Silent Movies: The Birth of Film and the Triumph of Movie Culture by Peter Kobel, Library of Congress, Martin Scorsese, Martin Scorsese (Foreword by), Kevin Brownlow (Introduction)

Synopsis

A gorgeous, lavish history of silent movies - with more than 400 amazing images - captures the birth of film and icons like Chaplin, Garbo, Clara Bow, and Valentino.

Drawing on the extraordinary collection of The Library of Congress, one of the greatest repositories for silent film and memorabilia, Peter Kobel has created the definitive visual history of silent film. From its birth in the 1890s, with the earliest narrative shorts, through the brilliant full-length features of the 1920s, SILENT MOVIES captures the greatest directors and actors and their immortal films. SILENT MOVIES also looks at the technology of early film, the use of color photography, and the restoration work being spearheaded by some of Hollywood's most important directors, such as Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola.
Richly illustrated from the Library of Congress's extensive collection of posters, paper prints, film stills, and memorabilia-most of which have never been in print-SILENT MOVIES is an important work of history that will also be a sought-after gift book for all lovers of film.

Margaret Heilbrun - Library Journal

The afterword from the Library of Congress (LC) says this book's purpose is "to increase the visibility of its film collections." It does that. But as a primer on the history and glories of film's silent era, it fails. Journalist Kobel's text is shallow, disorganized, and full of errors, including those of omission and internal contradiction. A photo caption calls Theda Bara "the screen's first star," but the book's spotty A-to-Z section on "The Stars" doesn't include her, also leaving out all of silent film's geniuses of comedy (who receive insufficient coverage in the "Genres" section). Clara Bow is left "reclusive and melancholy" after 1933, with no word on her happy marriage to star Rex Bell or the last 30-odd years of her life. Predictably, the "cameras worshipped" Garbo, but her magical cameraman William Daniels is unmentioned. Some labels get stuck on the wrong person-Valentino was the "first major star to die young"-or trot out unsubstantiated gossip-Valentino had been a "petty thief." LC's images, especially those reproduced in color, are a treat for the uninitiated; few will seem rare or unique to specialists. Only for comprehensive film collections.

Biography

Peter Kobel is the former managing editor of Premiere magazine, and has written for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Entertainment Weekly. Martin Scorsese is one of the most respected and influential directors working today. He also serves as president of the Film Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to film preservation. Kevin Brownlow is a noted film historian and has written extensively on early film, including THE PARADE'S GONE BY and BEHIND THE MASK OF INNOCENCE.