Hola! I’ve been out of town for a awhile but am back just in time for the Five Stars Blogathon hosted by Classic Film and TV Cafe, celebrating National Classic Movie Day–my kind of holiday!
In true Silent-ology style, I decided to focus on my top 5 utmost favorites from the silent era, rather than film in general. So let’s count down to number 1:
5. Louise Fazenda
And obscure performer today, Louise was once one of the most popular slapstick comediennes and was generally known for her persona of a playful country bumpkin. She embodies many of my favorite silent comedy tropes–Keystone zaniness, quaint costumes, rural hijinks, great performances, wacky pratfalls–and in real life was noted for her friendliness and tireless charity work. Regular readers know that I’ve been researching Louise’s life and career, and recently wrote a long piece about her here.
4. Colleen Moore
Oh yes, Miss Flaming Youth herself! One of the major female stars of the Jazz Age, Colleen embodied the concept of the modern flapper–forever vivacious, fun-loving, and of course sporting a sleek bob and stylish clothes. To me, she seemed to retain more girlish innocence than rivals like Clara Bow, and her comic timing was excellent. She is forever one of my very favorites!
3. Robert Harron
While he was unfortunately gone too soon, “Bobby” was one of the finest talents of the 1910s. Under the tutelage of D.W. Griffith himself, he gave sensitive performances in True Heart Susie, Hearts of the World, Intolerance, and many more–his range was astonishing. I love his quiet intensity and boyish, unassuming charm. Lillian Gish later said that “something about him caught the heart,” and I agree. I wrote a long piece on his life and career here.
2. Lillian Gish
Not for nothing has Lillian been called the “First Lady of the Cinema.” Her extraordinary talents are well known to anyone with even a passing knowledge of silent film. Plus, she was a genuinely classy woman–at least one biographer attempted to find some sort of “dirt” on her, and basically ended up rending his garment in vain. You are everything, Miss Gish.
1..Buster Keaton
I know, I know…this is a tremendous shock. Totally out of left field.
So if I did name my top 5 favorites from cinema in general? That’s unbearably difficult, but I might have to say Buster, Lillian, James Stewart, Lucille Ball…and Johnny Depp! With his liking for unique character roles and elaborate makeup/costume effects, he’s one of today’s actors that embodies a little of the old Hollywood spirit, I’d say. And it doesn’t hurt that his favorite actor is Buster, who often gets brought up in Depp’s interviews!
So what are your top five favorite silent actors? Or, just actors in general? Feel free to share!
—
5. Myrna Loy
4. William Powell
3. Harold Lloyd
2. Gloria Swanson
1. Carole Lombard
Loved your list!!
Have you researched Douglas McLean? Like Louise Fazenda, he doesn’t seem to be well known today, except perhaps for being William Desmond Taylor’s neighbor.
I’ve looked into MacLean a little bit, he was certainly a popular guy back in the day and shows up in fan/trade magazines all the time. I’d like to do a piece on him sometime, or maybe include him in another list of obscure performers. Johnny Hines is another popular, now-forgotten performer who seemed to have a similar style!
I couldn’t do this! Too many for such a short list. Thanks for yet another great post.
It can be hard to pick! A top ten list is even tougher, there’s even more decisions involved. 😀 Thanks for reading.
Awesome!! I’m sure you have seen Benny and Joon, in which Johnny Depp’s character was very much inspired by Buster Keaton! I absolutely adore Lillian Gish. I have not heard of the actors in #3, 4, and 5. I need to brush up on my silent film education!
I have to compile a list for this blogathon. I am thinking and thinking, and it is so difficult! Well, I have to commit by tomorrow 🙂
Another “What did you think of” question from me: What did you think of Lillian Gish in the cult classic NIGHT OF THE HUNTER? Personally, I found her as mesmerizing as the rest of the movie. Nice list, BTW!
Oh I adore her in Night of the Hunter (which is probably my second favorite movie of all time). What perfect casting! I liked your list too, especially #1. 🙂
Wow! What a tough question! Thanks for sharing an interesting list. Very hard to pick a top 5 silent stars list. I need to get thinking! 🙂
Feel free to share what you decide! 😉
Who, I wondered in vain, could possibly fill the number one spot?!
Top 5 silent film stars? H’m. I never really … well …
In alphabetical order:
Charley Chase
Marion Davies
Buster Keaton
Harold Lloyd
Colleen Moore
Yes, who could possibly have been my #1? Alla Nazimova? Wallace Beery, perhaps? 😛
Buster, Harold and Marion show up on a lot of lists, I’ve noticed!
Ezra Miller’s character in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has Keaton’s flat affect (“stone face”) and dresses in such a way that I was instantly reminded of Buster.
Interesting, never thought of it that way. (Buster had WAY better hair than that character, though. 😀 )
No surprises but:
1. Lillian Gish
2. Harold Lloyd
3. Buster Keaton
4. Emil Jannings
5. Louise Brooks
with honourable mentions for Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Chaplin, Dorothy Gish, Bebe Daniels and Lon Chaney.
🙂
Always nice to see Dorothy Gish fans out there! Usually Lillian has most of the spotlight, even though she’d be the first to tell people about her talented sister.
I’ll let you into a little secret – Dotty and I share the same birthday: March 11th! 🙂
1. Buster Keaton
2. Charles Farrell
3. Janet Gaynor (wish more of her films survived!)
4. Rudolf Klein-Rogge
5. Sybil Seely
Also quite a fan of Harold Lloyd, Emil Jannings, Edna Purviance, Fritz Rasp and Gerda Maurus.
Nice list! Sybil’s one of my absolute favorites, too.
I love that you honed on silent film stars. That’s one of my weak areas, so now I need to learn more about Louise Fazenda and Robert Harron. You can’t go wrong with your last two. Lillian Gish was fabulous, too, in NIGHT OF THE HUNTER.
One of my favorite films! Thanks for hosting this fun event, Rick.
Hi 🌷 GlD you are back. This is a lovely selection of the best from the best. I have to read your post on Robert Harron. He sounds like a charmer too. I always enjoy reading your posts,.I have learned a great deal from you. Thank you Lea 😊
You’re so welcome, I’m sorry happy you’re enjoying my posts! Drop in anytime.
1. Buster Keaton
2. Mary Pickford
3. Greta Garbo
4. Charlie Chaplin
5. Harold Lloyd
A list probably typical of the average 1920s movie goer.
If I expanded my list to a top 10, Mary and Charlie would likely make it on there!
Not familiar with Fazenda but that is one funny photo! Keaton’s brilliance in “Sherlock, Jr” is still amazing to watch. Harold Lloyd is also a favorite.
Harold’s another favorite of mine, too!
Wonderful choices! I love that you included Bobby Harron – many thanks for the reminder of how special he truly was.
But of course! 🙂 He was a rare talent.
Another listicle! 😀 Man, this is a tough question. Here’s what I think today (at least what I think I think)—tomorrow I may think something different.
1. Mae Marsh
2. Harold Lloyd
3. Lillian Gish
4. Mabel Normand
5. Thomas Meighan
Runners-up: Sessue Hayakawa, Mabel Normand, Henry B. Walthall, Musidora, Erich von Stroheim, Mary Pickford, Ford Sterling, Buster Keaton, Lois Wilson, Roscoe Arbuckle, and…and…
Mae is #1–I love it! She would be in my top ten list. 🙂
Uh-oh, see I got Mabel twice. Hey, two of her is ok. 🙂
And can I throw in Milton Sills for good measure?
ALWAYS 😀
1.Charlie Chaplin
2.Buster Keaton
3.Harold Lloyd
4.Louise Brooks
5.Charley Chase
Solid list! 🙂