Shawn Hall
@silentshawn95.bsky.social
Avid classic film fan and blogger fond of movies ranging from 1895 to the current Oscars race. #silentfilm #PreCode #classichollywood
theeverydaycinephile.com
theeverydaycinephile.com
Scenes from Dante's Inferno (1911) compared to Gustave Doré’s illustrations for an 1857 edition of The Divine Comedy
November 14, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Scenes from Dante's Inferno (1911) compared to Gustave Doré’s illustrations for an 1857 edition of The Divine Comedy
TCM Silent Sunday Nights this November is showing films from three big 1910s Hollywood stars in Mary Pickford, Sessue Hayakawa, and Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle:
11/9 Body and Soul (1925)
11/16 The Cheat (1915)
11/23 Johanna Enlists (1918)
11/30 Roscoe Arbuckle comedies (1916-1926)
11/9 Body and Soul (1925)
11/16 The Cheat (1915)
11/23 Johanna Enlists (1918)
11/30 Roscoe Arbuckle comedies (1916-1926)
November 8, 2025 at 5:58 PM
TCM Silent Sunday Nights this November is showing films from three big 1910s Hollywood stars in Mary Pickford, Sessue Hayakawa, and Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle:
11/9 Body and Soul (1925)
11/16 The Cheat (1915)
11/23 Johanna Enlists (1918)
11/30 Roscoe Arbuckle comedies (1916-1926)
11/9 Body and Soul (1925)
11/16 The Cheat (1915)
11/23 Johanna Enlists (1918)
11/30 Roscoe Arbuckle comedies (1916-1926)
THE NIHILISTS
Years before D.W. Griffith immortalized the Biograph name, the company and director Wallace McCutcheon Sr. produced high-quality dramas such as THE NIHILIST that strove to tell more complex and emotionally impactful stories.
Years before D.W. Griffith immortalized the Biograph name, the company and director Wallace McCutcheon Sr. produced high-quality dramas such as THE NIHILIST that strove to tell more complex and emotionally impactful stories.
May 28, 2025 at 2:03 PM
THE NIHILISTS
Years before D.W. Griffith immortalized the Biograph name, the company and director Wallace McCutcheon Sr. produced high-quality dramas such as THE NIHILIST that strove to tell more complex and emotionally impactful stories.
Years before D.W. Griffith immortalized the Biograph name, the company and director Wallace McCutcheon Sr. produced high-quality dramas such as THE NIHILIST that strove to tell more complex and emotionally impactful stories.
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Edwin S. Porter brings the famous Christmas poem to the screen with a quaint storybook quality.
Edwin S. Porter brings the famous Christmas poem to the screen with a quaint storybook quality.
May 28, 2025 at 2:03 PM
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Edwin S. Porter brings the famous Christmas poem to the screen with a quaint storybook quality.
Edwin S. Porter brings the famous Christmas poem to the screen with a quaint storybook quality.
A TRIP TO SALT LAKE CITY
Mirroring the many cartoons poking fun of polygamy at the turn of the century, this Biograph comedy features the earliest surviving depiction of Mormons onscreen.
Mirroring the many cartoons poking fun of polygamy at the turn of the century, this Biograph comedy features the earliest surviving depiction of Mormons onscreen.
May 28, 2025 at 2:03 PM
A TRIP TO SALT LAKE CITY
Mirroring the many cartoons poking fun of polygamy at the turn of the century, this Biograph comedy features the earliest surviving depiction of Mormons onscreen.
Mirroring the many cartoons poking fun of polygamy at the turn of the century, this Biograph comedy features the earliest surviving depiction of Mormons onscreen.
REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA
Pathé, weeks after the event, dramatized the famous mutiny aboard the Battleship Potemkin using stimulating miniatures and sharp editing techniques, twenty years before Sergei Eisenstein.
Pathé, weeks after the event, dramatized the famous mutiny aboard the Battleship Potemkin using stimulating miniatures and sharp editing techniques, twenty years before Sergei Eisenstein.
May 28, 2025 at 2:03 PM
REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA
Pathé, weeks after the event, dramatized the famous mutiny aboard the Battleship Potemkin using stimulating miniatures and sharp editing techniques, twenty years before Sergei Eisenstein.
Pathé, weeks after the event, dramatized the famous mutiny aboard the Battleship Potemkin using stimulating miniatures and sharp editing techniques, twenty years before Sergei Eisenstein.
THE MISADVENTURE OF A FRENCH GENTLEMAN WITHOUT PANTS AT THE ZANDVOORT BEACH
You can't talk about 1905 without mentioning a chase comedy! The earliest surviving Dutch film incorporated plenty of locals in an old man's attempt to dodge the police after a charge of indecent exposure.
You can't talk about 1905 without mentioning a chase comedy! The earliest surviving Dutch film incorporated plenty of locals in an old man's attempt to dodge the police after a charge of indecent exposure.
May 28, 2025 at 2:03 PM
THE MISADVENTURE OF A FRENCH GENTLEMAN WITHOUT PANTS AT THE ZANDVOORT BEACH
You can't talk about 1905 without mentioning a chase comedy! The earliest surviving Dutch film incorporated plenty of locals in an old man's attempt to dodge the police after a charge of indecent exposure.
You can't talk about 1905 without mentioning a chase comedy! The earliest surviving Dutch film incorporated plenty of locals in an old man's attempt to dodge the police after a charge of indecent exposure.
Favorite first-time watches in February 2025:
The Iron Mask (1929)
Andrei Rublev (1966)
Paris, Texas (1984)
Anora (2024)
The Iron Mask (1929)
Andrei Rublev (1966)
Paris, Texas (1984)
Anora (2024)
March 2, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Favorite first-time watches in February 2025:
The Iron Mask (1929)
Andrei Rublev (1966)
Paris, Texas (1984)
Anora (2024)
The Iron Mask (1929)
Andrei Rublev (1966)
Paris, Texas (1984)
Anora (2024)
I think I did a pretty good job to watch the duds early on to leave me with some good stuff to finish with.
Still got an Altman and a classic sci-fi left. Might save Deer Hunter ‘til last to finish the lists at the same time for fun.
Still got an Altman and a classic sci-fi left. Might save Deer Hunter ‘til last to finish the lists at the same time for fun.
November 19, 2024 at 4:42 AM
I think I did a pretty good job to watch the duds early on to leave me with some good stuff to finish with.
Still got an Altman and a classic sci-fi left. Might save Deer Hunter ‘til last to finish the lists at the same time for fun.
Still got an Altman and a classic sci-fi left. Might save Deer Hunter ‘til last to finish the lists at the same time for fun.
A month and a half left of 2024 and zeroing in on my yearly goal to finish watching all Best Picture winners and films on the AFI 10th anniversary list.
Six left to go!
Six left to go!
November 19, 2024 at 4:39 AM
A month and a half left of 2024 and zeroing in on my yearly goal to finish watching all Best Picture winners and films on the AFI 10th anniversary list.
Six left to go!
Six left to go!
Found out my local library had a surprising amount of Pre-Code collections so I am all set for the rest of #PreCodeApril!
April 12, 2024 at 11:19 PM
Found out my local library had a surprising amount of Pre-Code collections so I am all set for the rest of #PreCodeApril!
Insane how Von Sternburg got almost a free leash to do whatever he wanted with lighting.
He could completely cover up his leading man's face, as he does with Herbert Marshall in Blonde Venus (1932), and not only get away with it but heighten a normal conversation to intense melodrama.
He could completely cover up his leading man's face, as he does with Herbert Marshall in Blonde Venus (1932), and not only get away with it but heighten a normal conversation to intense melodrama.
April 9, 2024 at 11:38 PM
Insane how Von Sternburg got almost a free leash to do whatever he wanted with lighting.
He could completely cover up his leading man's face, as he does with Herbert Marshall in Blonde Venus (1932), and not only get away with it but heighten a normal conversation to intense melodrama.
He could completely cover up his leading man's face, as he does with Herbert Marshall in Blonde Venus (1932), and not only get away with it but heighten a normal conversation to intense melodrama.
My favorite first time watches this March:
THE SMILING MADAME BEUDET (1923)
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939)
DILLINGER (1945)
SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (1960)
THE SMILING MADAME BEUDET (1923)
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939)
DILLINGER (1945)
SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (1960)
April 2, 2024 at 4:32 AM
My favorite first time watches this March:
THE SMILING MADAME BEUDET (1923)
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939)
DILLINGER (1945)
SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (1960)
THE SMILING MADAME BEUDET (1923)
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939)
DILLINGER (1945)
SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (1960)
My New Years movie resolution was to watch more films on my Letterboxd watchlist than I add.
So far I’m doing pretty good.
So far I’m doing pretty good.
February 20, 2024 at 3:41 AM
My New Years movie resolution was to watch more films on my Letterboxd watchlist than I add.
So far I’m doing pretty good.
So far I’m doing pretty good.
Just started a book on the history of American screen censorship and found this delightful quip:
February 17, 2024 at 3:50 AM
Just started a book on the history of American screen censorship and found this delightful quip:
Me whenever I am writing about 'firsts' in early film history:
February 14, 2024 at 6:48 PM
Me whenever I am writing about 'firsts' in early film history:
Watched WHAT PRICE GLORY? (1926) and although I’m not the best lip reader I found plenty of colorful language throughout.
February 10, 2024 at 5:04 AM
Watched WHAT PRICE GLORY? (1926) and although I’m not the best lip reader I found plenty of colorful language throughout.