It all started in Manhattan near the corner of Broadway and 27th Street, in a little spot called Kinetoscope Parlor. The year was 1894, and paying customers were lined up to snatch a peek at one of Thomas Edison’s latest inventions: the silent feature. That was over a hundred years ago, and film enthusiasts are still praising this truly unique predecessor to motion pictures as we know them today (referred to as “talkies” in the 1930s). Join us as we stroll back in time to pay tribute to the great-granddaddy of your favorite popcorn-eating pastime companion, movies!
#1: The Artist (2011)
We’re kicking off our tour de force with a film that revisited the silent genre nearly 100 years after its prime. Critics and viewers alike adore the way The Artist delights in this forgotten genre, focusing on emotional yet endearing acting performances, a classic-yet-contemporary visual style, and good old-fashioned romantic storytelling. It’s also fun to experience this film in crystal clear high-definition. A luxury that was far out of reach in the 1920s and ’30s.
