars: Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry
Runtime: 93 min
Rated: Passed
Genre: Horror
Released: 15 Nov 1925
Plot: A mad, disfigured composer seeks love with a lovely young opera singer.

Dec 01 2015

Episode 59 – Safety Last!

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Safety LastWe’ve been watching a lot of recent movies lately so for this episode, we slid all the way back to the silent film era and comedy legend Harold Lloyd!  Lloyd is the third of the great solo silent comedians.  We’ve already taken a look at Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin and, like most people, we’ve passed over Lloyd until now.  Safety Last is his best known work. The film is engaging and, notably, Tim’s eleven-year-old son was completely enthralled by the film when we watched it.  Even though it involves a set piece with a clock, this is a movie that is truly timeless.

Our next movie will be Hugo!

Safety Last! (1923)
Safety Last! poster Rating: 8.1/10 (23,503 votes)
Director: Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam Taylor
Writer: Hal Roach, Sam Taylor, Tim Whelan
Stars: Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, Bill Strother
Runtime: 74 min
Rated: Not Rated
Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller
Released: 01 Apr 1923
Plot: A boy leaves his small country town and heads to the big city to get a job. As soon as he makes it big his sweetheart will join him and marry him. His enthusiasm to get ahead leads to some interesting adventures.

Aug 01 2014

Episode 28 – Metropolis

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MetropolisOur newest installment was once again recorded live at the Trylon microcinema in Minneapolis!  We watched Metropolis with live accompaniment from Fugitive.  Jena was treated to what many would consider the first true Science Fiction film with original music composed specially for the showing! A sold out house joined us for a great experience and many of them stayed behind to discuss the film.  It was a great discussion cut short only because we wanted to make sure the folks at the Trylon could go home.

Please note that part one of the episode was recorded outside and part two was recorded inside the theater with audience interaction.  We apologize if anything is difficult to hear.

The break music is “Desruction” by Loverboy.  It comes from the Moroder soundtrack.

Our August 15th episode will be a discussion of Tim Burton’s Ed Wood!

Metropolis (1927)
Metropolis poster Rating: 8.3/10 (190,808 votes)
Director: Fritz Lang
Writer: Thea von Harbou, Fritz Lang
Stars: Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel, Gustav Fröhlich
Runtime: 153 min
Rated: Not Rated
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi
Released: 13 Mar 1927
Plot: In a futuristic city sharply divided between the working class and the city planners, the son of the city's mastermind falls in love with a working-class prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences.

Jul 15 2014

Episode 27 – The General

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The GeneralJuly is silent film month at A Reel Education!  For our newest episode, we had Jena watch Buster Keaton’s best known work – The General!  Not only was this our first Buster Keaton film, it was our first trip into the world of silent film.  We talk a lot about how the musical accompaniment changes the experience of watching one of these films.

Speaking of silent films and musical accompaniment, our next episode will be recorded live at the Trylon theater on July 20th!  We’ll be watching Metropolis with a live band!

The General (1926)
The General poster Rating: 8.1/10 (101,287 votes)
Director: Clyde Bruckman, Buster Keaton
Writer: Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman, Al Boasberg
Stars: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Glen Cavender
Runtime: 78 min
Rated: Passed
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Released: 02 Jan 1927
Plot: After being rejected by the Confederate military, not realizing it was due to his crucial civilian role, an engineer must single-handedly recapture his beloved locomotive after it is seized by Union spies and return it through ene...