Silent Era Movies Ranked

1930's >>

Watching silent movies is interesting.  The visual effects that we take for granted were actually conceived pretty early in the game.  It’s surprising how much was done before something as basic as sound effects.  It’s interesting to see how the actors told the story without the benefit of dialogue, and intertitles were used sparingly.  Still, silent films lack the dialogue that is part of why I love movies.

7. Battleship Potemkin

1925

D: Sergei Eisenstein

**********

Excellent and revolutionary cinematography, but it really is sullied by its own propaganda.

6. Nosferatu

1922

D: F.W. Murmau

**********

Although I’m sure this was a very scary movie in the day, I can’t really be creeped out that much by it.  Max Schreck is great in it, and it has some clever visual effects.  I thought the score was atmospheric, but it got inappropriately loud during the tense moments.  I still haven’t seen a movie that does full justice to the book.

5. The Man Who Laughs

1928

D: Paul Leni

**********

Conrad Veidt is great in this role, and his makeup is memorable.  This design was the inspiration for the Joker, and if you look at the earlier artwork of the Joker, you can really tell.  Also has some good performances from some quirky actors.

4. Metropolis

1927

D: Fritz Lang

**********

Amazing visuals and a compelling story.  The effects actually hold up well.

3. The General

1926

D: Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman

**********

Great visual humor and performance by Buster Keaton.

2. A Trip to the Moon

1902

D: Georges Melies

**********

Amazing visuals for the time period.  It’s almost unbelievable that it came out so early.  Also has a sense of humor, too.

1. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

1920

D: Robert Wiene

**********

Introduced many narrative tools we take for granted, like the twist ending.  The expressionist visuals are great and the movie really holds up.





 1930's >>