If you’re a fan of Charlie Chaplin, why not dive deep into some of the best, arresting films of his era? Silent era, the period before the mushrooming of Talkies with synchronised sound, is characterised by intertitles, visually appealing storytelling with expressive acting and live orchestra accompanying the movie while screening them. Though many silent movies have sunk without any trace, some of them are treasured like gold. Here’s the list of silent movies that you can freely watch on YouTube.
Trip to the Moon (1902)
Are you an astrophile? If yes, you should definitely watch this first ever science fiction movie. Trip to the Moon (Le voyage dans la lune) by Georges Melies is a moonly bizzaro, showing a group of astronomers being sent to the moon in a capsule propelled by the cannon, and their encounter with Selenites. From the capsule hitting the moon’s eye to the phantasmagorical appearance of Phoebe (moon goddess sitting in a crescent moon), the movie has many iconic scenes that drenched the audience in wonderment.
City Lights (1931)
Here comes Charlie Chaplin with the blend of romance and comedy. City Lights was released when Talkies were riding the road, yet managed to garner the world’s attention with Charlie Chaplin’s gripping performance. City Lights is an emotional roller coaster that portrays the story of the tramp who falls in love with a blind girl, and his achingly hilarious journey to impress and save the girl from illness as well as eviction.
Raja Harishchandra (1913)
Raja Harishchandra by Dadasaheb Phalke is believed to be the first feature movie in India. Despite the financial strain and the deficiency of technical resources, Dadaseheb Phalke made films fuelled by passion and set the foundation stone to sprout Indian cinema. Raja Harishchandra revolves around Harishchandra, the king, and the challenges hurled at him while he stood committed to justice and truth. If you’re someone who’s into mythology, this movie is definitely your type.
A Throw Of Dice (1929)
A Throw of Dice is collaboratively crafted by Indian producer Himansu Rai and German director Franz Osten. The movie was released when Talkies were flourishing and taking the cinema world by storm. It shows the gripping tale of love and the play of ruthless fate, but despite the lashing of troubles, the film calms down to a silent dusk uniting the lovers. This captivating silent movie was inspired by Mahabharata.
