15 Greatest Movies That Are Over 100 Years Old

The history of cinema dates back to the late 1800s, and many Films made over 100 years ago are still acclaimed and enjoyed by film lovers. While many viewers may feel that the black-and-white, silent era of cinema is an alienating sphere, those willing to delve into the distant past will be rewarded with a treasure trove of cinematic wonders as engaging and reassuring as the best. Modern movies. It was a time of incredible experimentation, and the influence of these great century-old films can still be seen in the work of contemporary actors, directors and writers.

Some of the best silent movies are over 100 years old and include highly influential films in genres such as comedy, fantasy, horror and even experimental semi-documentary. This era included acclaimed filmmakers like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, who have remained at the forefront of cinematic discourse a century since some of their best work was released. Although it can be difficult to know where to begin with movies from the past, These century-old films have a lot to offer contemporary viewers.

15

The Astronomer’s Dream (1898)

Directed by Georges Méliès

French director Georges Méliès led many of the most important technical and narrative developments in the history of cinema, as evidenced by his extraordinary three-minute film The Astronomer’s Dream. Méliès was a talented magician who starred in the film himself And based it on one of his own magic acts. With Méliès as the titular astronomer, The Astronomer’s Dream Including an appearance by Satan himself and a mysterious disappearing woman. With impressive visual effects, The Astronomer’s Dream Still has the power to surprise viewers more than 100 years later.

14

The Great Train Robbery (1903)

Directed by Edwin S. Porter

The Great Train Robbery was one of the most notable films of the early days of American cinema and among the most famous silent Western movies ever. Inspired by the real-life robberies of iconic Western figures like Butch Cassidy, this legendary 12-minute feature was an unprecedented success for the way it blended dynamic action with spectacular violence. Porter also claimed that this was the first western to tell a storyAlthough film scholars have subsequently questioned the validity of this claim.

13

Oliver Twist (1922)

Directed by Frank Lloyd

The works of Charles Dickens have long been fodder for excellent film adaptations, dating right back to the silent era with Oliver Twist Starring Jackie Coogan. He already left his mark on the movie industry with his starring role opposite Charlie Chaplin in The child the year before, Coogan’s role in Oliver Twist Signaled him as one of the very first bona fide child stars. Like a visually stunning silent film, Oliver Twist Captures the spirit of the original novel, and its quality is only surpassed by David Lean’s extraordinary retelling in 1948.

12

A Woman from Paris (1923)

Directed by Charlie Chaplin

Although Charlie Chaplin was primarily known for slapstick comedy, the legendary filmmaker tried his hand at an authentic drama with A woman from Paris In 1923. vi Chaplin’s only film in which he did not appear as an actorThis beautifully directed silent film explores a woman torn between love and comfort after running into her former fiancé. While contemporary audiences who expected more of Chaplin’s signature comic style were understandably disappointed by A woman from ParisModern viewers will be rewarded with a strong romantic drama.

11

The Ten Commandments (1923)

Directed by Cecil B. DeMille

Director Cecil B. DeMille may have felt the need to revisit his religious epic The Ten Commandments With its iconic 1956 remake, which expanded on its story in scale and scope, but its original film was already an amazing achievement. As a retelling of the biblical story of the Exodus from Egypt, DeMille pushed the special effects to their absolute limit to believably depict Moses crossing the Red Sea in a visually impressive scene, even by today’s standards. As a major box office hit at the time of its release, The Ten Commandments was a testament to the increasing potential of cinema in the 1920s.

10

Dr. Mabus the Gambler (1922)

Directed by Fritz Lang

As one of the most iconic names in German Expressionism, Fritz Lang directed some of the most influential movies of all timeincluding his magnum opus Metropolis in 1927. However, even over 100 years ago, he was at the forefront of filmmaking with his incredible two-part mystery thriller about the arch-criminal. Dr. Marbus, the gambler. The darkly twisted tale of a criminal mastermind with powers of mind control was a true understatement in style and substance that addressed the hyperinflation that plagued Germany in the aftermath of World War I.

9

The Birth of a Nation (1915)

Directed by DW Griffith

The birth of a nation was one of the most controversial movies ever made for its racist depiction of African Americans as unintelligent sexual abusers of white women. The reprehensible and inflammatory content did not stop the film from being one of the most successful movies of all time when adjusted for inflation. However, despite the unquestionably horrific aspects of this silent epic, The birth of a nation was also an extraordinary piece of filmmaking Whose technical excellence laid the foundation for cinema to expand and improve.

8

Intolerance (1916)

Directed by DW Griffith

The censorship that director DW Griffith faced for his previous film, The birth of a nationinspired him to explore the theme of prejudice in his follow-up feature, intolerance. It was yet another tour de force of technical wonder as the three-and-a-half-hour epic intercut between four parallel storylines taking place from 539 BC to the year 1914. Like a sprawling epic, intolerance did not have the same racial representation issues that viewers had with Griffiths’ previous film and was another extraordinary achievement in the art of filmmaking that helped inspire subsequent epics by later directors.

7

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)

Directed by Wallace Worsley

As the most successful film of 1923 (by Variety), The Hunchback of Notre Dame was a fantastic adaptation of Victor Hugo’s iconic 1831 novel that featured an amazing performance by screen legend Lon Chaney as Quasimodo. Cheney perfectly embodied the hideously deformed resident of Notre Dame Cathedral in the 15th century as director Wallace Worsley powerfully captured the gloomy atmosphere of Paris in the past. The Hunchback of Notre Dame was an impressive piece of cinematic history that proved the eternal resonance of Hugo’s classic sad story.

6

Hexan (1922)

Directed by Benjamin Christiansen

The Swedish horror hexane Blended documentary and narrative styles to chart the historical roots of witchcraft caused by misunderstandings of mental or neurological disorders, which triggered mass hysteria. While hexane Widely censored for its graphic depiction of torture, nudity and sexuality, it is also a strikingly modern film that uses a trail-blazing, unique style and impressive visual imagery to produce a film unlike anything else of its time. like Director Benjamin Christensen’s masterpiece, hexane was equal parts an academic study around ancient fears, an experimental visual showcase, and a pioneering genre-bending trailblazer.

5

The Phantom Carriage (1921)

Directed by Victor Sjöström

Victor Sjöström’s Swedish silent film The Phantom Coach Starring the director as a drunk named David Holme Reflecting on his past mistakes in Death’s Chariot on New Year’s Eve. Through flashbacks and without the help of special effects, The Phantom Coach simulated ghostly figures and was a powerful allegory for humanity’s need to use second chances to find a purpose. As a notable influence on Ingmar Bergman and his representation of death in The seventh seal, The Phantom Coach was a highly influential film that has had a ripple effect on cinema ever since.

4

A Trip to the Moon (1902)

Directed by Georges Méliès

Like perhaps the first sci-fi movie ever, Georges Méliès’ masterpiece A trip to the moon was notable for its escapist storytelling and for breaking down boundaries regarding the use of special effects. At just 14 minutes long, when viewed at 16 frames per second, A trip to the moon was an incredible showcase of the magic of cinema, as Méliès’ unique approach to filmmaking made him one of cinema’s first auteur directors. The influence of Méliès can be felt until modern times, as a director Martin Scorsese pays a long tribute to him in his film Hugo.

3

Sherlock Jr. (1924)

Directed by Buster Keaton

When talking about the silent era of movies, only one name can compete with Charlie Chaplin’s legacy: the equally talented and hilarious Buster Keaton. In his silent comedy sherlock jr, Keaton proved why he was one of the all-time greats With a film that borders on surrealism, its death-pan humor and incredible sight gags remain as funny as ever. Sherlock Jr. was just one of the few comedies that has truly stood the test of time and can truly be described as just as effective as it was 100 years ago.

2

The Kid (1921)

Directed by Charlie Chaplin

The greatest comedy of the silent era was Charlie Chaplin’s first full-length film as a director, The child. Starring Chaplin as his iconic character, The Tramp, and six-year-old child actor Jackie Coogan as the child, this deeply emotional story blends comedy and drama to showcase that while Chaplin never had a problem making audiences laugh, he could just as Easily tug at their heart strings. The child was always a heartfelt drama, a social commentary and a laugh-out-loud comedy, which represents the best, why the audience of all ages still remembers Chaplin’s work more than a century after its release.

1

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Directed by Robert Wayne

As the true quintessential work of German Expressionism, The cabinet of Dr. Caligari Best represented the creative heights of the earliest days of cinema. As the story of ​​a mad hypnotist who used brainwashing to force their victim to commit murder, this dark and twisted tale was very influential in all aspects, including its narrative, visual and thematic aspects. As a deeply layered and thought-provoking film, The cabinet of Dr. Caligari is not only remembered a century after its release but will certainly still be studied by film scholars 100 years from now.

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Source: Variety