Deaf activist signs for ASL preservation, fighting "oralism" in education.

Unlike traditional films that rely on spoken dialogue or title cards, Preservation of the Sign Language, a silent film from 1913 by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), uses American Sign Language (ASL) as its sole...

Smoker naps, meets enchanting fairies in dream. Magic & mayhem ensue, but reality bites.

While short and lighthearted, Princess Nicotine; or, The Smoke Fairy (1909), a brief silent film by J. Stuart Blackton, is innovative in its use of special effects. Audiences of 1909 marveled at the seemingl...

Orphan-turned-gangster Owen seeks redemption through love.

Regeneration, a 1915 silent film by Raoul Walsh, breaks free from the one-reel limitations prevalent at the time. Its five reels allowed for a more complex story, delving into the social and psychological factors that shape a criminal's ...

Parade thrills crowds in Indianapolis. Elephants, camels, & lions captivate onlookers.

The 1902 silent film Ringling Bros. Circus Parade offers a fascinating viewpoint into the earliest days of filmmaking. Though a short actuality film simply capturing a parade, it holds historical and cultural...

Rip Van Winkle sleeps 20 years, wakes to a changed world, and becomes a beloved storyteller.

While not as radically experimental as later works, Rip Van Winkle (1903) holds a significant place in the development of filmmaking as an art form. Though a straightforward adaptation of a story, the f...

Silent star climbs high for love & laughs. Iconic stunt. Daring & hilarious.

Safety Last! (1923), a silent comedy starring Harold Lloyd, incorporates elements that could considered as forerunners of experimental filmmaking. Lloyd's character constantly strives for upward mobility, both literally...

Salomé dances for King Herod, demanding Prophet's head as reward.

Salomé, a daring 1923 silent film directed by Charles Bryant and starring Alla Nazimova, adapts Oscar Wilde's play of the same name, but instead of a straightforward narrative, the film prioritizes visual spectacle and heightened...

A silent documentary showcasing the devastation of the 1906 disaster.

Produced shortly after the devastating earthquake and fire, San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, April 18 (1906) embodies the earliest spirit of experimental filmmaking.

While it documents the aftermath of the disaster, the fi...

Sewer cleaner & woman find love in Paris. War tears them apart, hope fades, but love endures.

While Seventh Heaven, a 1927 silent film directed by Frank Borzage, doesn't entirely break from narrative traditions, the film explores the possibilities of filmmaking in its use of sound and visual te...

Projectionist dreams of detective life, enters movie screen, solves clues, wins girl & fame.

Sherlock Jr., a 1924 silent comedy by Buster Keaton, follows a hapless projectionist who dreams of becoming a detective. The narrative takes a daring turn when he literally enters the world of the movie ...

Agent Grant battles smugglers, saves damsel, finds love. Wild West meets Grand Canyon adventure.

Directed by Lynn Reynolds and starring Tom Mix, Sky High (1922) blends classic Western tropes with surprising technological advancements for the time. Though cowboys and saloons remain central, Sky H...

A Black couple embraces, offering a rare & positive portrayal in early cinema.

Something Good (1898), a brief silent film by William Selig, clocks in at under 30 seconds and depicts a simple scene: a Black couple affectionately embracing and kissing. However, this very simplicity holds immense h...

Unlucky inventor's glass dream shatters, but a charming woman sees potential.

So's Your Old Man (1926) stars W.C. Fields as a hapless inventor whose schemes constantly backfire. This premise allows for a loose narrative structure, where physical comedy takes center stage. Slapstick routines and...

Son fights fate & father to escape brutal life with his love, but chivalry clashes with reality.

Stark Love, a maverick 1927 production directed by Karl Brown, stands out as an early experiment in cinematic realism. Unlike the Hollywood glamor of the era, Stark Love depicts the harsh realities o...

City slicker clashes with riverboat dad, wins love & saves all in hurricane chaos.

Buster Keaton, known for his deadpan expression and meticulously choreographed stunts, takes physical comedy to new heights in his 1928 silent comedy, Steamboat Bill, Jr.

The gags in Steamboat Bill, Jr. defy logi...

Farmer tempted by city woman plans wife's demise, but rediscovers love amidst urban chaos.

Sunrise, a 1927 silent film by German director F. W. Murnau, has earned its place as an experimental masterpiece. While the story of a farmer tempted by a seductive stranger is clear, Murnau's approach is ...

A poor family faces eviction by a wealthy landowner. A mistaken identity leads to tragedy.

Tess of the Storm Country (1914) was directed by Edwin S. Porter and features a melodrama about a young woman caught in a love triangle. However, Porter pushes the boundaries of storytelling through innova...

Outlaw Jim seeks redemption, striking a deal to capture another villain for freedom. Though a Western on the surface, The Bargain (1914) starring William S. Hart deviates from the typical hero-villain dichotomy.

Hart's character, Jim Stokes, is a complex outlaw seeking redemption. The film exp...

Boxing scam goes splat! Pie fight erupts, city in chaos. Laurel & Hardy caught in creamy mayhem.

While The Battle of the Century (1927), a silent slapstick masterpiece featuring Laurel and Hardy, retains a basic plot – a fixed boxing match gone wrong – its humor relies heavily on the subversion ...

Dapper vaudeville duo croon & crack wise, poking fun at love & life in early talkie gem.

The Beau Brummels (1928), a short film featuring the vaudeville duo of Al Shaw and Sam Lee, presents a unique blend of humor and form.

The film appears to be a straightforward comedy act. Shaw and Lee deliv...

Spoiled American joins WWI, faces horrors, finds love & loss, questioning war's purpose.

While The Big Parade, a 1925 silent war drama directed by King Vidor, doesn't stray far from a narrative structure, The Big Parade breaks new ground in its portrayal of WWI.

The film depicts the horrors of...

Controversial film glorifying KKK as heroes, vilifying African Americans, and fostering stereotypes.

While undeniably controversial for its racist narrative, The Birth of a Nation, D. W. Griffith's 1915 silent epic, represents a significant leap forward in filmmaking techniques and maintains its...

Nobleman avenges father, infiltrates crew, wins leadership, protects princess, finds love & justice.

Starring the swashbuckling Douglas Fairbanks, The Black Pirate (1926) by Albert Parker remains a swashbuckling adventure at its core. However, it breaks away from tradition through its ambitious ...

Two poor children embark on a magical quest guided by a fairy to find the bluebird of happiness.

The Blue Bird, a 1918 silent fantasy film directed by Maurice Tourneur, adapts and infuses a popular stage play with innovative techniques that bridge the gap between theatrical tradition and cinema...