Silent Movies

Critical Praise

"For decades, silent films have been disintegrating in warehouses or lost to indifference. Director Martin Scorsese, who wrote the foreword to this book, has spearheaded the preservation movement, warning "with every foot of film that is lost, we lose a link to our culture." Kobel, longtime writer about movies, demonstrates the power of silent movies in this spectacular compilation of stills, promo materials and breathtaking posters from the Library of Congress's memorabilia collection. The visual artistry is stunning. Kobel uses these evocative images as a foundation to examine the international film industry from 1893 to 1927. Instead of a chronological treatment, he examines genres such as horror, westerns and comedy, while paying homage to the superb work of art directors, cinematographers and directors. Understandably, a significant section is devoted to actors. As Norma Desmond neatly observes in Sunset Boulevard, "We had faces then." Although early producers were loath to highlight specific actors, fearing their popularity would translate into higher salaries, fans were hungry for information about them. In this treasure trove for film buffs, Kobel details the press campaigns that created stars like Theda Bara and Rudolph Valentino, while fan magazines and newspapers deemed them American royalty."
-PublishersWeekly.com

"Lavishly and lovingly illustrated with more than 400 posters, paper prints, film stills and other images–most of which have never been published before–Silent Movies will take its place as the defining work on this fascinating aspect of American culture, and will serve to confirm the importance of the restoration work being spearheaded by the Library of Congress, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and others."
-Awidow.com

"In his new book, "Silent Movies: The Birth of Film and the Triumph of Movie Culture," Peter Kobel has created the definitive visual history of silent film. Published this month by the Library of Congress in association with Little, Brown & Co., this richly illustrated work draws on the Library’s extraordinary collection of posters, paper prints, film stills and memorabilia—most of which has never been in print. More than 400 images capture the birth of film and the rise of such icons as Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Clara Bow and Rudolph Valentino."
-The Library of Congress

"If you ever wondered why film buffs get weak in the knees about the movies made before talkies, this book can help you understand. Highlighting the stars and the genres that captured the public's imagination and created an industry, it is beautifully designed with a dazzling array of movie stills, posters and promo material drawn from the Library of Congress' memorabilia collection. Chaplin, Garbo, Valentino and other great actors get their due, as do the technological innovators. Martin Scorsese, who is devoted to preserving and restoring silent films, contributes the foreword."
-Sfgate.com

"They didn't need dialogue. They had faces! Chaplin, Keaton, Valentino, Garbo, Fairbanks, Gish...these are but a handful of names you'll see in Silent Movies, Peter Kobel's rich history of cinema's silent era, drawn from the Library of Congress archives. Nora Desmond would be proud."
-Delta-sky.com

"Silent Movies combines enough scholarship, enough nostalgia, and enough appreciation, to capture the imagination of any film buff. This is a great introduction to an entertainment form that, with recent preservation efforts and availability from Amazon and Netflix, is worthy of rediscovery by readers and viewers of all ages, especially with a companion such as this!"
-Bookloons.com