Silent movie DVD rant
Sep. 7th, 2005 04:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieI am on a bit of a silent movie kick and I have tons and tons of VHS (bought and taped) to work with.
But. But. But. I would like to have my favorites on DVD (less cumbersome and better quality) and it seems that is crazily impossible. King Vidor's masterpieces "The Big Parade" (an anti-war WWI classic) and "The Crowd" (IMO the greatest silent ever made)? Not on DVD. Neither is his brilliant comedy/satire "Show People," one of the funniest movies ever.
The Jazz-age flapper classics "Our Dancing Daughters" (very feminist) and "Our Modern Maidens" (a fun fast sound-effected romp)? Forget it.
Romance flicks "Street Angel" and "Seventh Heaven?" Both huge huge hits but "What's that," says my amazon search.
Erich Von Stronheim's opulent, fetishistic "Merry Widow" or Novarro's irreverent "The Pagan?" Forget about it.
"Lilac Time?" Dream on. Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, dealing with a dysfunctional WWI-era family, and one of the most famous silent movies, the film that made Valentino a star? As if.
In case you don't know anything about silents, let me assure you that none of the ones I've listed are obscure little titles. They were all well-known hits and all had VHS versions made. None of them are even listed as "any time soon" arrivals! It's a good thing I have my VHS copies, but when every obscure show from the 70s gets a special edition it's beyond frustrating!
But. But. But. I would like to have my favorites on DVD (less cumbersome and better quality) and it seems that is crazily impossible. King Vidor's masterpieces "The Big Parade" (an anti-war WWI classic) and "The Crowd" (IMO the greatest silent ever made)? Not on DVD. Neither is his brilliant comedy/satire "Show People," one of the funniest movies ever.
The Jazz-age flapper classics "Our Dancing Daughters" (very feminist) and "Our Modern Maidens" (a fun fast sound-effected romp)? Forget it.
Romance flicks "Street Angel" and "Seventh Heaven?" Both huge huge hits but "What's that," says my amazon search.
Erich Von Stronheim's opulent, fetishistic "Merry Widow" or Novarro's irreverent "The Pagan?" Forget about it.
"Lilac Time?" Dream on. Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, dealing with a dysfunctional WWI-era family, and one of the most famous silent movies, the film that made Valentino a star? As if.
In case you don't know anything about silents, let me assure you that none of the ones I've listed are obscure little titles. They were all well-known hits and all had VHS versions made. None of them are even listed as "any time soon" arrivals! It's a good thing I have my VHS copies, but when every obscure show from the 70s gets a special edition it's beyond frustrating!
