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Take the Tour: "Silent movies"

Silent movies
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  • City Lights
    United States - 1931
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    The Little Tramp falls in love with a beautiful, blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill). She believes he is wealthy and he, in turn, sets out to raise the money for the ...
  • Sunrise
    United States - 1927
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    A farmer (George O' Brien) lives happily with his wife (Janet Gaynor) until he meets an attractive woman from the city (Margaret Livingstone). The farmer falls in love ...
  • The Crowd
    United States - 1928
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    Born on the fourth of July, 1900, the future holds unlimited potential for newborn John Sims. But dreams soon fade with the death of his father when John is but a lad. ...
  • Nosferatu
    Germany - 1922
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    It follows the familiar story of Count Orlok moving from his ruined castle to the city of Wisborg, after the visit of one Thomas Hutter. Once there he becomes involved ...
  • The Gold Rush
    United States - 1925
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    The Lone Prospector, a valiant weakling, seeks fame and fortune in the Alaskan wilderness. There, he meets Black Larson (Tom Murray) and large but gentler Big Jim McKay ...
  • The Kid
    United States - 1921
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    'The Kid' is the story of a child abandoned in a limousine by his unwed mother (Edna Purviance). When The Little Tramp finds him, he tries unsuccessfully to find a home ...
  • The Passion of Joan of Arc
    France - 1928
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    Year 1431. Young french Joan of Arc is put on trial for alleged treason. Once glorified as her nation’s saviour, she has become a mere pawn in a game of political ...
  • Metropolis
    Germany - 1927
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    In Metropolis, society is divided in two classes: the rich, who have all the power and all kinds of luxuries and the workers, doomed to work and confined to live in poor ...
  • I Was Born, But... (Children of Tokyo)
    Japan - 1932
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    In the 30s, a low middle-class family composed of the father (Tatsuo Saito), the mother (Mitsuko Yoshikawa) and two little sons (Hideo Sugawara and Tomio Aoki) has just ...
  • The General
    United States - 1926
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    Johnny Gray is the engineer for the Western and Atlantic Flyer, and his engine is named "The General." There are two loves in Johnny's life, "The General" and Annabelle ...
  • Modern Times
    United States - 1936
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    Chaplin is a factory worker in this hectic age - a minor cog in the grinding wheels of industry. His job -mechanically tightening bolts on a moving belt. The monotony of ...
  • The Cabbage Fairy (S)
    France - 1896
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    The first film directed by a female director, "The Cabbage Fairy" presents a brief fantasy tale involving a strange fairy who can produce and deliver babies coming out of ...
  • Poor Pierrot (S)
    France - 1892
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    Animation
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    One night, Arlequin come to see his lover Colombine. But then Pierrot knocks at the door and Colombine and Arlequin hide. Pierrot starts singing but Arlequin scares him ...
  • A Trip to the Moon (S)
    France - 1902
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    Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow: Six brave astronomers plan a voyage from Earth to the Moon. They build a space capsule in the shape of a bullet and a ...
  • Seven Chances
    United States - 1925
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    When Jimmie Shannon's uncle leaves him seven million dollars in his will, it seems as though his fortune is well and truly made... until he reads the small print: in ...
  • Faust
    Germany - 1926
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    Angels try to stop the Devil as he races across the Earth. The Devil insists that the Earth is his and strikes a bet with the angels as to whether he can corrupt the aged ...
  • Greed
    United States - 1924
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    Miner-turned-dentist McTeague wins young Trina Sieppe away from her cousin Marcus, McTeague's friend. When Trina wins five thousand dollars in a lottery, Marcus accuses ...
  • The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
    Germany - 1920
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    Caligari appears in the town with his marvel Cesare the Somnambulist, a man who has been asleep for 23 years and is now under Caligari’s hypnotic control. Caligari claims ...
  • Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (S)
    France - 1896
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    Documentary
    Synopsis:
    Another of the Lumiere Brothers' one-shot films, this time showing a steam train arriving at a station.
  • The Birth of a Nation
    United States - 1915
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    The most successful and artistically advanced film of its time, The Birth of a Nation has also sparked protests, riots, and divisiveness since its first release. The film ...
  • Lonesome
    United States - 1928
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    Two lonely people in the big city meet and enjoy the thrills of an amusement park, only to lose each other in the crowd after spending a great day together. Will they ever see each other again?
  • Ménilmontant
    France - 1926
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    Kirsanoff's best known work is Ménilmontant (1926), which takes its name from the Paris neighborhood of the same name. The film is a silent, but does not contain any ...
  • The Phantom Carriage
    Sweden - 1921
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    It's New Year's Eve. Three drunkards evoke a legend. The legend tells that the last person to die in a year, if he is a great sinner, will have to drive during the whole ...
  • The Last Laugh
    Germany - 1924
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    It tells the story of an elderly hotel doorman whose world crumbles when he is demoted to lavatory attendant. He is embarrassed by his new position so he tries to hide ...
  • Sherlock Jr.
    United States - 1924
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    A film projectionist longs to be a detective, and puts his meagre skills to work when he is framed by a rival for stealing his girlfriend's father's pocketwatch.
  • Battleship Potemkin
    Soviet Union (USSR) - 1925
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    The Battleship Potemkin has just returned from the war with Japan, its crew near mutiny because of brutal treatment and bad rations. When they're served maggot-infested ...
  • The Adventures of Prince Achmed
    Germany - 1926
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    Animation
    Synopsis:
    The Adventures of Prince Achmed (German: Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed) is a 1926 German animated fairytale film by Lotte Reiniger. It is the oldest surviving animated ...
  • Les Vampires
    France - 1915
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    Two journalists attempt to uncover the truth behind the criminal organisation, known as The Vampires, who are terrorizing Paris.
  • Strike
    Soviet Union (USSR) - 1925
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    In Russia's factory region during Czarist rule, there's restlessness and strike planning among workers; management brings in spies and external agents. When a worker ...
  • Wings
    United States - 1927
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    In 1917, Jack Powell is a young man with passion for cars. His next door neighbor is Mary Preston, who is in deep love for him, but Jack does not notice her. Jack indeed ...
  • The Great Train Robbery (S)
    United States - 1903
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    This picture, directed and scripted by Edwin S. Porter, introduced the first cinematic cowboy star, Bronco Billy Anderson. Anderson plays several roles in this ...
  • Lucky Star
    United States - 1929
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    Mary, a poor farm girl, meets Tim just as word comes that war has been declared. Tim enlists in the army and goes to the battlefields of Europe, where he is wounded and ...
  • The Golem
    Germany - 1920
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    In this version of the golem legend, the golem, a clay statue brought to life by Rabbi Loew in 16th century Prague to save the Jews from the ongoing brutal persecution by ...
  • The Phantom of the Opera
    United States - 1925
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    At the Opera of Paris, a mysterious phantom threatens a famous lyric singer, Carlotta and thus forces her to give up her role (Marguerite in Faust) for unknown Christine ...
  • An Andalusian Dog (S)
    France - 1929
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    Un Chien Andalou is Bunuel's first film and collaboration with Salvador Dali, a surreal exploration of desire and passion. L'Age D'or is another collaboration with Dali, ...
  • Seventh Heaven (7th Heaven)
    United States - 1927
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    Chico (Charles Farrell) is a street cleaner who works in Paris. Diane (Janet Gaynor) is an unlucky woman who is abused by her elder sister. One day, Chico saves her from ...
  • The Unknown
    United States - 1927
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    Alonzo, one of the star attractions of Zanzi's gypsy circus, is an "armless wonder" who hurls knives with his feet at his attractive assistant Nanon, Zanzi's daughter. In ...
  • October (Ten Days that Shook the World)
    Soviet Union (USSR) - 1927
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    In documentary style, events in Petrograd are re-enacted from the end of the monarchy in February of 1917 to the end of the provisional government and the decrees of ...
  • Life and Passion of Christ, Our Saviour
    France - 1903
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    1. THE ANNUNCIATION. The Angel of the Lord appears to Mary, announcing the birth of a child, which shall be called the "Son of God." 2. THE STRANGE STAR. Led by the light ...
  • Safety Last!
    United States - 1923
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    Country boy (Lloyd) heads to the big city to seek success. While working as a clerk in a department store, he talks the manager into offering $1000 to anyone who can ...
  • The Wind
    United States - 1928
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    Letty, a naive, poor young woman, travels to the wind-blown Texas prairie and lives in a dust-bowl town on her cousin's ranch. She takes care of the children, but is ...
  • Intolerance
    United States - 1916
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    'Intolerance' tells four tales, all widely separated in time, yet each loosely connected to the others by the title's theme: 'The Babylonian Story', 'The Christ Story', ...
  • Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages
    Sweden - 1922
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    Documentary, Self: Elisabeth Christensen ...
    Synopsis:
    A historical view of witchcraft in seven parts and a variety of styles. First, there is a slide-show alternating inter-titles with drawings and paintings to illustrate ...
  • Pay Day (S)
    United States - 1922
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    Charlie is an expert bricklayer. He has lots of fun and work and enjoys himself greatly while at the saloon. As he leaves work his wife takes the pay he has hidden in his ...
  • Napoleon
    France - 1927
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    A biopic of Napoleon which spans approximately 16 years. It covers Napoleon's childhood, his first strategic victory (a schoolyard snowball fight), his rise through the ...
  • Nanook of the North
    United States - 1922
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    Documentary
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    Documents one year in the life of Nanook, an Eskimo (Inuit), and his family. Describes the trading, hunting, fishing and migrations of a group barely touched by ...
  • Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler
    Germany - 1922
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    Arch-criminal Dr. Mabuse sets out to make a fortune and run Berlin. Detective Wenk sets out to stop him.
  • The Man with the Movie Camera
    Soviet Union (USSR) - 1929
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    Documentary
    Synopsis:
    An extraordinary montage of urban Russian life in 1929, showing the people of the city at work and at play, and the machines that keep the city going. It was Dziga ...
  • The Thief of Bagdad
    United States - 1924
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    Douglas Fairbanks is at his most graceful and charismatic in one of the classic silent films of the 1920s. As the thief of Baghdad, his movements are dance-like -- ...
  • Limit
    Brazil - 1931
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    In a drifting small boat, two women and a man recalls their recent past. One of the woman escaped from the prison; the other one was desperate; and the man had lost his ...
  • The Navigator
    United States - 1924
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    This is the tale of a wealthy couple who find themselves cast adrift in an empty cruise liner. By themselves and away from their posh lifestyle, they have to cope with unending perils.
  • The Cursed Village
    Spain - 1930
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  • The Fall of the House of Usher
    France - 1928
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    A stranger called Allan goes to the House of Usher. He is the sole friend of Roderick Usher, who lives in the eerie house with his sick wife Madeleine. When she dies, ...
  • Ben-Hur
    United States - 1925
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    Erstwhile childhood friends, Judah Ben-Hur and Messala meet again as adults, this time with Roman officer Messala as conqueror and Judah as a wealthy, though conquered, ...
  • Mother
    Soviet Union (USSR) - 1926
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    This is one of the classic Soviet silent films. A young revolutionary dies fighting against the misery and poverty of Tsarist Russia in the pre-war revolution of 1905, ...
  • Street Angel
    United States - 1928
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    In Naples, where prostitutes can pay their rent, Angela is sentenced to a year in the workhouse when she tries to steal(while streetwalking) to pay for medicine for her ...
  • The Goddess
    China - 1934
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    An unnamed devoted mother sells herself by night on the streets of Shanghai in order to support herself and her infant son. When a gambler who calls himself "the Boss" ...
  • The Electric House (S)
    United States - 1922
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    Botany major Buster mistakenly graduates in electrical engineering and is hired to wire a new home. He installs lots of fanciful gadgets. The one who should have received ...
  • Broken Blossoms
    United States - 1919
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    Cheng Huan is a missionary whose goal is to bring the teachings of peace by Buddha to the civilized Anglo-Saxons. Upon landing in England, he is quickly disillusioned by ...
  • Three Ages
    United States - 1923
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    Keaton spoofs D.W. Griffith's "Intolerance" in his debut feature as creator/star. He demonstrates both comic and dramatic skills as he parodies the evils of intolerance ...
  • Queen Kelly
    United States - 1929
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    Prince Wolfram is the betrothed of mad Queen Regina V of Kronberg. Supreme ruler, her word is law and he is a playboy. On maneuvers as punishment for partying with other ...
  • The Cameraman
    United States - 1928
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    Luke Shannon (Buster Keaton), is a bumbling photographer who, in order to win the favor of a beautiful woman, takes a job as a newsreel cameraman. Hilarity ensues as he ...
  • The Faithful Heart
    France - 1923
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    Marie wants to escape from her job and also from her lover, Paul, an unemployed drunk. She dreams of going off with Jean, a dockworker. The two men quarrel and fight over ...
  • The Outlaw and His Wife
    Sweden - 1918
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    When a mysterious stranger (played by Sjostrom) is hired on at a farm by its widowed owner (Edith Erastoff, who would later become Sjostrom's wife), a romantic bond ...
  • Dante's Inferno
    Italy - 1911
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    Loosely adapted from Dante's Divine Comedy and inspired by the illustrations of Gustav Doré the original silent film has been restored and has a new score by Tangerine Dream.
  • Destiny
    Germany - 1921
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    As a young couple stops and rests in a small village inn, the man is abducted by Death and is sequestered behind a huge doorless, windowless wall. The woman finds a ...
  • The Man Who Laughs
    United States - 1928
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    When a proud noble refuses to kiss the hand of the despotic King James in 1690, he is cruelly executed and his son surgically disfigured.
  • A Dog's Life
    United States - 1918
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    The Little Tramp and his dog companion struggle to survive in the inner city.
  • Sir Arne's Treasure
    Sweden - 1919
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    Three Scottish officers, including Sir Archi, murder Sir Arne and his household for a coffin filled with gold. The only survivor is Elsalill, who moves to relatives in ...
  • Jealousy
    Germany - 1925
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    The murderer "Boss" Huller - after having spent ten years in prison - breaks his silence to tell the warden his story. "Boss", a former trapeze artist, and his wife own a ...
  • The Last Command
    United States - 1928
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    A decorated, aristocratic Czarist General is reduced to penury after the collapse of Imperial Russia. An old adversary, now a successful director hires the general to ...
  • Steamboat Bill, Jr.
    United States - 1928
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    It is the story of a college-educated young man who comes home to help his father work on his Mississippi River steamboat and immediately demonstrates just what a ...
  • Our Hospitality
    United States - 1923
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    In this silent movie, a man returns to his Appalachian homestead. On the trip, he falls for a young woman. The only problem is her family has vowed to kill every member of his family.
  • Never Weaken
    United States - 1921
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    Our hero (Lloyd) is infatuated with a girl in the next office. In order to drum up business for her boss...
  • Neighbors (S)
    United States - 1920
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    The Romeo and Juliet story played out in a tenement neighborhood with Buster and Virginia's families hating each other over the fence separating their buildings.
  • The Circus
    United States - 1928
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    Charlie's Tramp character finds himself at a circus where he promptly gets chased around by the police who think he is a pickpocket. Running into the big top, he is an ...
  • Meshes of the Afternoon (S)
    United States - 1943
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    Meshes of the Afternoon is one of the most influential works in American experimental cinema. A non-narrative work, it has been identified as a key example of the "trance ...
  • The Heart of the World (S)
    Canada - 2000
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    Two brothers, mortician Nikolai and actor Osip (playing Christ in a Passion play), love the same woman—scientist Anna, who studies the earth's core, or the "heart of the ...
  • The Wedding March
    United States - 1928
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    A young impoverished aristocrat falls in love with an inn-keepers daughter, but has to marry money.
  • The Immigrant (S)
    United States - 1917
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    Charlie is an immigrant who endures a challenging voyage and gets into trouble as soon as he arrives in America.
Movies from this Rating List. (Click on a movie to rate it)
  • City Lights
  • Sunrise
  • The Crowd
  • Nosferatu
  • The Gold Rush
  • The Kid
  • The Passion of Joan of Arc
  • Metropolis
  • I Was Born, But... (Children of Tokyo)
  • The General
  • Modern Times
  • The Cabbage Fairy (S)
  • Poor Pierrot (S)
  • A Trip to the Moon (S)
  • Seven Chances
  • Faust
  • Greed
  • The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
  • Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (S)
  • The Birth of a Nation
  • Lonesome
  • Ménilmontant
  • The Phantom Carriage
  • The Last Laugh
  • Sherlock Jr.
  • Battleship Potemkin
  • The Adventures of Prince Achmed
  • Les Vampires
  • Strike
  • Wings
  • The Great Train Robbery (S)
  • Lucky Star
  • The Golem
  • The Phantom of the Opera
  • An Andalusian Dog (S)
  • Seventh Heaven (7th Heaven)
  • The Unknown
  • October (Ten Days that Shook the World)
  • Life and Passion of Christ, Our Saviour
  • Safety Last!
  • The Wind
  • Intolerance
  • Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages
  • Pay Day (S)
  • Napoleon
  • Nanook of the North
  • Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler
  • The Man with the Movie Camera
  • The Thief of Bagdad
  • Limit
  • The Navigator
  • The Cursed Village
  • The Fall of the House of Usher
  • Ben-Hur
  • Mother
  • Street Angel
  • The Goddess
  • The Electric House (S)
  • Broken Blossoms
  • Three Ages
  • Queen Kelly
  • The Cameraman
  • The Faithful Heart
  • The Outlaw and His Wife
  • Dante's Inferno
  • Destiny
  • The Man Who Laughs
  • A Dog's Life
  • Sir Arne's Treasure
  • Jealousy
  • The Last Command
  • Steamboat Bill, Jr.
  • Our Hospitality
  • Never Weaken
  • Neighbors (S)
  • The Circus
  • Meshes of the Afternoon (S)
  • The Heart of the World (S)
  • The Wedding March
  • The Immigrant (S)
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