Silent Movies | Hollywood Yesterday

Fay Wray and Gary Cooper, The Legion of the Condemned

September 22, 2022 By Joi

Fay Wray and Gary Cooper

The Legion of the Condemned (1928) is, sadly, a lost film. The silent drama was directed by William A. Wellman and the cast included Fay Wray, Gary Cooper, and Barry Norton. While I save words such as “tragic” for the loss of human life, it is an especially sad thing that the work of director William A. Wellman, the writers, the crew, and the cast can’t be enjoyed and appreciated by film fans.

Of course, there’s always hope that a copy will be found in someone’s attic, basement, hope chest, or even storage unity. Wouldn’t that be amazing?! Imagine, being able to see a film that had been lost for so long?

Almost too wonderful to think about!

Clara Bow and Clive Brook in Hula (1927)

February 1, 2022 By Joi

Clara Bow and Clive Brook in Hula

Clara Bow and Clive Brook star in the 1927 romantic drama Hula (directed by Victor Fleming). Lovely Clara plays Hula, the daughter of a Hawaiian pineapple plantation owner who sets her sights on a married English engineer, played by Clive Brook.

Clara and Clive (sounds like great names for twin babies) have wonderful chemistry but apparently she had even more with director Victor Fleming as they were reportedly involved for a few months.

Clara Bow is an uncommonly fascinating star to read about… she was one in a billion and one and about as bold as they come. I highly recommend you get to know her better!

Clara Bow Biography by David Stenn:

Clara Bow: Runnin’ Wild

Clara Bow as Hula in the Movie of the Same Name

Clara Bow: It Lobby Cards

January 21, 2021 By Joi

Clara Bow

Clara Bow was a wonderfully beautiful, colorful, charismatic, and talented star. While I’m forever grateful that we still have access to existing Clara Bow films, I feel so much frustration for the ones that are lost. It’s a frustration silent movie fans never completely escape.

Fortunately, one of Clara’s most popular movies (one she’s pretty synonymous with, actually) is still very much with us. You can find It (link to the dvd on Amazon) online – unfortunately it isn’t available on Prime Video. Hopefully, in the near future more silents will be available.

Beautiful Clara Bow, Wings Promotional Photo

November 20, 2020 By Joi

Clara Bow, Wings

Wings (1927) was the very first winner of the category of Best Picture (then called “Best Production”) at the VERY 1st Annual Academy Awards on May 16, 1929.

The historical film was lost for decades until a copy was discovered in the Cinematheque Francaise film archive in Paris, France. This is why those of us who grieve over lost movies still hold on to hope – happy endings sometimes actually happen!

Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davis, Haunted Spooks Lobby Cards

October 20, 2020 By Joi

Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davis, Haunted Spooks

Shortly after making the 1920 silent short film Haunted Spooks, the film’s stars, Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davis, were married. It was a union that STUCK, as they were husband and wife until her death in 1969.

In far less upbeat news, Harold Lloyd had a horrible injury to his hand while making Haunted Spooks. While posing for publicity photos, a prop bomb exploded in his hand. His face was badly burned and he was temporarily blinded. Even worse, he lost two fingers due to the horrific accident.

In future films, he is always seen wearing a prosthetic glove on his injured hand.

In spite of this, however, he (remarkably!) always insisted on doing his own stunts.

Clara Bow and the Cast of the Lost Silent Film Wine

September 30, 2020 By Joi

Clara Bow, Robert Agnew, and the Cast of Wine

As I’ve bemoaned before, it is incredibly frustrating when you come across films for favorite stars that are now considered “lost.” It happens fairly often with really early silent films and it always feels like a punch in the spleen.

I want to see them all!

Wine (1924) is one of the Clara Bow films listed as lost. When I look at the promotional photos (here are a few more), it drives me nuts… I want to see this one! Seriously, look at the pictures here… what could be going on?

Clara Bow, Robert Agnew, and Others from Wine

Louise Brooks, The American Venus (1926)

September 29, 2020 By Joi

Louise Brooks, The American Venus

Today’s picture of the day is a lovely silent film actress who has bolted into my list of favorite silent film era stars – Louise Brooks. I have, admittedly, always gravitated to movies starring Buster Keaton, Clara Bow, Mary Pickford, Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, and Charlie Chaplin (long-time favorites)… but recently I branched out and discovered just how magical Louise Brooks was.

That’s the glorious thing about branching out… you never know what wonderful new favorites you’ll discover!

This gorgeous photo is from the 1926 silent movie The American Venus.

Louise Brooks

Clara Bow in Wine (1924)

September 12, 2020 By Joi

Clara Bow, Wine (1924)

One of the most frustrating things about loving silent films is living with the fact that so many of them are now lost. When you love so many of the stars from this era, you can’t help but feel that you’ve lost something precious. My personal favorite silent era stars are Clara Bow, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Georgia Hale, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and Mary Pickford. I want to see everything they ever did!

Wine (1924) is one of the Clara Bow films listed as lost. The promotional photos make me even more anxious to see it!

Clara Bow and Robert Agnew, Wine

Louise Brooks: Pandora’s Box

September 10, 2020 By Joi

Louise Brooks

Today’s pictures of the day are of the lovely Louise Brooks from the silent film Pandora’s Box (1929). The original title was Die Büchse der Pandora.

Although they were very different actresses, I often think of Clara Bow and Louise Brooks along the same lines. Both were similarly beautiful and highly unique. People often tend to prefer one over the other (much as they do Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin), but… as far as I’m concerned… it’s best to just love them all!

If you aren’t familiar with Louise Brooks, I hope you’ll look up her films (a special edition of Pandora’s Box is available on dvd on Amazon). She truly was a remarkable actress with a “reach up and grab you by the lapels” screen presence.

Louise Brooks

Paulette Goddard and Charlie Chaplin: The Closing Shot of Modern Times

September 9, 2020 By Joi

Paulette Goddard and Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times

Modern Times – written and directed by Charlie Chaplin – is one of the cutest, most entertaining silent films ever made, in my opinion. The film stars the great Charlie Chaplin and the equally wonderful Paulette Goddard.

This was actually meant to be Charles Chaplin’s first talkie. He even went as far as writing a script (with dialogue) and experimented with sound. However, because the film was going to feature Charlie Chaplin’s much-loved Little Tramp character, a silent film made much more sense – sound seemed inappropriate for the little guy!

I think they made the ABSOLUTE right decision – even though the film was made in 1936, it needed to be a silent.

You know a film is extra special when even an unplanned moment shows up in the final scene’s screenshot. The photo above is beautiful for many reasons – it’s, frankly, just a gorgeous shot. For those of us who watch and love Charlie Chaplin, we see it as “vintage Chaplin.” He had an eye for the grand scheme of things and the beauty of this shot and moment is just what one comes to expect from the genius.

I love the way they’re walking off – side by side into the wide open world, a world of possibilities, adventures, and hope. I love how he is there, in all of his adorable Tramp splendor, with a trusting and lovely lady by his side. I love the contrast of their hats and that his crazy shoes are pointing in opposite directions!

There’s something extra special if you look closely enough (something I excel at – I swear, I stare at and mentally dissect every old Hollywood photo in existence!). See the shadow on the ground of the Little Tramp’s bag?

The shape of a heart.

When loveliness happens by happenstance, you know you’re into something magical

If you’ve never seen Modern Times, I hope you’ll make a point of seeing it soon. These two stars are outstanding and downright delightful in every way – especially together. You can order the Modern Times (Amazon link) dvd on Amazon or watch it now on Prime Video.