Search Museum of the Moving Image

Field not found.

Silents, Please!

For many filmmakers, historians, and aficionados, silent cinema represents the art form at its most pristine and promising state. The pleasures of silents—from the peculiar patina of their tinted images to the archaic charm of their intertitles to the boundless variety of their stylistic forms, and most of all their pure kineticism—are some of the most exquisite sensations the cinema has to offer, but sadly also some of the most seldom experienced on the big screen. This series hopes to help correct that with a program of silent treasures, both well known and newly unearthed, for audiences of all ages to enjoy, often presented with live accompaniment.

Share

Past Events

Safety Last!

Safety Last!

Steamboat Bill, Jr.

Steamboat Bill, Jr.
A man in a black and white photo stands agonized against the side of a brick city buliding, gripping iron window bars.

Eleven P.M.
A man in a black and white photo stands agonized against the side of a brick city buliding, gripping iron window bars.

Eleven P.M.
A fighter pilot in a black and white photo from early 20th century puts his hand on the side of a biplane.

The Flying Ace
A man in a cowboy hat tenderly places a gloved hand on a woman's shoulder.

Symbol of the Unconquered
A fighter pilot in a black and white photo from early 20th century puts his hand on the side of a biplane.

The Flying Ace
A man in a cowboy hat tenderly places a gloved hand on a woman's shoulder.

Symbol of the Unconquered
A man dressed in a bowler hat and a little tramp outfit stands on a snowy mountainside his hand above his forehead as he looks at the landscape.

The Gold Rush
A man dressed in a bowler hat and a little tramp outfit stands on a snowy mountainside his hand above his forehead as he looks at the landscape.

The Gold Rush
A man dressed in a bowler hat and a little tramp outfit stands on a snowy mountainside his hand above his forehead as he looks at the landscape.

The Gold Rush
An eskimo holds a harpoon and crouches on an ice floe near the water in a partly frozen lake, a camera on a tripod next to him.

Nanook of the North
An eskimo holds a harpoon and crouches on an ice floe near the water in a partly frozen lake, a camera on a tripod next to him.

Nanook of the North

Greed

Greed

Sherlock Jr.

Sherlock Jr.
A black and white image of two human figures silhouetted against the sky standing amidst tall grasses

Seven Seas: Chapter 2—Chastity
black and white image of a young Japanese couple, the man looking down at a woman who looks away, both sitting in front of a traditional screen

Seven Seas: Chapter 1—Virginity
A man clutching a hat in his hand stands in front of a white picket fence, with a woman standing behind him behind the fence

Our Hospitality
A man clutching a hat in his hand stands in front of a white picket fence, with a woman standing behind him behind the fence

Our Hospitality
A man in military uniform holding a long cigarette looks down and smiles at a woman in a hat he stands over

Foolish Wives
A man in military uniform holding a long cigarette looks down and smiles at a woman in a hat he stands over

Foolish Wives
A black and white image of a man in a tuxedo dancing with a woman in a high white feathered peacock headdress

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
A black and white image of a man in a tuxedo dancing with a woman in a high white feathered peacock headdress

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
A man in glasses and a suitcase holds a suitcase next to a man in a chapeau getting in a car in a black-and-white photo

Speedy
A man in glasses and a suitcase holds a suitcase next to a man in a chapeau getting in a car in a black-and-white photo

Speedy
A woman embracing a man in front of a river

Sunrise
A woman embracing a man in front of a river

Sunrise
A woman embracing a man in front of a river

Sunrise
A woman embracing a man in front of a river

Sunrise
a man in silhouette against a misty dock at night

The Docks of New York
a man in silhouette against a misty dock at night

The Docks of New York
A little tramp in his bowler hat looks at a young woman holding a flower and smiling

City Lights
A little tramp in his bowler hat looks at a young woman holding a flower and smiling

City Lights
A little tramp in his bowler hat looks at a young woman holding a flower and smiling

City Lights
A boxer in the ring, looking at camera, beside a kid and his trainer.

The Shakedown
A boxer in the ring, looking at camera, beside a kid and his trainer.

The Shakedown

Nosferatu

Nosferatu

Nosferatu

Safety Last!

Safety Last!

Safety Last!

Queens of Destruction: A Selection of Films from Cinema’s First Nasty Women

Queens of Destruction: A Selection of Films from Cinema’s First Nasty Women

The Cheaters

Peter Pan

Peter Pan

Mantrap

Mantrap

Dr. Mabuse, The Gambler

Dr. Mabuse, The Gambler

The Man in the Porkpie Hat: Buster Keaton Shorts

The Man in the Porkpie Hat: Buster Keaton Shorts

Pavement Butterfly