You are here:
- Home
- Movies
- Classic Movies
- Classic Film
Classic Film/Questions Answered by Expert DM
| Subject | Date Asked |
| street angel 1928 | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: I don't have a question. I read in your book The First Female Stars that the film Street Angel no ... A: You are right that an abridged version of Street Angle has survived. However, the full-length, ... | |
| Charlie Chaplin's Influence | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I would like to know about Chaplin's influence as director and actor and if it's shown in other ... A: Although it sounds like a homework assignment question, I'll attempt to answer this for you, but I ... | |
| Movie Title | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: My 92 year-old father-in-law was telling me about an old time movie he was trying to find the title ... A: Here is a link to the Internet Movie Data Base and the complete list of Emil Janning's film work. ... | |
| Autograph book | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: Mister Menefee, I found this autograph book when I was a kid in the mid sixties. Found it again in ... A: I looked your web site with the scans of the book pages, and that is a nice autograph book. ... | |
| Our Gang 16mm | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: I recently came across an old 16mm film for an Our Gang called "Quiet Please". It was fuzzy on our ... A: In the 1950s and 1960s, many of the Our Gang / Little Rascals comedies were recirculated for the ... | |
| Our Gang Short Films | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: can you tell me if any of the Rascals of the Our Gang films went on to have successful careeers ... A: I appreciate your efforts with expanding the Our Gang body of information. Please keep me informed ... | |
| ghost | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: I'm thinking of a black and white movie the has 2 males and 1 female that hide in a castle after ... A: If you can recall the name of at least one actor in the film, I would be happy to research your ... | |
| Our Gang Short Films | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: can you tell me if any of the Rascals of the Our Gang films went on to have successful careeers ... A: It's a coincidence that you approached me about this, as I was recently asked to co-write "Otay!" ... | |
| silent movie actress | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: I have an aunt who was in the silent movies in the 1900's to 1940's her name was Frances Barnham. I ... A: Your questions pleases me to answer as best I can. Frances Burnham (note the spelling difference in ... | |
| Title to old movie | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: I am looking for the Title to an old 30-40's B%26W Classic. Story: A rich family has a butler who ... A: The movie you recall is probably the famous, old story called The Admirable Chrichton. The Admirable ... | |
| lou place's stuff | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: Not sure this get a responce but i have to start somewhere. My name is Gage. I have a question I was ... A: Please, go through every item carefully and inventory each so you can communicate with others about ... | |
| Vintage movie expert | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I found an old "Keystone Moviegraph" 35mm movie projector. In the same box are 4-35mm Movies ... A: To look for current values on vintage children or home movie projectors, I recommend visiting ... | |
| Do you know the title of this movie? | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: I saw a movie many years ago about a young girl, maybe 5 or 6 who went to stay with a relative, an ... A: In order to pinpoint the movie you remember, I need to know a little more about the film. If you can ... | |
| Request title of black & white movie classic | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: Movie starts with children playing possibly in England, a young boy & a young girl. The boys looses ... A: That plot sounds a lot like the story of Peter Ibbetson, which was filmed in the silent era under ... | |
| Request title of black & white movie classic | 8/28/2009 |
| Q: Movie starts with children playing possibly in England, a young boy & a young girl. The boys looses ... A: The plot sounds a lot like several films I have seen. In order to pinpoint the title, I'll need a ... | |
| How do you find out if obscure silent films even exist? | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: ..I've been trying to assemble a collection of silent movies that dealt with the fears radicalism in ... A: Your query happens to be the one most often asked by everyone interested in silent films. The sad ... | |
| Silent Film Identification | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: I found an old silent movie (around 190?? maybe) and the title is "Night before Xmas". The title is ... A: Can you tell the guage of the celluloid film, whether it is 8mm, 16mm, or 35mm? This is important ... | |
| Silent Film Identification | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I found an old silent movie (around 190?? maybe) and the title is "Night before Xmas". The title is ... A: Edison's The Night Before Christmas was made and released in 1906. Not having seen the film you ... | |
| Movie made in Augusta, Maine | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: What can you tell me about a movie called "Riders of the Purple Sage" filmed in Augusta Maine. My ... A: There have been many versions of this film made over the years. Please inform me which specific ... | |
| Silent Movie Actress - name | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to identify the name of a silent movie star. She had the nickname "Brown Eyes". I ... A: I am glad I could help with your question about Margery Wilson. As for her appearance in The ... | |
| Silent Movie Actress - name | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to identify the name of a silent movie star. She had the nickname "Brown Eyes". I ... A: After researching your subject, I have come to the conclusion that there was probably not an actress ... | |
| Old Movie | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: I am looking for a movie I saw years ago. It was a period movie, Ghengis Khan-type. The leader ... A: good to hear from you today. We are just now launching my new book, the first biography ever written ... | |
| Vintage movie lobby card/poster | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: I have this old original lobby card or poster. I'm not sure which you'd call it. It is 14" across by ... A: In order to guage the value of a lobby card, I would recommend having a look on Ebay and seeing if ... | |
| Old Movie Star Studio Photos | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: My sister has several old movie star photos taken by the studios by a famous photographer. I just ... A: You would do well to contact Bruce Calvert at this e-mail address: Silentfilm@comcast.net Bruce ... | |
| Silent French comedy | 12/25/2008 |
| Q: I remember watching a French comedy from the 1890s, one of the first movies with a plot! All I ... A: The Apaches of Paris (1905)was a Pathe film, and that may be the film you recall. One could say that ... | |
| Luck of the Irish 1936 | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: I've been searching for a copy of an old movie, shot in Ireland, starring Richard Hayward, released ... A: I am an authority on silent movies, and I do not know what retailers may carry the title you are ... | |
| movie short "the fisherman" | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: I am looking to find the movie short "The Fisherman" it was played at the drive in in the 1960's, ... A: I cannot find any movie made in or near the 1960s by the name, The Fisherman. Partial Matches are: ... | |
| old christmas movie | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: When I was little I had a VHS move that was about toys coming to life at christmas. there was a ... A: It would help me to answer if you could provide some firm information, such as an actor's name. ... | |
| name of movie | 11/28/2008 |
| Q: Need the title of this movie about 2 young boys and the dad has them live with their grandma (who is ... A: If you can give me some specific details, I will try to help you with the answer. What is needed is ... | |
| The Gold Rush: assignment | 9/29/2008 |
| Q: Hey David, I am taking a film studies class and I was given a question in regards to the movie The ... A: Silent films were a blend of the vocal art of stage acting and pantomime and the art of ballet, ... | |
| can't remember the name of a old black and white film...driving me nuts | 8/24/2008 |
| Q: so about a year and a half ago i was watching a black and white movie on tv and i can't remember the ... A: The movie you are recalling is probably the 1973 Academy Award winning film, PAPER MOON, starring ... | |
| classic movies | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: i am looking for the following movies: imitation of life, the burning bed,and flowers in the attic. ... A: It's wonderful that you enjoy classic movies, Lynda. Thank you for contacting me about your interest ... | |
| Fig Leaves | 6/9/2008 |
| Q: Hey David, I see in one of your posts you mentioned that the silent movie Fig Leaves is available on ... A: The availability of silent films on DVD is increasing, but unfortunately, not all surviving titles ... | |
| question | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: hy, i am traying to find this movie, that has the main story about a nuns life, how her parents take ... A: There have been many movies made over the years about nuns. To research the plots of them to find ... | |
| Sarah Bernhardt's Tosca film | 3/14/2008 |
| Q: I note with interest that you have written a book about Bernhardt's films. I am working with the ... A: Please feel free to visit my web site www.thegreatstars.com for information about Sarah Bernhardt's ... | |
| Old black and white movie | 1/13/2008 |
| Q: I am 50 and my youngest brother is now 41. When he was a little boy about 8 years of age we ... A: The description you have offered does not ring a bell with me, I am sorry to say. I might suggest ... | |
| Chicago | 12/26/2007 |
| Q: Do you know if the 1927 silent film Chicago is on DVD or VHS? If so where can I order it. Thanks A: Long before the musical and long before the musical film, this property had a successful run in ... | |
| Usage of Intertitles | 11/2/2007 |
| Q: I know that intertitles were essential for conveying dialogue in silent films, but how often were ... A: Titles and intertitles were an essential element of motion picture from the very beginning, and they ... | |
| Original silent movie posters | 10/31/2007 |
| Q: While handling my uncle's estate, I found 3 original silent movie posters from 1926. They are all ... A: Vintage silent movie posters and lobby cards can be worth some money nowadays. The most valuable ... | |
| sci fi film question | 10/20/2007 |
| Q: By no means a classic film- I have a lingering memory of a sci fi film as seen on television in the ... A: My field of expertise is with classic films, so I cannot shed much light on an answer for you ... | |
| classic movie | 10/8/2007 |
| Q: years ago I saw a movie on tv with my mom, and i would love to see it again. it was black and ... A: If you could remember any actor or actress that was in the one you recall it would greatly help to ... | |
| Audrey Hepburn movies | 7/31/2007 |
| Q: Are their any movies where an Audrey Hepburn character is proposed to, and or married? A: The Internet Movie Data Base has a complete list of Audrey Hepburn films, production credits, and ... | |
| Scene Stealers/Small Roles with Big Impact | 7/19/2007 |
| Q: ew.com)which often has themed photo galleries to Hollywood history & its stars. I'm 40 & really ... A: It often is astounding how few people know that there were motion pictures made before the 1970s, ... | |
| english war movie from the 60's or 70's | 7/10/2007 |
| Q: IN SPANISH THE NAME WAS SQUADRON MOSQUITO,AND IN ENGLISH SHOULD BE MOSQUITO SQUADRON,MAYBE IT WAS ... A: The movie you remember might be this one: Mosquito Squadron (made in 1969). Director: Boris Sagal ... | |
| WW2 Escape movie | 6/15/2007 |
| Q: Movie about the only German Flyer to escape from Great Britain during WW2. A: The One That Got Away (1957) may be the title you are seeking. Read more about it at the link shown ... | |
| Golden Age or Earlier Directors | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: I am trying desperately to find out if there was even a single black female film director during the ... A: I have spent a lifetime researcing film history, and authored several books on the subject. To the ... | |
| Political and Artistic impacts of Buster Keaton's The Cameraman | 2/18/2007 |
| Q: I was also wondering about Buster Keaton (Chaplin's rival) and his Political and Artistic impacts in ... A: Buster Keaton would be seriously puzzled today if he were alive and knew that people were paying ... | |
| Political and Artistic impacts of Charlie Chaplin's City Lights | 2/18/2007 |
| Q: I would like to know the artistic and political impacts and influences of Charlie Chaplin's City ... A: City Lights had little artistic impact during the silent era because it was made at the time when ... | |
Classic Film
Answers by Expert:
DM
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
US silent films made from 1900-1929. Sarah Bernhardt, Lillian Gish, Mary Pickford, Jack Pickford, Lottie Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Richard Barthelmess, George O'Brien, Lou-Tellegen, Wallace Reid, Mae Marsh, Alla Nazimova, D. W. Griffith, Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas.
Experience
I am the author of Sarah Bernhardt in the Theater of Films and Sound Recordings (McFarland 2003),
The First Female Stars: Women of the Silent Era (Greenwood/Praeger 2004)
The First Male Stars: Men of the Silent Era (BearManor Media March 2007)
Richard Barthelmess: A Life in Pictures (BearManor Media February 2008)
George O'Brien: A Man's Man in Hollywood (BearManor Media January 2010)
I have spent many years researching silent films, and have a large collection of rare resource books from which I can draw information that may be helpful.
Education/Credentials
Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.