CHARLIE CHAPLIN in The Great Dictator (1940)

In this film, Charlie Chaplin fully embraces sound while still keeping up the physical comedy of his silent films. And, true to form, he has an important social message for the world. The speech at the end of this film might by my (Josh Wagner's) personal favorite speech ever given in a movie. It makes me cry.

(Also, fun fact: Chaplin and Hitler not only had the same mustache but they were born the same day. It's like Chaplin was born to protest Hitler through this film. It's epic.)

As you write about this film in the comments below, please answer at least two of the following questions:

• Which Chaplin film was your favorite? Provide at least three reasons to back up your opinion.
• Which of the three great silent filmmakers (Lloyd, Keaton, and Chaplin) is your favorite? Provide at least three reasons to back up your opinion.
• Do you think Chaplin is funnier when he makes purely silent films or when he integrates sound? Why?
• Do you think the Jewish character in The Great Dictator is the tramp character that Chaplin usually plays? Why or why not?
• What is your favorite scene / moment in The Great Dictator? Why?

Genres Students: In addition to the above, please also answer the following question:

• Even though this film has sound, in what ways is it still a silent comedy? This question is intended to help you think more deeply about the nature of silent comedy as a genre.

And since I love it so much, here's a link to watch that final speech again. But don't just watch it, live it too:

CHARLIE CHAPLIN in Modern Times (1936)

Like all of Chaplin's films, this movie is saying a lot and doing a lot while being completely hilarious all at the same time.  Historically this film is important for many reasons.  Rich with commentary about things like the industrial changes in the USA (people working in factories more and more, people growing up on farms less and less - we're talking really big changes in life styles in our nation and Chaplin wanted to explore that), in your opinion, what were Chaplin's feelings on that change in our country?

This film was also released during the heavy-laden and very challenging depression era.  As always, Chaplin attempted to raise awareness about poverty, but that message may have been felt even stronger by the nation during this economically challenging time.  In what ways did Chaplin represent poverty in this film?

Made nearly 10 years after sound was invented, yet still considered a silent film, what things did Chaplin do to use sound?

What was your experience like seeing Charlie's Tramp speak, and saying goodbye to this beloved character?

Again, genre kids, did you have any eureka moments watching this?  Any ideas for things to do or include in a silent comedy script?

Goodbye, Tramp, we love you.

CHARLIE CHAPLIN in City Lights (1931)

Charlie Chaplin was a deeply passionate and caring man.  And he was an activist, making movies with the hope of inspiring change.  He wanted to end poverty, and believed it was possible.  What things in this film did you see that seemed to hope to help inspire change?  Moments that fought for awareness and change in poverty?

What did you notice about the behavior of the wealthy?  Are they all the same way?  What about the behavior of the poor?  Are they all the same way?  Share specific examples from this film.

For you, what is the message of this film?

This was a silent film made 4 years after sound came out.  Although silent as far as dialogue, how did Chaplin play with sound and sound-effects to tell jokes?  Genre folks, did any of these jokes help you think of anything for your screenplays?

CHARLIE CHAPLIN in The Kid (1921)

This was Mr. Chaplin's first feature film, everything he made before was short films.  How do you think he did?  Did you like the movie?  Why or why not?

Chaplin grew up completely destitute in England, he never forgot what it was like to be poor.  How does this come out in the film?  His first child died after only 3 days.  Historians suspect that was a major influence for this film; I agree.  How did knowing Chaplin's personal history affect your experience watching this film?  Would you agree that it is important to know about the filmmakers lives when studying film history?  Why or why not?




What things did you notice about Chaplin's comedic style?  What similarities are their between him and Lloyd and Keaton?  What differences do you see?

Genre kids, answer this too:  Did this film help spark any ideas in writing a silent film screenplay?

BUSTER KEATON in The General (1926)

OK, so Orson Welles says that this is the best Civil War movie ever made! That's a mighty bold statement. There are a lot of really good Civil War movies out there (e.g. Gone with the Wind, Gettysburg, Lincoln, etc.) So, question no. 1 that you need to answer today is: do you agree or disagree with Orson's statement? Is this the best Civil War movie ever made?

In addition, please answer one of the following questions:

• What do you like most about this film? What do you like least?
• What patterns have you noticed in Buster Keaton's filmmaking and comedic style? Please provide examples from specific films.
• What did you learn about history by watching this film? What questions about history did it raise? And we'll think you're extra awesome if you look up the answers to the questions and post those too.
• Who do you like better: Buster Keaton or Harold Lloyd? Why? Are the things you prefer about each of them?
• Did you think The General was funny? Why or why not?
• How did you feel about how Buster Keaton chose to portray women in this film? Why? Feel free to comment on his portrayal of women in his other films as well.

Genres students: please also answer the following question:

• Of all the films we've watched in this class so far, which one has given you the most inspiration / ideas for your own silent comedy script? Explain.

BUSTER KEATON in Our Hospitality (1923)

When watching Our Hospitality today, I was interested in a few things that stood out to me: (1) the way the film sheds light on various social issues of the 1800's, the early 1900's, and today; and (2) how perfectly this film illustrates the point someone (I think Jackson—correct me if I'm wrong) made in class: that Buster Keaton's films are about a guy who accidentally ends up in the wrong place. So much of Keaton's humor and plots really is about coincidence, mistaken identities, and misfortune.

Let me elaborate on each of the above:

Social Issues: Here are a few moments in this film that got me thinking about various social issues:

• The black slave who brings them dinner: I was fascinating by the way that the characters (and the film itself) weren't concerned at all with the fact that the characters were being served by a slave. We see it happen but, in the plot of the film, it is incidental. This says something about how slavery was viewed in 1830 (the setting of the film) and 1923 (when the film was made) and now (when I watched the film).
• The antagonists want to kill Keaton's character because of a feud but their code of honor keeps them from killing him when he's a guest in their home: I believe this is a 1920's filmmaker intentionally satiring the ethics of 1800's southerners.
• The man beats his wife but when Keaton's character intervenes, she beats him and then the man resumes what he was doing: I laughed at this moment but then felt bad because it really is a pretty insensitive treatment of something as terrible as domestic violence. Today, I don't know if a movie could do this joke as it was done in Our Hospitality and have it considered in good taste.

Coincidences and Misunderstandings: The entire plot of this film revolves around Keaton's character accidentally ending up a guest in the home of people who want to kill him and a good number of the individual gags revolve around people misunderstanding what is happening at the moment.

Your assignment: answer two of the following questions:

• Do you have anything to say about any of the three social issues I pointed out above. Do you agree or disagree with any of the points I made? Why? Did you notice any of the same things? In what ways did the film help you think about any of these social issues in new ways?
• Did you notice any social issues highlighted by the film which I didn't point out? If so, what were they? In what way did the plot or gags highlight them?
• So far, do you like Harold Lloyd or Buster Keaton better? Why?
• What do you feel the filmmakers did well with Our Hospitality? What did they do poorly?
• Did you find the film funny? Why or why not?

Genres assignment: in addition to answering two of those questions, also answer the following:

• In a couple of weeks, you are going to start developing your own silent comedy scripts. As you watch the films we've watched so far in class, what have you learned that you want to be sure to do in your scripts? What have you learned that you want to avoid?

BUSTER KEATON in Seven Chances (1925)

Welcome to Buster Keaton week!  I love this man.  I hope you've enjoyed the shorts we've been able to watch, and this, your feature: SEVEN CHANCES.


Keaton was more than an actor.  He also wrote and directed his films.  When we talk about Buster Keaton, we're talking about a filmmaker - which is cool.  Inventive and passionate about the craft, Mr. Keaton put his entire heart into his films.

Let's talk about this film.  What did you notice about Keaton that makes him stand apart from Lloyd.  How was his comedy different?  How was his comedy similar?

Did you like this movie?  Why or why not?

*Genre folks: what is unique about Buster Keaton's comedic style?  Anything you see from this style that you'd like to apply to your own scripts?  If so, what?


And always remember, putting an ad in the paper to find your spouse is never a good idea... it will inevitably result in this:

EXTRA CREDIT: The Three Amigos

A delightful combo of American film history and the legendary Japanese classic Seven Samurai, this movie was written and made by filmmakers who love silent films, who understand the genre of comedy, and who appreciate the often replicated story of Kurosawa's beloved film.  These filmmakers know their stuff.

Why is studying black and white comedies a valid use of your time?  More than just to get a grade in your class, I really want to know what you think.  The makers of Three Amigos didn't make it for a grade in school, they made it with love for the time period and with love for silent comedies.  Is watching films from the silent era worth our time?  Why?

Did seeing this film help you appreciate silent comedies more?  Why?

Is there anything you learned about the time period of silent films from this movie that you didn't know before?


*Genre studies students, here an extra question for you: does this movie give you any sort of ideas on things you might want to include in or apply to your scripts?

HAROLD LLOYD in Grandma's Boy (1922)

Well, this was your final experience with Mr. Lloyd for our class.  But, he's made so many more films, and I encourage you to keep watching them!  Especially if the opportunity comes up to see them with a live organist!  Here is a link for the Organ Loft, which regularly plays silent films of all shapes and sizes - it is one of my favorite places on this earth.



Continually playing the bullied character, many found him an everyman to root for.  Did you like that about Harold Lloyd?  Do you think he did a believable portrayal of a timid man?


Oh, the joy of sight gags and visual jokes (Harold and the bully accidentally holding hands when they thought it was Mildred's hand?  The sneaking into the shed moment?  Bringing the bad guy in a baby carriage?  Brilliant!).  What were some of your favorite jokes from this film?  Were there any that didn't work for you?  If so, why not?


*Genre Studies students, this is an especially important question for you, make sure you answer it: what is unique about Harold Lloyd's comedic style?  How will you apply this to your own scripts?

*Film History students:  what are your final thoughts on Harold Lloyd?  What is your opinion of him as an actor?  Of his films?  What is unique about his comedic style?  And, did you like that style?

HAROLD LLOYD in The Freshman (1925)

We continue our exploration of the work of Harold Lloyd.  Charming, relatable, kind, he exudes goodness and hope.

Many "college" films since this one embody the same spirit and themes.  A new guy comes to college wide-eyed and full of eager ambition!  Only to get trampled down physically and emotionally by the school bullies.  He has to get past these bullies and fight for his dreams (which they honestly might not be very good at, but they put their whole soul into), while learning to believe in himself in the process.  Monsters University seems to honor The Freshman in just that way, and knowing how filmically wise the writers of Pixar are, I am sure this movie was in many ways an inspiration for theirs.

So, what did you think of this classic?

Starting at a new school is often a hard and awkward time.  Do you think this film did a good job representing that?

Even though it was made 90 years ago, did you still relate to the character?   In what ways?

What lessons about life did you pull from this film?  What messages told then still apply to you, your life, your relationships, and finding yourself, today?

Would you recommend this film to others?

Answer these questions in the comments below, and please share any other insights you have about this film and your experience watching it.


Harold Lloyd is the bomb.

HAROLD LLOYD in Safety Last (1923)

I love this movie, with all my heart.

But, I want to know what you thought.  This is the first full-length movie we've seen together in this class, and it was entirely silent and black and white.  So, what was that experience like for you?  Have you seen many black and white or silent films before?

This film has inspired so many others.  It really has left its mark on the cinematic conscious of the past century.  Often imitated in loving admiration, many films throw in references from this movie, especially the "clock hanging scene".  Do you think it deserves the love and admiration it receives?

In a good, thoughtful paragraph or two, let us know these answers, and let us know if you liked the movie?   Why or why not?  And, would you recommend this movie to other people?  Often, hearing a movie is "silent" turns off many people.  How would you convince someone who has never seen a silent film to give it a chance?