Wiki Page, Oklahoma High School- Drama/Theatre Course (OK Art Tech): 8.5 Silent Films

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2025-03-06T08:26:19-06:00

Silent Films

A groundbreaking development in the history of theatre was the ability to capture performances on film, which have come to be known as "movies". Movies have become a cornerstone of American entertainment since their development in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The most popular and successful films in recent history include Barbie (2023), Avatar (2009), the Avengers franchise (2012-2019), and Titanic (1997). These films have been praised for their successes in entertainment value and cultural relevance, but what were early films like, and why are they so important to drama and theatre today? The advent of the "moving picture" brought in a new era of theatre for both actors and audiences.

Introduction

The Silent Film Era was a period in American theatre that lasted from approximately 1894 to 1931. Silent films were a completely new concept where acting was captured on film reels and shown in movie houses (movie theaters) to paying audience members. Movies could be played more times than live performances, and were often less expensive, allowing the working class to view movies alongside the middle and upper classes.

The silent film was the predecessor to the modern movie, with the first "talkie" (movie with sound) being Al Jolson's The Jazz Singer (1927). Movie makers realized that films had great potential to bring in large audiences, and were more budget-friendly than paying actors for multiple live performances. A new entertainment market was born!

Silent Film Vocabulary:

dialogue- a thought or exchange of words between actors.

title cards- filmed, printed text on the screen that showed the title and dialogue

Silent Film Features:

1. No talking or audio from the actors

2. Dialogue read from "title cards"

3. Instrumental music overlapped with film visuals

4. Black & white (no color)

5. Exaggerated physical movements and facial expressions

Watch a clip of one of the most recognizable silent film stars of the 1920s, Charlie Chaplin. Chaplin was known for his iconic mustache and top hat and is most often associated with silent film acting. See if you can identify the characteristics listed above in the following clip:

Video: Charlie Chaplin - Modern Times - Roller Skating Scene

Charlie Chaplin. (2016, Oct 4). Charlie Chaplin - Modern Times - Roller Skating Scene. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/kPcEFHA3X0c?feature=shared

Links to an external site.

Click on the button at the bottom of the video to access the closed captions.

Were you able to identify the characteristics of a silent film in the clip above? Remember that actors needed to rely on their physical movements to communicate what was happening in a scene. Even though the title cards listed the dialogue, the exaggerated movements and facial expressions were important for audiences to understand what was happening, an acting technique called pantomime, which will be explored in the next lesson.

Watch a few minutes of the original Wizard of Oz (1910) below to see another example of a silent film. This version of the movie was only thirteen minutes long, so it's hard to believe that the version we are used to came out only 29 years later. Again, see if you can spot the characteristics of silent films in the following clip:

Video: This is the original Wizard of Oz Silent Movie from 1910

Mr Nukem. (2011, Jun 21). This is the original Wizard of Oz Silent Movie from 1910. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/BWQ5-UBU22M?feature=shared

Click on the button at the bottom of the video to access the closed captions.

Did you spot the characteristics? In the next lesson, you will explore pantomime. Pantomime means acting with exaggerated movements without talking, and is a technique used by silent film actors.

Guiding Questions

By yourself, or with a partner, answer the following questions before moving on to the next page.

1. Based on the videos and information on this page, how are silent films different from films of today?

2. How are they similar?

3. Do you think silent films could be popular today? Why or why not?

Check Answer