Alpha Silent Movies

Alpha Video Silent Movies DVDs

Alpha has a catalogue of several important silent classics, as well as silents starring Lon Chaney or that have connections with horror icons Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff. Alpha often adds original scores, but they can be downbeat and repetitive, and non-original or canned soundtracks tend to have nothing to do with the on-screen action, so it is often more enjoyable to turn off the sound when watching one of their movies. Kino generally has superior transfers with better music of many of the more well-known titles. But "A" for effort to Alpha for making budget editions available, with good faith efforts at DVD cover art work, generally running them at the correct speed, commissioning the original scoring they have done, and seeking out rare pictures. A good inventory and reviews of the broader market of silent films available on DVD is at Silent Era, and news, such as it is, in the world of silent films is posted at Nitrateville.

Der Student von Prag (1913) (dir. Stellan Rye). The first German feature film. Original (awful) music by Paul David Bergel added by Alpha, but the movie is good. Deutsche Bioscope GhmbH.

Original music by Rachel Gutches added by Alpha. Jesse Lasky Feature Play Co.

Avenging Conscience (1914) (dir. D.W. Griffith). This important early American horror film adapted from Edgar Alan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heartis a bonus on The Death of Poe DVD. It's discussed at length in Bret Wood's Kingdom of Shadows (1998), Kino has an edition. Majestic Motion Picture Co.

(1914) Original music by Paul David Bergel added by Alpha. The Oz Film Manufacturing Co.

The Raven (1915) (dir. Charles Brabin), is a bonus on The Death of Poe DVD. Essanay Film Manufacturing Co.

(1915), editing and second unit direction by Clarence Brown. Film Threat review. Equitable Motion Picture Corp.

(1916). Intolerance is sometimes said to be Griffith's "atonement" for the racist controversy (even then) of Birth of a Nation. But it is more of a statement by Griffith that he has the right for what he may choose to put on film not to be subject to the intolerance of others. One scene Griffith intended to add to Intolerance was cut through intervention of a member of the President's Cabinet- Griffith had planned to show Jewish men in traditional Hasidic garb nailing Jesus to the cross. One can only imagine the fervent antisemitism that could have been whipped up with that image on film. Both Alpha editions have canned music and poor prints. Intolerance is #22 and Birth of a Nation is #80 in Cinepad's most acclaimed film list. Both are listed in the Library of Congress National Film Registry. Kino has editions of Birth of a Nation and Intolerance. Image has editions of Birth of a Nation and Intolerance. In set. David W. Griffith Corp. and Triangle Film Corporation, respectively.

The Silent Man (1917) and Blue Blazes Rawden (1918) (both dir. William S. Hart). William K Everson Silent Man program notes and Blue Blazes Rawden program notes. Music by Marc Kaplan added by Alpha. Thomas H. Ince Corp. and Artcraft Pictures Corp., respectively.

Hearts and Saddles (1917) (dir. Robert Eddy and Tom Mix) Tom Mix's first Fox Western; the feature film to which this is appended as a bonus is allegedly horrendous.

(1918) (dir. Scott Sidney). National Film Corp. of America.

(1919) Kino and Image have editions. Listed in the Library of Congress National Film Registry. John Brahm's 1938 remake is also sold by Alpha. In set. D.W. Griffith Prods.

Das Kabinett des Doktor Caligari (1919) (also available in this set, this set, and this set), Alpha also has a poster. Poor print. Kino has an edition. Kevin Slick soundtrack edition available. Decla-Bioscop AG.

Tanz auf dem Vulkan (Dance on the Volcano) (dir. Richard Eichberg). Original Score by Skip Heller with Marc Kaplan. A nearly contemporaneous Lugosi silent, F.W. Murnau's 1920 adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with Lugosi as the butler, Der Januskopf, is lost. The score isn't bad, and the print is watchable, but the movie itself is not very good. Richard-Eichberg Film GmbH.

(1920) (dir. John S. Robertson) (also available in this set, this set, and this set) Alpha also has a poster. Kino has an edition. as does the Devil Music Ensemble. Famous Players-Lasky Corp.

(1920) (dirs. Arthur J. Flaven & Harry Revier). Music by Marc Kaplan added by Alpha. National Film Corp. of America.

(1920). Original music by Paul David Bergel added by Alpha. Image and Kino have editions. In set. D.W. Griffith Prods.

Der Golem - wie er in die Welt kam (dir. Paul Wegener) (also in this set, this set, this set and this set). Cathy Geblin has written an interesting argument that the film is an important cultural influence and should not be seen as anti-semitic. I beg to differ. Packaging says 85 minutes, but it's really 101 minutes. Print isn't bad; no tinting. music works fine. Kino has a (tinted) edition. Projektions-AG Union

Der Wildtöter und Chingachgook (dir. Arthur Wellin) Original music score by Rachel Gutches added by Alpha. Luna-Film.

L'Uomo meccanico (1921) (dir. Andre Deed). An extremely rare film. Original (not bad) music score by Rachel Gutches added by Alpha. Made by André Deed (1879-1935) a French music hall comedian whose film career started with Georges Méliès in 1901. He made hundreds of comic shorts, with an anarchic quality allied with Dada and Surrealism. There’s a book in Italian on Deed, Jean A. Gili’s André Deed - Boireau, Cretinetti, Gribouille, Toribio, Foolshead, Lehman (Le Mani-Cineteca di Bologna, 2005). Milano Film.

Schloß Vogelöd (1921). Production design by Hermann Warm and Script by Carl Mayer (both of whom did the same on The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari); Original Score by Skip Heller with Marc Kaplan is really good and adds to the viewing experience. The print is a smeary video transfer of what seems to be an old re-release, but seems to be the version Everson screened (1974 program notes). It remains watchable, most especially on account of the music and reasonably compelling plot. Kino edition, also to be in Kino set. Uco-Film GmbH.

Kino and Image also each have editions. D.W. In set. Griffith Prods.

Outside The Law (1921) (dir. Tod Browning) / The Trap (1922) (dir. Robert Thornby). Original, pretty good, music by Kevin Slick added by Alpha. Universal Film Mfg. Corp.

(1922) (dir. Erich von Stroheim) is a masterpiece (of film and irony- a movie about a fake Count directed by a genius who was later discovered to himself be a fake Count!), but this DVD, of the same AFI film restoration as the Kino version, is ruined because it is a silent run at sound speed (usually Alpha takes better care with silents, so this is a double shame; the notorious scene of the evil Count looking the counterfeiter's retarded daughter up and down and then creepily licking his lips just doesn't have the same impact in fast-motion) and accompanied by different, annoyingly irrelevant canned music. Although probably done to avoid copyright infringement, I might have preferred a different, even if damaged, print at silent speed; however some computer software can let you slow the viewing speed down, and at 75% it becomes enjoyably watchable again. Added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 2008. The first "million dollar picture," a fictionalized "making of" was the subject of a Young Indiana Jones episode. Kino edition of this AFI restoration is terrific; Image has an edition of what could be a different print that has been criticized. Universal Pictures.

Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922) Music is nice, jazzy from the sixties. Intertites change the character names to Dracula (from "Orloff"), Harker (from "Hutter"), Mina (from "Ellen") etc. Print isn't terrible. (also available in this set, this set, and this set). Packaging says 64 minutes, but it's 84 minutes. Detailed film "archaeology" here. Kino has an edition, also in a Kino set, and an "ultimate" edition. Image has an edition. There is a Kevin Slick soundtrack edition, a Devil Music Ensemble edition, and an edition with Edison's 1910 Frankenstein. Shadow of the Vampire is a well-received 2002 "making of" Nosferatu horror film. Prana-Film GmbH

(1922) (dir. Burton L. King). Original music by Rachel Gutches added by Alpha, but it's awful (as is the movie itself). Kino has a box set of this and his other movies. Houdini Picture Corp.

Riders of the Law (1922) (dir. Robert N. Bradbury). Sunset Productions.

Die Augen der Mumie Ma. Original (not very good) music score by Rachel Gutches added by Alpha. Much of the academic literature on Lubitsch seems to ignore this picture, but it has its moments. Projektions-AG Union.

(dir. Fred Niblo) Original (bad) music by Paul David Bergel added by Alpha. Kino has an edition. Paramount Pictures.

The Headless Horseman (1922) (dir. Edward D. Venturini). Music by Rachel Gutches added by Alpha. Sleepy Hollow Corp.

Tom Mix Double Feature: Sky High / Just Tony (1922) (dir. Lynn Reynolds). Fox Film Corp.

(1922) (dir. Frank Lloyd). Associated First National Pictures.

(dir. Tom Forman) (also available in this set and this set). Image has an edition. B.P. Schulberg Prods.

(dir. Lambert Hillyer) (also available in this set and this set). Image has an edition. Universal Pictures.

(1923) (dir. Wallace Worseley) (also available in this set and this set and this set). Image has an "ultimate edition." Vox Lumiere version. Universal Pictures.

Raskolnikow (1923). Another true German Expressionist film. Leonardo-Film.

(1923) (dir. Robert N. Bradbury) Sunset Productions.

Slow as the Lightning (1923) (dir. Grover Jones)

Looks to be a re-issued print, with synchronized music and sound effects. Not too terrible of a copy. Stunning William Cameron Menzies set design. Listed in the Library of Congress National Film Registry. (also available in this set and this set). Kino and Image have editions. Douglas Fairbanks Pictures.

(1924) (dir. Bruce M. Mitchell). Sunset Prods.

(dir. Harry O. Hoyt) The original cheesy dinosaur special effects. Listed in the Library of Congress National Film Registry. (also available in this set and this set). First National.

The Freshman (1925) (dir. Fred Newmeyer, Sam Taylor); final few minutes of the football scenes edited with fun sound and no intertitles into The Sin of Harold Diddlebock below. The Harold Lloyd Corp.

(1925) (dir. Rupert Julian) (also available in this set, this set, and this set and this set). Listed in the Library of Congress National Film Registry. Alpha has a poster. Milestone has an "ultimate edition." 1925 version with Kevin Slick soundtrack available. Universal Pictures.

(1925) (dir. King Baggot). The Hart spoken prologue is an over-the-top weeper; now it's whatever I think of when I pass the William S. Hart ranch sign on I-5 on the way to L.A. William S. Hart Productions.

Wolf Blood (1925) (dir. George Cheseboro) (included with The Haunted Castle above). Music isn't credited, but they do a fun job of pastisching music to fit the on-screen action. Ryan Brothers Prods.

(1926) Original (awful) music by Paul David Bergel added by Alpha. Set designs by William Cameron Menzies. Roland West Prods.

(dir. Bennett Cohen) Original (initially not bad but soon unbearably repetitive) music by Paul David Bergel added by Alpha. Jittery print transferred at way too low a bitrate- artifacts clearly show; a poor viewing experience. Otto K. Schreier Prods.

(1926) (dir. James Young), tale of an ambitious innkeeper's attacks of conscience after murdering a Jewish merchant, manages to rip off both Caligari (proving that Caligari was influential in its time) and Poe's Tell-Tale Heart. Alpha has provided a new sound score by Paul David Bergel that is beyond terrible; for example, there aren't any bells to be heard when the move shows the titular bells sounding. But the print and the movie's production values are both very good, and Lionel Barrymore is fun to watch. Description in the National Center for Jewish Film's catalog: "... based on [the] 1869 play, Le Jeuf Polonais (The Polish Jew). ... an example of one way in which Jews have been stereotyped in theater and cinema-as the traveling merchant who becomes an easy target for violence and/or mockery." Chadwick Pictures Corp.

Davy Crockett at the Fall of the Alamo (1926) (dir. Robert N. Bradbury); some battle scenes incorporated into the micro-budget Heroes of the Alamo (1937) (dir. Harry Fraser) (which very interestingly uses the music from von Stroheim's brilliant 1928 Queen Kelly!). Sunset Prods.

Der Student von Prag (1926) (dir. Henrik Galeen). Looks on screen like watching a poor VHS copy, but this may be your only choice if you want to see it at all. Some better-quality snippets can be seen in Bret Wood's Kingdom of Shadows. Suffers from a strong whiff of anti-Semitism, perhaps not as strongly so as The Golem's picture of Jews as a stinking foreign body consorting with astrology and demons; here it's just a Jewish-looking master-manipulator dealing in souls. The highlight of the movie - the removal of the reflection from the mirror - is cut from the print, which is a huge disappointment. However, this scene, more primitively, is in Alpha's edition of the 1913 version. Original music by Paul David Bergel added by Alpha is generally a dull and depressing chord progression, with rare moments of inspiration, such as that accompanying the scene of the hunt. Sokal-Flm GmbH.

(cover art is wrong, it is actually 1927) (also available in this set). Listed in the Library of Congress National Film Registry. Alpha also has a poster. Kino has an edition and an "ultimate edition," which is amazing The Mont Alto edition is also very good. #39 in Cinepad's most acclaimed film list. Buster Keaton Prods.

(1927) Truly terrible print. Kino has a wonderful edition, and is coming out with a Blu-Ray edition with recently found additional footage. ParUfaMet.

(1927) (dir. J.P. MacGowan) also available in this set. Robertson-Cole Pictures Corp.

Perils of the Jungle (1927) (dir. Jack Nelson) footage in White Gorilla (1945), which is in Alpha's terrific Sons of Kong set. Weiss Brothers Artclass Pictures.

(1927) (dir. Paul Leni). The music was composed for this DVD by Kevin Slick, so it is a shame that the recording of it is so awful- it sounds as if you have a blown-out speaker. Kino edition is much better picture and sound, but, although Leni made some great movies, this is not one of them. Universal Pictures.

Exodus to the New World aka All Faces West (1928) (dir. Bernard B. Ray) with sound added as Call of the Rockies; produced by the Mormon Church.

Laurel and Hardy vol. 4 includes Bromo and Juliet (William K Everson program notes), directed by Leo McCarey, who would later direct the Marx Brothers in their greatest movies, as well as five pictures garnering best picture Oscar nominations (with 1 win). Kino has Laurel and Hardy collections. Hal Roach.

(1923-28) Hal Roach.

Crazy Car Comedies

(1928) (dir. Edward A. Salisbury). "Snappy" mid-1930s narration by William Peck, and cutting turns a travelogue into an exploitation film (earning it coverage in Bret Wood's book on exploitation cinema), but some silent film charm remains. Film expedition allegedly included and was shot by the future makers of King Kong and has some very impressive and unique scenes that must have been hard to get.

(1929) (dir. Henry McRae) also available in this set. Adventure Pictures.

The Fantastic World of William Cameron Menzies: A Collection of Historic Shorts (1929-1930). Stellar early sound fantasies of silent screen performances set to classical music pieces, including Napoleon's invasion of Russia set to the 1812 Overture, and a gypsy adventure set to the Hungarian Rhapsody, and finally a delightful pre-Fantasia live action Sorcerer's Apprentice. Joseph M. Schenck Prods.

(1931) (dir. Archie Mayo) Not a silent movie, but cinematography has the "feel" of some of the best later silents and is heavily influenced by German Expressionism. I have not seen this copy, but I have seen the excellent Roan Group restoration. Nominated for Art Direction and Cinematography Oscars. Warner Bros.

(1931) (dir. Herbert Brenon; director of the much more successful silents Beau Geste and Laugh, Clown, Laugh); a massively expensive ($350,000) flop in its time, it's actually not bad viewing, once past the hilariously melodramatic opening. Not a silent movie, but a sequel to one. Music by Max Steiner. RKO.

(1947) (dir. Preston Sturges; shorter version edited by Howard Hughes called Mad Wednesday); incorporates scenes from Lloyd's 1925 The Freshman. This picture has some good moments, even if continuity doesn't make sense since The Freshman Lloyd was a go-getter and this Lloyd has gone nowhere. but did not work out career-wise as either Sturges or Lloyd had hoped. California Pictures.

Die Nackte und der Satan (1959) (dir. Victor Trivas, author of the original story of Orson Welles' The Stranger) Production design by Hermann Warm (1889-1976). Warm was the art director of many of the major expressionist classics: Weine's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Lang's Spiders and Destiny, Murnau's The Haunted Castle and Phantom, Galeen's Student of Prague, Dreyer's Passion of Joan of Arc and Vampyr). One can see themes from Caligari repeated here, such as the staircase dominating the lab building. (also in set) (and this set) Rapid Film.

Last updated: February 4, 2010

Alpha Video Movies

Silent Movies