The Silent Years (1971– ) User Reviews

Twelve Classics from the Silent Screen

[lugonian · 10/10 · 9 September 2000]

Joe Franklin's book, "Classics of the Silent Screen" (Cadillac Publishing, 1959) brought a renewed interest to silent movies, especially to a new generation of movie lovers, listing 50 greatest movies and 75 greatest stars. Of all the programs dedicated on silent films during the 1960s on Public Broadcast Television (PBS), the one I remember and enjoyed most is "The Silent Years", hosted by the bearded and cigar smoking Orson Welles, which premiered on WNET, Channel 13, July 6, 1971, in New York City. All the movies presented were from the Paul Killiam collection, individually scored either by William Perry's piano playing or an organ soundtrack. The new scores were so wonderful to hear made watching the silent movies even more enjoyable.

The silent movies shown in the series include: (1) THE GOLD RUSH (1925), Charlie Chaplin; (2) THE SON OF THE SHEIK (1926), Rudolph Valentino; (3) D. W. Griffith's INTOLERANCE (1916); (4) THE MARK OF ZORRO (1920), Douglas Fairbanks; (5) THE GENERAL (1926), Buster Keaton; (6) THE BELOVED ROGUE (1927), John Barrymore; (7) THE EXTRA GIRL (1923), Mabel Normand; (8) THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (1924), Douglas Fairbanks; (9) ORPHANS OF THE STORM (1921), The Gish Sisters; (10) SALLY OF THE SAWDUST (1925), Carol Dempster and WC Fields; (11) BLOOD AND SAND (1922), Rudolph Valentino; and (12) THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1923), Lon Chaney. Take note that DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1920), starring John Barrymore, was not included in the New York City broadcasts but presented at various PBS stations in other states (including WNJM, Channel 50, Montclair, New Jersey, in 1974) in place of THE SON OF THE SHEIK (1926). While "The Silent Years" did have numerous rebroadcasts on Channel 13 until 1974, strangely, THE SON OF THE SHEIK was not included as part of that rerun package.

In 1975, a new "SILENT YEARS" series was presented, hosted by Lillian Gish, with 12 more new silent films being presented to television, many for the first time, including Lillian Gish herself in BROKEN BLOSSOMS (1919). While "The Silent Years" of 1971 has been out of circulation since the mid 1970s or so, many of the movies aired have become available on video cassette, some with new orchestral scores, others with original scores presented for "The Silent Years" series.

"The Silent Years" broadcasts for both 1971 and 1975 make excellent viewing for silent film lovers. It's also a great introduction to anyone interested or curious about films from the silent film era and the legendary stars that made them famous.

Plans for Re-release?

[eved · 10/10 · 27 October 2007]

Like many youngsters in the early seventies, I too watched while lying on the living room floor Killiam's "The Silent Years" hosted by Orson Welles. I have never forgotten it and every so often search to see if the series has been converted to digital and re-released. Narrated by the inimitable Orson Welles, underscored by the marvelous piano playing of William Perry, featuring an incredible collection of silent movies (many that might have disappeared through disintegration), we had much to thank for Killiam resurrecting these treasures. I would have loved to have shown them to my children who are now grown and off to college. Who owns and houses the series now?

Important series introducing a new generation to silents

[HarlowMGM · 10/10 · 31 August 2017]

I loved this series as a teenager especially the charming and warm introductions in the second edition by Lillian Gish (apparently filmed in her New York apartment!). THE SILENT YEARS introduced kids of the seventies to a long-lost fascinating era of film. I would love to see somebody release the programs on DVD. Another IMDb member listed the movies aired in the Welles collection so I researched and found the titles in the second season and have submitted it to IMDb:

(1) WHAT PRICE GLORY 6-18-75 (2) THE EAGLE 6-25-75 (3) THE IRON HORSE 7-2-75 (4) THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 7-9-75 (5) COLLEGE 7-16-75 (6) BROKEN BLOSSOMS 7-23-75 (7) PECK'S BAD BOY 7-30-75 (8) THE TEMPEST 8-6-75 (9) DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS 8-13-75 (10) RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE 8-20-75 (11) SEVENTH HEAVEN 8-27-75 (12) THE IRON MASK 9-3-75.

I'm fairly certain I saw THE CAT AND THE CANARY during the Gish run, perhaps it was as Lugonian mentioned for DR JEYKLL & MR HYDE in season one just not run in New York.

Wonderful introduction to the great silent movies

[mowder · 10/10 · 26 December 2015]

This wonderful series ran the summer I turned 14, and I watched each one religiously. It was a marvelous introduction to the language and greatness of silent films. There hadn't been much chance to watch silent movies before WNET ran this series. Television wanted new films, preferably color, and of course with soundtracks. But these films not only displayed the wide range of genres and topics that silents had covered, but also explored the greatness of the silent films stars.

One thing that the prior reviewer didn't cover in his excellent precis was that WNET ran an offer of 12 free posters of scenes from all the films. I hung them in our basement. The shot of Lillian and Dorothy Gish in the tumbril, heading towards the guillotine during the French Revolution, still remains an image of beauty and emotion.