Silent Movie Magic in Theaters

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Even for film students who are constantly exposed to movies, silent films can be daunting. But some of the most entertaining and thought-provoking films ever made are, in fact, silent. Check out these upcoming silent film screenings—you may be surprised how little you miss the sound of dialogue and explosions.

“Cabiria” (MoMA, Nov. 11th-13th)

Some of the most epic films ever made come from the Silent Era, starting with this Italian gem from 1914. “Cabiria” is a lavish production with the biggest sets, best special effects, and most extras available at the time it was made. Set during Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome, “Cabiria’s” epic battles and strong story define the word “spectacle”.

Slapstick Show-Biz (Arclight Theater, Nov. 8th)

If there’s something from the silent film universe that anyone can appreciate, it’s the Silent Clowns. As part of their annual series, Model and film historians Bruce Lawton and Steve Massa will be showing off the famous talents of silent film stars who began performing on the vaudeville stage. Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Lupino Lane can be a lot funnier with just a reaction shot than Vince Vaughn can be with a whole hour of dialogue.

“Intolerance,” (MoMA, Nov 25th and 27th)

Anyone who has taken a film class has probably heard of D.W. Griffith’s “The Birth of a Nation,” a landmark piece of cinema unfortunately overshadowed by its overt racism. But no one can deny the power of Griffith’s follow-up, “Intolerance,” a three-hour epic that combines four stories across time, including the fall of Babylon and the Saint Valentine’s Day massacre. It is not the scale of Griffith’s project so much as the way he presents it that makes his movie a masterpiece: the director cuts across time to make these events parallel to one another, highlighting the fall of man. “Intolerance” was a flop when originally released, but now it often shows up on lists of the greatest films ever conceived.

For more on Ben Model and the Slapstick Show-Biz series, check out http://www.silentclowns.com/