Hollywood: A Celebration of the American Silent Film - 01 The Pioneers

[TheGhosthunter77777]

Silent ladies were hot, but the guys were such fags!

[ledrotten]

This series was done just in time ,while so many of its legends were still available to lend their experiances before they would have been lost to us all forever. I remember another great series very similar around the mid eighties , known as " The Amazing Years of Cinama " ,l've yet to find any copies of that series floating around ,it would be great if someone were to post that series...

[ledrotten]

It seems,since its inception ,the medium has been undergoing a constant evolution,and its amazing to see which of the art forms DNA survives to this day ,and which has been replaced by different technologys ,like sound ,and optical trickery,first done within the camera ,too todays CGI. Also the many imaginative craftmen ,who've made so many intracate controbutions . As a DP freind of mine , Mr. Richard E Brooks ,used to be fond of saying to me " It's Motion Picture History "

[ledrotten]

This was such a wonderfully informative experiance .Being an over 30 year in the busness veteran of the industry,l really appreciated all the little tidbits of information l picked ,like forinstance ,the discovery of reflected light by Billy Bitzer and D.W.Griffith over lunch ,or or the painted glass black matte glass for the double expssed kiss.In this modern era of the motion picture,it helped me see , and rexamine ,the many transitions the industrey has regularly undergone since its beginings

[mecormany]

I'm just going to add to the thanks, BentoJoaoAntonio. I too remember watching these with delight and awe 30+ years ago. Had the book which was gorgeous. Mucho thanks to you and a big question to youtube about part 10 -- What the hey??

But 12 hours is still a wonderful gift. thanks again.

[The911Shaman]

I still have the tie-in book to this series. I was glued to the TV set watching it on Ch. 9 WOR in NYC.

There was a similar show on PBS (in the late 70's early 80's perhaps) hosted by an African woman on the history of old Hollywood.

[DefinitiveConor]

5:20 what is that film with all the fire and the kid?

[TakersMissy]

WOW! What a treasure trove this is; so glad I 'stumbled' across it!! Thank you so much for posting the series; I'm a big silent movie fan and always glad to learn more! Thank goodness, too, that these priceless interviews were done when they were; I'm sure most people interviewed then (1979-1980?) are gone now. But they'll live forever in the movies and will be appreciated after WE are gone. :-)

[TheElainelennon]

This is just such a boon to a film student: I haven't laid eyes on this series since it was first broadcast and I am thrilled to find it online. Thank you.

[CristinaFernandez]

A good film, though if it was made today it would probably mention a few of D.W. Griffith's antecedents like Giovanni Pastrone and his Cabiria - many developments we attribute to Griffith were done by Pastrone first (not to take anything away from a guy as brilliant as Griffith, though).

[NeelieLyn]

Thanks so much for uploading this series. Not sure it was ever shown on US television and the videos/dvd are hard to impossible to find. I'm going to watch all.

[hornybodhisattva]

mmmm sweet delicious buttermilk butt! grrrrr

[giles422]

spectacular upload. So grateful. Thanks, keep up the good work.

All cinephiles salute you.

[blowskiol]

@giles422 I salute this upload as well!

[born3651]

I am indebted to you BentoJoaoAntonio, I can't thank you enough for uploading this series. How did you happen to come by them in the first place?

[lanpingpug]

What was the storyline of "The Wind"? Gish looks positively scary!

[AntiqueAngel44]

@lanpingpug

I really didn’t get the whole plot point of the movie; but you’re right she did look rather frightening in some senses, especially when she made that wide eyed facial expression.

[KevinByrne2]

@lanpingpug -- Lillian Gish lives on an isolated cattle ranch, where the wind blows incessantly. The man whom she shoots, has repeatedly tried to force himself on her. Finally, driven almost mad by the isolation and his harassment, she shoots him when he tries again. She buries him, but then she imagines that he's crawling out of his grave. When her husband returns, she at first imagines that he's the dead man.

[easlesonavon]

@KevinByrne2 This movie is horrifying.  I saw it about 5 years ago and remember it like it was yesterday.

[AntiqueAngel44]

Hey I just watched “The Wind”! : D

[JW2095]

Excellent series but I cant find episodes 10,11,12 & 13 have they been uploaded

[JRudyLove]

TY so much for these posts! You rock my friend!! thumbs up & new sub here

Marie

[jvreeland87]

Thank you SO much for these! More, please!! <3

[joedgillis]

with the advent of sound film lost a language rather than gain one. i never quite got that until i watched this. lillian gish puts it so well. i think gloria swanson illustrates this point in that great scene in sunset boulevard where she takes off her sunglasses for the first time and the music changes. its as if she had kept some silent movie alchemy behind those glasses and once she removes them the audience is caught.how far could film have devoloped without sound? that is interesting.

[redapplescruff]

THANK YOU! I really wish this were available on DVD. Kevin Brownlow's honorary Oscar reminded me of this amazing series.

[joedgillis]

this documentary series had me glued to the tv as a kid. havent seen it since . it was made at such a good time capturing interviews with so many pioneers who would soon pass away.

[BentoJoaoAntonio]

@joedgillis You are right ... Unfortunately, these documentaries are forgotten and are difficult to be released on DVD, because many respondents are, and how many have died, it is difficult to find relatives to get permission from the copyright ...

[snowpatroler99]

@BentoJoaoAntonio Could you please post more of this series. I have seen episodes 1-3 and have to say it absolutely magical. Please post more. Thank you.

[damienrecords]

@joedgillis So true, every word. I too was glued to the screen. And those papererback books, whatever became of ... you could find the stars and write them and they would eagerly and graciously answer ... so cool. All gone now.

[cunningsophie]

@joedgillis As a Scot in love with silent film,this is superb!

[joedgillis]

this is one of the best ever documentary series ever !

[zipperhead10]

Thanks for uploading this episode of Hollywood: A Celebration of American Silent Cinema. Here's hoping that you upload the other episodes in this definitive series on the early origins of film. We can only wish that this series will someday be released on DVD or BlueRay.

[BentoJoaoAntonio]

@zipperhead10 Do not worry, I'll be posting one every week ...

I think the DVD release of them is the desire of all moviegoers who know these documentaries ...

Thanks for commenting. ;)

[DavidMcCann995]

Excellent. Thank you!

[BentoJoaoAntonio]

@DavidMcCann995 You're Welcome! ;)