Silent films for Valentine’s Day
Beyond the Rocks (1922)
Nothing could be more romantic on this cupid-blessed, rose-scented day than to draw the curtains, light the candles, snuggle your loved one close and watch a film – a silent film, that is. Silent movies have more romance about them than their dialogue-laden counterparts. These films drip with intense, unspoken passion; those lingering closeups of limpid eyes speak directly to our emotions; and, of course, everyone looks sexier in black and white.
So, this Valentine’s morn, I asked the Silent London Twitter followers, a wise bunch, which films they would select for a night of silent seduction:
Any favourite #silentfilm suggestions for Valentine's Day? I think ONE WEEK is quite romantic. Or do you prefer, say, SEVENTH HEAVEN?—
Silent London (@silentlondon) February 14, 2013
And I got replies, lots of them. You can see them all on this link, but here are some highlights:
The inevitable Valentino vote:
@silentlondon The Eagle with Mr Rudolph Valentino and Miss Vilma Banky *swoons*—
Ms Lucie Dee (@MissElvey) February 14, 2013
A bromance fan writes …
@silentlondon a Girl In Every Port for the bromantics amongst us.—
Peter Baran (@pb14) February 14, 2013
Fintan is selectively deaf …
@silentlondon I'll go for Lonesome, minus the talking bits.—
Fintan McDonagh (@Fintalloneword) February 14, 2013
Robin calls himself “bitter” but I couldn’t possibly comment
@silentlondon Foolish Wives. Although that may be because I'm single and bitter.—
Robin Bailes (@robinbailes) February 14, 2013
Robert plumps for The Phantom of the Opera
@silentlondon Lon Chaney for Mary Philbin. Surely the strangest love of all… #Silentfilm Valentine's.—
Robert Ross (@RobertWRossEsq) February 14, 2013
Ian is clearly something of a cynic:
@silentlondon Flesh and the Devil…a cautionary tale
—
Ian Banks (@monkeezgob) February 14, 2013
And there were two votes for The Cameraman
@bergersmicer @silentlondon "It was worth it to be near you."—
Jennifer H (@Jni4Hargis) February 14, 2013
Other votes went to Sunrise, City Lights, Underground, The Lodger (from another, er, sceptic).
So, what’s your perfect silent Valentine’s movie? And do you agree with me that talkies just aren’t quite the same when it comes to the lovey-dovey stuff? Let me know in the comments below:
Over at TheFarParadise.com we’re most likely going to say Raymond Longford’s THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE (1919). Obviously.
I’m ashamed to say I haven’t seen that, but the title really sells it to me.
Oh you must! I have it if you’d like to borrow?
Yes please. But maybe sometime when you’re less busy
Keaton’s THE CAMERAMAN, Pickford’s MY BEST GIRL, Murnau’s SUNRISE or Borzage’s SEVENTH HEAVEN.
gotta be Borzage’s Seventh Heaven, if you aint crying at the end of that film then there must be something seriously wrong with you – i.e. your dead ?
Another vote for Flesh & the Devil. Garbo & Gilbert show how all-consuming passion can be,
I would say Beggars of Life, because of its bittersweet innocence and that beautiful haystack scene
The Patsy. Marion Davies is just too adorable in this one. She’s so cute and bubbly all the way through to the final scene.
I’ve never seen Seventh Heaven. I own Lonesome and My Best Girl but haven’t watched them yet.
While it may not be lite enough for Valentines Day (or maybe it is) LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN is sooooo good. And Irene Rich is breathtakingly sexy as the older woman.