Because so many more film titles have come to light since the first publications on women in the us silent film industry, we emphasize archival holdings. Before sound was added to movies, it was known as the silent era among film scholars and historians. April 14, 1892 october 24, 1972 was an american film actress of the silent screen era. How women worked in the us silent film industry women. In the first decades of the twentieth century, five africanamerican women filmmakers helped to establish the us cinema industry and to better the representation of africanamericans on film. As a result, early hollywood had a dynamic where actresses had room to explore the many different ways women might be depicted on film. Ten xcertificate moments in silent cinema silent london. Certainly she was one of the funniest comedians of the silent era.
From reputable, prominent, and well known silent film actresses to the lesser known silent film actresses of today, these are some of the best professionals in the silent film actress field. Each star earned a position at the height of her profession, and though many are largely forgotten today, made a lasting. Carla laemmle dancer headshot born 1909 is still living and is 103. Our publicity photo area has pictures of actors and actresses that are not tied to a particular film. Precode nudity update and film guide precode hollywood.
The 10 best silent movie stars in pictures film the guardian. This list may not reflect recent changes learn more. At the end of the 20th century, the american film institute compiled a list of the 25 greatest actors and actresses in hollywood over the past 100 years, but only a select few worked all the way back in the silent era of films, before talkies revolutionized the industry at the end of the 1920s. The silent era ended in the late 1920s, who is the actor best remembered. Evelyn nesbit december 25, 1884 or 1885 january 17, 1967 was a beautiful actress of the silent film era who had a spectacular rise to fame as an artists model while still a teenager, and then reached the pinnacle of high society, only to lose it all in a tragic scandal while still a teenager, nesbit began modeling and posing for artists. Please sign the petition to the ucla to release copies of rare films to silent hall of fame or make these films available to the public the ucla preserves in their archives many quality silent films featuring our stars billy bitzer, alice day, marceline day, snitz. The only copy of the film in the whole world is being kept in the ucla archive. During the silent film era, it was incredibly rare for an africanamerican of either gender to have any sort of career in the industry. See more ideas about female stars, silent film and. Other silent actresses of note stanford university. Tressie souders, however, defied these cultural barriers by becoming the first africanamerican female director in recorded history.
The silent era didnt last long, but it had a huge impact on the development of the film industry in general. A native of the copenhagen suburb of vesterbro, nielsen was the daughter of a coppersmith and a washerwoman, both of whom died before nielsen was fifteen. The early movies of the silent era made stars of beautiful actresses and handsome actors. According to the code nudity in any form was immoral and should be completely avoided.
The first blackowned film company was the lincoln motion picture company, founded by the famous missourian actor noble johnson in 1916. In 1919, chaplin cofounded the distribution company united artists, which gave him complete control. This list includes international performers who were well known throughout the world, and those who may have only achieved a degree of success in their native countries. This category is for articles about silent film actresses from the north american country of the united states. Dolores del rio was the one of the first mexican movie stars with. In addition, silent films produced some of the 20th centurys most remarkable iconoclasts and pioneers. Though most are all but forgotten today, many led lives of fascination and scandal that could easily match those of their latterday peers.
Silent era home page psfl filmographies actresses lillian gish a growing source of silent era film information. With a wicked gift for mimicry and a wonderfully expressive face, davies delighted audiences with her wacky antics and zany faces. The silent era existed from the mid1890s until the first sound feature or talkie the jazz singer, released in 1927 and the silent film era ended about 1929 in america and later in other countries. Prior to becoming a film star, acord was a stage performer and champion steer wrestler. The most beautiful actresses of the silent film era reelrundown. When we think of silent movie stars we inevitably think of garbo, charlie chaplin, rudolph valentino as well as perhaps lillian gish not forgetting the quintessential flappers clara bow and louise brooks. She popularized the short bobbed haircut, which freed women from the complicated hair styles of the early 1900s. This article lists the known surviving actors and actresses that started in or appeared in silent film, including those with uncredited roles. In hollywood, silent movies starred some truly original and innovative talent, famous names that still resonate throughout the world today. The first film company devoted to the production of race movies was the chicagobased ebony film company, which began operation in 1915.
Considered one of the most beautiful actresses of the silent era, borden was a mack sennet bathing beauty at 15 and reached the peak of her. In an era when women are deemed not funny enough it seems film history has forgotten her contributions. This is a guest post for silent london by noted silent cinema musicians neil brand and philip carli the silents by numbers strand celebrates some very personal top 10s by silent film enthusiasts and experts there are more of these xrated moments than you might think and people will have plenty of their own choices according to taste, shockability and squeamishness. He was born in 1890 in either oklahoma or utah, during the waning days of the old west. Pola negri, one of silent cinemas greatest femme fatales, would have turned 119 today. In those days he was assistant director, actor or screenwriter. Articles on women filmmakers of the silent era, edited by jane gaines, radha. Check our performer list for stills of a particular actor or actress. Carla laemmle at 103 one of the few silent film stars still alive carla laemmle, died on june 12 2014 at 104 was a silent film actresses. Women of the silent era rediscovers the fascinating lives and pioneering achievements of 15 women who dared to venture into early motion pictures, an industry dominated by men, and who not only succeeded but became the focal points of the industry.
John gilbert was born into a showbusiness family his father was a comic with the pringle stock company. Chaplin became a worldwide icon through his screen persona the tramp and is considered one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry. Hailing from different regions of the country, from kansas city, missouri, to montclair, new jersey, to washington dc, they were geographically separated. Silent film actresses and their most popular characters. From nickelodeons to fulllength feature films and from silent films to talkies, as writers, directors, actors, and audience members, women influenced the trajectory of the film industry. This listing is from the progressive silent film list by carl bennett. A list of german silent era films released on home video. As a star of the silent movie era, she became one ots most sought after and highly paid stars. See more ideas about silent film, actresses and silent film stars. As many of you know, last week we lost one of the few remaining links we have to the silent film era. The 10 best silent movie stars in pictures film the.
All manner of costume roles, aspiring actresses, put. But for every movie icon there were hundreds of actresses who appeared in silent movies whose names havent stood the test of time in the same way, either because of tragic early death. Refusing to take a salary cut, borden abruptly left fox in 1928 and made. Movies silentlys top five silent movie actresses movies. Now, post the 1982 brighton symposium, the silent era is no longer defined by a few. Stars never burned brighter than in the silent era, when the movies themselves were still young and the novelty of these beautiful creatures was still fresh. Mabel normand was one of the comedy greats of early film. The irishborn director of over 50 films became another unfortunate casualty of the silent era, which had so many scandals that many movie studios began requiring their actors and directors sign. Before the 1920s, most of the movies that existed had no sound at all, they were basically silent. Uniquely american cinema that had its start in the silent eraearly seriels used this type of genre masked avengerzorro united artists film company started by charlie chaplin, douglas fairbanks, mary pickford, and d. Black cinema part i race movies the silent era at the. This is a tribute to my favorite silent movie stars, women who were pioners in the art of film making and who left an undeniable contribution to the industry. The following is a list of actors and actresses whose careers began in the silent film era of the 1910s and 1920s.
History of silent movies silent film resources octane. The polish actress was known for her portrayal of exotic, strong women. In 1928, during this third marriage, he lost his job, was in several bar fights, was arrested for bootlegging and went. Code switch a 19 romantic comedy starring black actors is finally hitting the. The art of moving images grew until it reached full maturity, and before silences were replaced by sounds and images that had the ability to speak, many experts. Acord spent the next 10 years as one of the most popular western stars of the silent era. With silent movie stars ranging from olive thomas to lillian gish, this is a great starting point for a list of your favorite female silent film actors.
However, if the history of hollywood is truthfully examined, we find that many of the stereotypes we have in our minds are just thatstereotypes. Dubbed the girl with the bee stung lips, silentera screen star mae. Refusing to take a salary cut, borden abruptly left fox in 1928 and. Silent film what is, characteristics, origin, history. Africanamerican women in the silent film industry women. The message film was considered a shocking and controversial film that was held up for many months because of its full nudity.
Acord was one of hollywoods original cowboy icons, starring in over 100 westerns during the silent era. Hypocrites was a paramount 4reel silent film from female director lois weber the most important and prolific of all american women directors of the silent era. The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 992 total. T he silent film era represents the earliest days of cinema. This overview contains the most famous silent film actress who conquered the hearts of viewers without any words. Some films draw a direct contrast between the silent film era and the era of talkies.
The shift from silent films to talkies was a huge deal for actors in the late 1920s. Silent film actresses forever young and beautiful youtube. The most beautiful actresses of the silent film era. Precode nudity update and film guide nudity whether in glimpses, through clothes, in silhouette or in the distance was strictly banned by the 1930 motion picture production code. An iconic comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the silent era. Danish leading woman of german films who became one of the greatest stars of the silent era. His greatest nemesis during this time, however, was alcohol. The silent era was a manless eden for women in film. The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 977 total. Note, for instance, the distinctions we make in the career profiles between not extant and extant titles. Rare silent film with black cast makes a centurylate debut. The era also brought us many silent movie stars, such as charlie chaplin, laurel and hardy, harold lloyd and pearl white. Sunset boulevard shows the disconnect between the two eras in the character of norma desmond, played by silent film star gloria swanson, and singin in the rain deals with hollywood artists adjusting to the talkies.
Many silent film stars found it difficult to find their voice and place in this new hollywood medium. Website devoted to the career of silent film dramatic actresses. Explore the flickering, forgotten past of africanamericans in silent film an estimated 80 percent of silent movies with allblack casts are thought to be lost, but a new project is making sure. Information about other identifiers assigned to the device. Then the stars gave a whole range of feelings solely by gestures and emotions. Our film stills, advertising heralds, postcards, lobby cards, and other memorabilia are in an alphabetical list by film title for easy searching. This is a video i made featuring actresses of the silent movie era. Silent film still archive your home for silent movie. Famous players silent era film actors and actresses. When most of us think about silentera hollywood, we imagine actors and actresses acting respectably, unlike like the tabloid fodder that exists today. Some actors and actresses continued their careers in film when talking pictures started in 1929, others did not. An article on actress virginia bradford by her husband, cedric belfrage. But what of the great stars of hollywoods formative yearsthe silent film era. This isnt a utopian future its hollywoods bygone silent era.