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THE ESSENTIAL SILENT FILM COLLECTION50 Landmark Films • Exceptional Rarities • Documentaries • Archival Extras
Step back into the extraordinary world of silent cinema with The Essential Silent Film Collection, a carefully curated archive of 50 notable, influential and exceptional films from the silent era.
Rather than simply assembling dozens of random titles, this collection focuses on films chosen for their historical importance, artistic quality, entertainment value and lasting reputation.
The collection brings together many of the greatest stars and filmmakers of early cinema, along with a special selection of remarkable lesser-known films deserving rediscovery.
LEGENDARY STARS & FILMMAKERS
Featured throughout the collection are films associated with celebrated names including:
Charlie Chaplin • Buster Keaton • Harold Lloyd • Lon Chaney • Rudolph Valentino • Clara Bow • Louise Brooks • Douglas Fairbanks • Lillian Gish • Fritz Lang • F.W. Murnau • Alfred Hitchcock • D.W. Griffith • Sergei Eisenstein • Carl Theodor Dreyer
FAMOUS CLASSICS
The collection includes celebrated silent-era landmarks such as:
Metropolis • Nosferatu • The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari • The Gold Rush • The General • The Phantom of the Opera • The Hunchback of Notre Dame • The Lost World • Sunrise • Wings • The Passion of Joan of Arc • The Man Who Laughs • The Lodger • Pandora\'s Box • Safety Last! • Sherlock Jr.
And many more.
EXCEPTIONAL RARITIES & REDISCOVERIES
Alongside the famous classics is a carefully selected group of lesser-known films chosen because they are exceptional works of silent cinema—not simply obscure titles used to increase the film count.
Selections include remarkable films such as:
A Page of Madness • The Girl with a Hatbox • The House on Trubnaya • By the Law • Ménilmontant • Stark Love • Lonesome • Within Our Gates • The Hands of Orlac • The Italian Straw Hat
These films offer collectors an opportunity to discover some of the silent era\'s most fascinating overlooked achievements.
BONUS DOCUMENTARY COLLECTION
The films are only part of this special archive.
Also included is a collection of historical documentary programs exploring the development of motion pictures, Hollywood and some of the silent era\'s greatest personalities.
Documentary subjects include:
Long, Long Ago: The Birth of Film
The History of Motion Pictures
Hollywood History
Silent Films
D.W. Griffith
Lon Chaney
Charlie Chaplin
Buster Keaton
Together, these programs provide additional background on the birth of motion pictures, the development of filmmaking, the rise of Hollywood and the performers and directors who helped create the language of cinema.
ARCHIVAL BONUS MATERIAL
The collection also includes a curated assortment of surviving historical material associated with the films, stars and silent era.
Bonus material may include:
Original theatrical poster reproductions
Vintage lobby cards
Publicity stills
Newspaper and magazine material
Vintage film ephemera
Historical photographs
Film and star biographies
Production histories
Unusual stories and behind-the-scenes information
Fun facts and Did You Know? material
A specially prepared Collector\'s Guide PDF
Archival materials vary from film to film depending upon what historical material survives and is available.
FROM THE BIRTH OF FILM TO THE HEIGHT OF THE SILENT ERA
Silent cinema was far more than movies without dialogue.
During these pioneering decades, filmmakers created many of the techniques that still define motion pictures today.
Comedy, horror, romance, science fiction, fantasy, drama, experimental cinema and spectacular historical productions all flourished before synchronized sound transformed the industry.
This collection travels from early motion-picture history through the extraordinary artistic achievements of the 1920s, exploring American cinema as well as important films from Germany, France, Britain, Russia, Scandinavia, Japan and other filmmaking centers around the world.
50 FILMS — CAREFULLY CURATED
The collection has deliberately been limited to approximately 50 outstanding films rather than being filled with hundreds of minor titles simply to advertise a larger number.
The emphasis is on:
Great Films
Legendary Performers
Important Directors
Historic Cinema
Exceptional Rarities
Rediscovered Masterpieces
Archival Bonus Material
COLLECTOR\'S EDITION
Perfect for:
Silent-film collectors • Classic movie enthusiasts • Film-history fans • Vintage Hollywood collectors • Movie memorabilia collectors • Students of cinema • Horror and science-fiction fans • Anyone fascinated by the origins of motion pictures
PHYSICAL USB COLLECTION
This is a physical USB media collection shipped to you.
Films are presented from available surviving source material. Because many of these motion pictures are approximately 100 years old, picture quality, completeness, tinting, intertitles, musical accompaniment and overall condition may vary from title to title.
Historical archival materials are provided in digital file format on the collection USB for convenient viewing.
PUBLIC DOMAIN COLLECTION
Films and archival materials included in this collection are selected from material believed to be in the public domain in the United States or otherwise suitable for inclusion.
Modern copyrighted restorations, newly created musical scores, contemporary documentaries or other copyrighted additions are not included unless appropriately licensed or otherwise authorized.
THE ESSENTIAL SILENT FILM COLLECTION50 Landmark Films + Bonus Documentary & Archival Collection
Famous Classics • Exceptional Rarities • Posters • Lobby Cards • Documentaries • Historical Extras • Collector\'s Guide
COLLECTOR\'S EDITION
Experience the films, stars, filmmakers and history that created the motion-picture era.
