Silent Mystery and Detective Movies: A Comprehensive Filmography [Paperback]

Ken Wlaschin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 13, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0786443502 | ISBN-13: 978-0786443505 | Edition: 1

The silent-film era was known in part for its cliffhanger serials and air of suspense that kept audiences returning to theaters week after week. Icons such as Douglas Fairbanks, Laurel and Hardy, Lon Chaney and Harry Houdini were among those who graced the dark and shadowy screen. This encyclopedic guide to silent films with mystery and detective content lists over 1,500 titles in one of entertainment's most popular and enduring genres. While most of the examined films are from North America, mystery films from around the world are included.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This comprehensive guide lists famous and less-known titles, mostly from the U.S. and England but also from other countries such as Canada, France, India, Japan, and Russia. The more than 1,500 films include series, serials, and also the detectives, villains, and rogues who made them popular. Film entries are arranged alphabetically by film title and include (depending on the information that is available) release date, country of origin, story summary, cast, and, when appropriate, chapter or episode titles, in order of their release. The names of the director and writer are generally provided as well. Famous characters, such as Nick Carter and Charlie Chan, also have entries. Illustrations from lobby cards or postcards, posters, and other sources provide a sense of the story or stars of the time. An appendix lists mystery writers whose works were filmed in the silent era. A bibliography and an index complete the guide. Here one finds information on Danish and French depictions of Sherlock Holmes as well as famous interpretations of the role by the well-known John Barrymore. There are entries for Pearl White’s serial titles and even a comedy entry, Do Detectives Think? starring Laurel and Hardy. Availability on video or DVD is noted, but fewer than 10 percent of the films have survived. Providing access to the development of one genre of film in the first two decades of the twentieth century, this guide is recommended for film-studies collections. --Patricia Hogan

About the Author

Ken Wlaschin, former director of creative affairs at the American Film Institute, headed the Institute's National Film Theater and founded its Los Angeles film festival. He previously directed the British Film Institute's National Film Theater and London film festival for 14 years. Wlaschin is the author of three other McFarland books. He lives in Palm Springs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 291 pages
• Publisher: McFarland; 1 edition (May 13, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786443502
• ISBN-13: 978-0786443505
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,386,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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