Please indulge me one more blog about movies and then I’ll go on to something else—at least for a while.
Although I enjoy classic moves, silent films seemed a bit too “classic” for my taste. That, however, may be changing.
I’ve only seen three silent films (that I can remember, anyway) and each one was more enjoyable than the former.
The first is “Modern Times” (1936) written, directed, and staring Charlie Chaplin. It is clever, entertaining, and funny. Plus I will never look at square buttons the same way again.
The second is The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928). It used detailed historic documents about Joan’s trail and subsequent execution (hope I didn’t ruin the ending) and portrays a gripping account of the injustice heaped upon this heroic person. Labeled as one of the greatest films of all times, it has a colorful history. After the first cut was destroyed in a fire, the director made a second version from alternate takes. When it too was destroyed in a fire, it was thought to be forever lost. However, a copy of the original was amazingly found—in good condition—in 1981. The film is haunting, compelling, and unforgettable.
The third and most enjoyable is The General (1927), directed by and starring Buster Keaton. I have often heard the name Buster Keaton and the word genius in the same sentence. After seeing this film, I know why. I plan on there being many more Buster Keaton movies in my future viewing.
And in case you are wondering, all three are available from Netflix!
Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book The Successful Author for insider tips and insights.