The Silent Film Era
The Silent Film Era
An essay on the Era that came before sound films.
Silent film is the beginning of motion picture studios, with text screens and crafty miming. "Lillian make sure you tell Mr. Griffith you're on the set!" "Make sure the magic lantern is burning brightly!" "Where is the Tramp?" All of these questions shall be answered in due time, for now we start with the beginning of technology in cinema before cinema.
The technology behind the film era in the very beginning was called a thaumatrope which was introduced into society in the 19th century, an object which had two pictures on both sides of the device was twirled to reveal a whole new picture through a process of the brain called persistence of vision. In earlier film days,
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Chaplin became a worldwide icon through his screen persona "The Tramp" and is considered one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry. His career spanned more than 75 years, from childhood in the Victorian Era until a year before his death in 1977, and encompassed both adulation and controversy. The controversy was notably realized in the role he played as Adolf Hitler in "The Great Dictator" in which he was accused as a communist sympathizer when he was simply satirizing the man! Chaplin was a man of poverty and hardship when he was young and at the age of 14 in London, he witnessed his mother being dragged off to a mental institution. Charlie was a genius when it came to slapstick and pathos which made his films especially iconic. His films are known for storylines concerning social and political themes where his characters struggle with adversity. In the film "In the Pawn Shop" Charlie plays a gentleman who is a new employee at a local pawn shop. A silent funny at the least it is quite the interesting film from personal viewing. Anna May Wong was the first Chinese American movie star to be recognized as a great actress. From "Daughter of the Dragon" to "Shanghai Express" she is quite the beauty queen. Another actress of non American birth to rise to stardom is Vilma Bánky. Who was an actress from Hungary, spreading from Budapest all the way to France. Known for being the damsel in distress in "The Son of The Sheikh" or being the lead lady in "The Winning of Barbara Worth" she is quite the resilient
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