The magic of the silent screen, illuminated by the recollections of those who created it.
This book attempts to correct the distortions, for the silent era was the richest in the cinema's history. The author has tried to recapture the spirit of era through the words of those who created it. Linking chapters provide a context for the interviews has led to gaps, and I cannot claim that his book is definitive.
"Though silent film was no more than 40 years past when this rich, fascinating survey of its history was published, it felt as ancient then to many budding cinephiles as it does to those today. Brownlow’s book, with its phenomenal interweaving of facts, anecdotes, interviews, and stunning array of pictures made what seemed dated and passe fresh and demanding to be experienced. Few books on cinema have ever made the movies they covered come alive as much as here to those who have not yet seen them. Among its achievements was the rediscovery of the mostly forgotten French pioneer Abel Gance."
