Silent films

The General

Keaton's character, Johnnie Gray, rides on a moving locomotive while trying to protect his train. The film includes spectacular train stunts and a famous scene where a bridge collapses beneath a locomotive

Safety Last!

Harold Lloyd's character hangs from the hands of a giant clock high above a city street.

Jackie Chan

– building jump + wooden plank + hangs onto a window

House stunt

·       – house falls and person stays standing though the windows

Goonies

The slide down the pirate sail

History of silent films

Silent films were important because they developed many of the techniques still used in cinema: visual comedy, camera movement, editing, stunt work, acting through gesture, and music to create emotion.

Timeline

1890s: Motion pictures begin developing as a popular entertainment form. Early films were short and often showed simple actions or everyday events.

1900s–1910s: Film becomes a major industry. Filmmakers develop editing, close-ups, narrative storytelling, and movie stars.

1920s: Silent film reaches a high point. Stars such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Mary Pickford become famous worldwide.

1927: The Jazz Singer helps popularize synchronized sound and spoken dialogue.

Late 1920s–early 1930s: Sound films, called “talkies,” become the industry standard. Many silent-film performers and musicians lose work or change careers.

Max Steiner

Known for King Kong (1933), Gone with the Wind, and Casablanca. Helped establish modern orchestral film scoring.

Bernard Herrmann

Known for Psycho, Vertigo, and Citizen Kane. His music often creates suspense and psychological tension.

Ennio Morricone

Famous for western film scores, including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and The Mission.

Hans Zimmer

Known for The Lion King, Inception, Interstellar, and Dune. Often combines orchestral and electronic sounds.

John Williams

Known for Star Wars, Jaws, Jurassic Park, and Harry Potter. Famous for powerful orchestral themes.

Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977)

English actor, comedian, director, and composer. Famous for his character the Tramp in films such as The Kid, The Gold Rush, and City Lights.

Buster Keaton (1895–1966)

American comedian, actor, director, and stunt performer. Known for his deadpan expression and inventive physical comedy in Sherlock Jr., The General, and One Week.

Harold Lloyd

— American comedian known for energetic stunts and his “glasses” character. Famous for Safety Last!.

Mary Pickford

Canadian-American actress and producer. One of the earliest major movie stars, known for Pollyanna and Sparrows.

Rudolph Valentino

— Italian-American actor and major silent-era romantic star. Known for The Sheik and Blood and Sand.

Original film score

Music written specifically for a particular movie. It may be a piano score, full orchestral score, or another arrangement designed for that film.

Cue sheet

A list of musical suggestions and timings for specific moments in a film. It tells the pianist, organist, or orchestra what kind of music to play and when.

Photoplay album

A collection of stock music written specifically for accompanying silent films. Musicians could choose pieces from these albums to match different moods and scenes.