Released - September, 1923 

Directed By - Wallace Worsley

Starring – Lon Chaney (Quasimodo), Patsy Ruth Millar (Esmeralda), Norman Kerry (Phoebus de Chateaupers), Kate Lester (Madame de Condelaurier), Winifred Bryson (Fleur de Lys).

Description – Quasimodo is the deformed bell-ringer at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. He is told by the evil Jehan, the brother of archdeacon Claude Frollo, to kidnap the beautiful young gypsy dancer Esmeralda.

The kidnapping is foiled by Captain of the Guard Phoebus de Chateaupers and Quasimodo is sentenced to be lashed in the village square. During this punishment, Esmeralda takes pity of the bell-ringer and brings him water.

Jehan, learning of Phoebus’ plan to wed Esmeralda wants her back. He wound Phoebus and blames the act on Esmeraldo who is sentenced to death for stabbing an aristocrat.

Quasimodo remembering her kindness to him rescues her from execution and takes refuge with Esmeralda in the tower of the Cathedral. Here they are awarded sanctuary under law and cannot be arrested.

However, this right of sanctuary has infuriated the people who still believe the gypsy to be guilty of the crime and they plan to storm the Cathedral.

NOTABLE: This was Universal Studio’s most successful silent film grossing over $3 million dollars.

The role of Quasimodo elevated actor Lon Chaney from accomplished supporting character actor to full stardom.

Lon Chaney’s extreme makeup for this role included a knotted wig, false teeth, putty on his cheeks, a false eye, and a 10-15 lb. plastic hump for his back.

This film was the first to use wireless technology allowing the director to communicate with his assistants.

The film’s massive crowd scenes were filled with extras from downtown Los Angeles. These extras were paid $1.00 a night and included meals. It has been said that many of these extras were prostitutes who “considerable sideline business” on the set.

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (Ultimate Edition)

TCM Archives – The Lon Chaney Collection (The Ace of Hearts / Laugh, Clown, Laugh / The Unknown)

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Released - October, 1922 

Directed By - Allan Dwan

Starring – Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. (Robin Hood/Earl of Huntingdon), Wallace Beery (King Richard), Enid Bennett (Lady Marion Fitzwalter), Sam De Grasse (Prince John).

Description – A silent classic that established Robin Hood as one of the most loved heros in film history. With King Richard off fighting in the Crusades, his brother Prince John is left to rule his kingdom.

With encouragement from Sir Guy of Gisbourne, Prince John seeks total control of the kingdom and soon is revealed to be no more than a cruel and betraying tyrant. When Lady Marions’s word of John’s treachery reaches the Earl of Huntingdon who has accompanied King Richard on the Crusades he returns to England to oppose Prince John and return Richard to the throne.

It is now that the Earl assumes the identity of Robin Hood, champion of the oppressed, and with his band of loyal followers begins to “rob the rich, and give to the poor.” It doesn’t take long for these actions to get the attention and draw the ire of Prince John leading to an exciting final confrontation.

NOTABLE: Robin Hood was the first motion picture to have a grand Hollywood premiere. The premiere was held at the then Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre.

This film was entirely financed and produced by Douglas Fairbanks for his own production company, Douglas Fairbanks Picture Corporation which was jointly owned by Fairbanks, his wife Mary Pickford, D. W. Griffith, and Charles Chaplin.

Actor Alan Hale, Sr. was so effective in the role of Little John that he would play the character again in 1938′s The Adventures of Robin Hood , with Errol Flynn and 1950′s Rogues of Sherwood Forest.

The castle built for this production is considered to be the largest Hollywood set built for a silent picture.

Robin Hood

The Douglas Fairbanks Collection (The Thief of Bagdad/The Mark of Zorro/The Three Musketeers/Robin Hood/The Black Pirate/Don Q, The Son of Zorro)

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Released - December, 1921 

Directed By - D.W. Griffith

Starring – Lillian Gish (Henriette Girard), Dorothy Gish (Louise Girard), Joseph Schildkraut (Chevalier de Vaudrey), Frank Losee (Count de Linieres), Katherine Emmet (Countess de Linieres), Monte Blue (Danton).

Description – Taking place during the French Revolution, this is the story of the Girard sisters as played by the Gish sisters. Though the revolution itself never takes center stage it is used to demonstrate “class conflict” among the citizens of France,

After Louise goes blind, she and her sister Henriette go to Paris in the hope that Louise’s blindness might be cured.

While there they become seperated as Henriette is kidnapped by an aristocratic nobleman leaving Louise alone in the streets of Paris until she too is taken into a family of beggers.

The two suffer innumerable deprivations from both the beggers and the betraying and self-serving aristocrats. Watch the drama unfold as Henriette falls in love while attempting to free herself and find her sister.

NOTABLE:  Though the plot may be outdated, the settings and the acting provide excellent examples of what can be done with a high-quality silent film. The facial expressions of silent screen legend Lillian Gish convey emotions that equal what any words could say.

D.W. Griffith was considered the first of the “master directors,” with this film being his last pairing with both Gish sisters.

Orphans of the Storm

D. W. Griffith Silent Classics (Orphans of the Storm (1921) / Intolerance (1916) / Way Down East (1920) / Birth of A Nation (1915) / Broken Blossoms (1919)) (5-DVD)

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Released – June, 1927 

Directed By – Tod Browning

Starring – Lon Chaney (Alonzo the Armless), Norman Kerry (Malabar the Mighty), Joan Crawford (Nanon Zanzi), John George (Antonio Zanzi).

Description – This Lon Chaney silent classic is about a seemingly armless knife thrower and the carnival girl (Joan Crawford) he hopes to marry.

Alonzo keeps his arms tightly strapped to his sides appearing armless and amazing his audience with his knife throwing ability using his feet. He is in love with his assistant Nanon, who has a pathological fear of being touched by a man,

Zanon witnesses the murder of the carnival manager but, only sees the thumb of the killer. In an effort to both cover up his crime and to remove Zanon’s fear of being touched, Alonzo blackmails a doctor to amputate both of his arm. He believes that by doing this he can win the heart of Zanon without her fear of being touched by a man getting in his way.

This proves to be a huge mistake as Zanon loses her fear and is now interested in the carnival strong man. Finding this out, Alonzo become enraged and plots his revenge.

NOTABLE:  Joan Crawford has always stated that she learned more about acting working with Chaney in this film that the rest of her career put together.

Burt Lancaster considers Chaney’s performance to be the most emotionally compelling performance that he has ever seen.

Included in The Lon Chaney Collection 

TCM Archives – The Lon Chaney Collection (The Ace of Hearts / Laugh, Clown, Laugh / The Unknown)

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Released – December, 1921 

Directed By - Fred C. Newmeyer

Starring – Harold Lloyd (The Boy), Mildred Davis (The Girl), Noah Young (The Rowdey Element), Dick Sutherland (The Maharagah).

Description – A boy can not receive his girlfriends father’s marriage blessing until he does one thing. He must prove to the father that he is capable of doing something worthwhile. In an effort to impress the father, he joins the Navy.

The ship he is on docks in a Middle Eastern Kingdom. The girl and her father sail on their yacht to meet the boy at the Middle East dock. Soon after they arrive, the girl is kidnapped by the local Maharagah with her only hope of being saved now in the boys hands.

NOTABLE:  This was popular silent screen comedy actor Harold Lloyd’s first feature film making him just the second silent comedian to do so.

Included in the Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection  Vol. 2

The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection Vol. 2

The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection Vols. 1-3

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