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

Episode 1 of 13.

Download Links:
http://rapidshare.com/files/384506096/01-_The_Pioneers.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/384649407/01-_The_Pioneers.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/384728079/01-_The_Pioneers.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/385530052/01-_The_Pioneers.part4.rar

Here is the definitive video history of the art of the American silent film. This 13-episode documentary was literally produced in the nick of time, as many of those interviewed would be deceased in a few short years - their wonderful memories lost forever.
Produced in 1980 for Thames Television, this is certainly one of the crowning achievements of the British team of Kevin Brownlow & David Gill, who together have done so much to preserve not only the history of silent cinema, but also the actual films themselves.
The one great lesson of the series is that non-talking films were a distinct art form, complete & satisfying, which had developed a universal language, understood everywhere, through the perfected medium of mime. This was all swept away with the arrival of Talk. So complete was the dismissal of silent films (which were never really silent) that within a short period of time they would be disparaged as intrinsically valueless & technically inferior.
As HOLLYWOOD triumphantly shows, nothing could have been further from the truth. Films of enormous expertise & intense emotional impact were almost routinely created by the pioneers who were perfecting their new invention. The achievements of Silent Cinema's 35 years constitute a new cultural renaissance.
Episodes focus on such topics as Westerns, comedies, war films, stunts, camera techniques & scandals. Not only do we hear from such luminaries as Lillian Gish, Gloria Swanson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. & even John Wayne, but we are also enchanted by the recollections of Viola Dana, Leatrice Joy, Bessie Love, Colleen Moore & Blanche Sweet, performers in danger of obscurement due to the fact that their careers were so very long ago and their films are largely unavailable or lost. Hearing Miss Dana discuss the death of the stunt pilot she loved, or Miss Joy recollecting a tender note from husband John Gilbert, or Miss Moore hilariously describing her voice lessons when talkies arrived, is to inculcate real human personalities into what would otherwise be only historical footnotes.
A parade of directors, cameramen, stunt men & theater musicians also reminisce, as do writer Adela Rogers St. Johns & choreographer Agnes de Mille, who between them seem to have been everywhere & known everyone. Even Lord Louis Mountbatten recalls his memories of halcyon days at Pickfair.
While some fans may not want to have all the mysteries revealed as to how Douglas Fairbanks & Harold Lloyd achieved some of their most famous stunts, it is still fascinating information and detracts not a whit from the stars' prestige. It is rather sad, however, to see such stars as John Gilbert, Roscoe Arbuckle, James Murray & Ramon Novarro in their prime, with the knowledge of what Fate had in store for them...
Fans of HOLLYWOOD will be pleased to know that in the decades that have passed since its production many of the silent films it highlights have been fully restored and show now to much greater advantage that the rather faded appearance they make in the documentary.
Much appreciation must go to two men whose contributions go very far in contributing to the success of the series. Carl Davis provides a wonderfully evocative score for HOLLYWOOD, his use of traditional tunes & his own lilting melodies a splendid match for what is taking place on screen. James Mason's narration is absolutely perfect - his rich voice, so warm & intimate, ironically proving that there is a place for talking pictures after all.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Hollywood
• Celebration
• of
• the
• American
• Silent
• Film
• documentary

[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 ...

[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! ;)

[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).