Ella Cinders (1926)
In the National Film Registry
•
1h 27m
Cinderella wins contest, discovers lies, stays in Hollywood, becomes star through talent & love.
Not just a familiar Cinderella story, Ella Cinders (1926) has comedic energy driven by innovative visual gags. Director Alfred E. Green employs split-screens, rapid cuts, and distorted perspectives to create a sense of playful chaos, mirroring Ella's whirlwind journey.
Furthermore, the film cleverly interacts with the burgeoning film industry itself. The protagonist's quest for Hollywood stardom becomes a meta-narrative, blurring the lines between fiction and the emerging world of cinema. This self-awareness was a hallmark of early experimental films.
Ella Cinders also offers a unique glimpse into silent film acting. Star Colleen Moore's expressive face and use of pantomime convey humor and emotion with remarkable nuance. This focus on physical performance aligns with the experimentation silent film offered before the introduction of sound.
Ultimately, Ella Cinders entertains while subtly defying expectations. Its playful experimentation with form and narrative makes it a hidden gem in the history of both silent cinema and, dare we say, experimental film.
Up Next in In the National Film Registry
-
Fatty's Tintype Tangle (1915)
Henpecked hubby escapes, photo sparks jealous rage, chaos ensues to clear name.
Directed by and starring the legendary Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, Fatty's Tintype Tangle (1915) breaks away from simple slapstick with a narrative structure.
Fatty, a harried husband, escapes his overbearing wife and...
-
Flesh and the Devil (1926)
Childhood friends love same woman. Marriage, passion, betrayal. Fate intervenes, leaving scars.
Clarence Brown's silent drama, Flesh and the Devil (1926), is an exploration of unspoken desire. Greta Garbo's character, femme fatale Fédora, uses her captivating gaze and subtle gestures to convey a...
-
Foolish Wives (1922)
Monte Carlo conman seduces wives, but his web of lies traps him leading to his demise.
Erich von Stroheim's Foolish Wives (1922) stands as a monument to both ambition and struggle in the early days of Hollywood. While the finished film clocks in at a still-respectable length, it was originally ...
