The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

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Shouldn't, couldn't, wouldn't - all words that may have been associated with the prospect of this countdown at some point or another. Well, they were all wrong and now here we are - it's happening .... or if you're reading this on MovieForums Plus1™ it's already happened and it's anybody's guess as to what all the fuss was about.

All in all no less than thirty ballots were received, including both partial lists of 10 or more films and full lists of 25. Some got so excited they even tried to vote for the same film more than once, argue that The Titfield Thunderbolt really ought to be eligible or sneak in a 26th film on the end of their ballot ... but the adjudication was strict with no favours granted and eventually all complied with the rules. Once all ballots were cast the votes were counted, recounted, recounted once more and finally tallied up by one of our cats just to be sure, so in the unlikely event any errors are found we all know it's the white, fluffy one that's to blame.

The 50 films that accumulated the most points are presented here - ties were broken first by the number of ballots on which those films appeared, then if still a tie by the highest position achieved on any ballot and, if still tied, by the number of those highest positions (and yes, we actually did need to drill down that far).

Apologies if the graphics aren't quite up to the usual standard - I'd never worn a Gimp hat prior to last week (rumours of familiarity with a mask are also unfounded) and it was a steep learning curve.

Anyways, without further ado (it is known as 'The Silent Era' after all)....

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This is where the index to all the movies on the countdown will be listed, as they are revealed. Each movie will link to it's post in the countdown.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

For anyone unfamiliar with these things - I'll be revealing the fillums (starting with #50 and working down to our #1) at the rate of two per day until we get to the Top 10 where progress will slow to just the one reveal per day until the final day where both the #1 and #2 will be unveiled. The first reveal will take place this coming Sunday.

Please do NOT reveal your full ballots until the #1 is revealed and the countdown officially over, you may of course reveal if/where on your list you voted for any particular film once its position in the countdown has been revealed.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

Exciting!

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

Whoooooooooooo let's gooooooooo

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Looking good Chyp:up: I'm liking what I see and can hardly wait for this to start.

'Gimp hat', did you use GIMP to do the graphics? I've yet to master that program myself, actually baffled by it is more like it. So my Gimp hat is off to you for even using it. The title card you used is the bees knees.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

Awesome! Looking forward to the list.

I did, the wife gave me a short crash course and then told me to use Google if I got stuck :D

Should be presenting the 'Spanish films' (one-pointers) tomorrow.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

v excited

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MY BODY IS REAY!

(The D is silent in honor of this countdown).

Well, while our staff was unable to locate the white fluffy cat that may, at some point, miscalculate, we did send one of our representatives over to discuss the situation with your top cat and with the fulfillment of said conversation, we are. . .
http://www.cinemacats.com/wp-content...nificent03.jpg

pretty gosh darn excited; and our head office had this to say: "HOT DIGGITY DOG!"

Thank you for your endeavors and may your placards shine bright and be true!

There were 13 in total, unfortunately some clown (who shall remain nameless, I know who I am) unknowingly decided to pick one that has no IMDb poster so I've had to scour the galaxy for a screenshot of that one which is why they are not entirely in alphabetical order.

*sigh*

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L-R:
A Corner in Wheat (D.W. Griffith, 1909)
Emak-Bakia (Man Ray, 1927)
Habeas Corpus (James Parrott & Leo McCarey, 1928)
Mantrap (Victor Fleming, 1926)

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L-R:
Mosquinha (Étienne-Jules Marey, 1890)
Run, Girl, Run (Alfred J. Goulding, 1928)
The Bridge (Charles Vidor, 1929)
The Champion (Charles Chaplin, 1915)

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L-R:
The Iron Mask (Allan Dwan, 1929)
Waxworks [Das Wachsfigurenkabinett] (Leo Birinsky & Paul Leni, 1924)
What Price Glory (Raoul Walsh, 1926)
Woman in the Moon [Frau im Mond] (Fritz Lang, 1929)

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L-L: :goof:
Helen of Four Gates (Cecil M. Hepworth, 1920)

Helen of Four Gates is a straight drama set in the North of England that I initially ran across by accident on YouTube then subsequently found is also available for free viewing on the BFI website. It has some nice cinematographic shots of the Yorkshire countryside and it's tale managed to hold my attention for the duration (1hr18) even if levels of excitement don't quite live up to the brief synopsis ("A madman adopts the daughter of the dead woman who rejected him and forces her to marry a crook."). The intertitles are in the local dialect which I actually found generally easy enough to decipher and quite endearing. Ey oop, gi' it a whirl sum'time - 'appen you might jest like it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOc0lRZiKCo


This was my one pointer...it's a Mack Sennett film Carole Lombard is in it.

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Looking forward to this, although not incredibly optimistic about all my films, my own fault for watching so many so late :p

I've not seen any of the 1 pointers and I don't recall even hearing of any of them.

Same here.

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Emak-Bakia (1926) by Man Ray



Emak-Bakia was my no. 25 and it works like a cinemapoem and is one of my favorite dadaist pictures. I am a fan of Man Ray and saw his exhibition at Glyptoteket here in Copenhagen. Besides films he did quite a few photographic portraits and was a prolific artist, who worked in different art forms. Emak-Bakia is a very visceral experience and you can watch it below on YouTube:

You can watch Emak-Bakia on YouTube

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I bet you guys can guess which one of those one pointers is mine. I would've nominated it for one of the Pre 30s HoFs but couldn't find a copy on the internet anywhere (I own the DVD).

Ooh, oooh, ooooh, I think I know :)

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I've seen them all except that crazy Helen of Four Gates which allegedly exists on BFIPlayer on the link above but since I'm a heathen American I can't watch it. They are a nice collection with no duds - almost all available on YouTube and occasionally on TCM.

Helen of Four Gates on the tube of you for any of our American friends that might be interested ;)

I kinda like the first and only comment on that one :rolleyes:

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Nice comment on the video too :)

mine is pretty easy to guess as well.
I'll post about it later today

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Oh haha you beat me to it.

Gotta be mighty quick around these here parts sometimes ;)

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The Iron Mask starring Douglas Fairbanks is an excellent action/adventure silent film that explores it's predecessor, Dumas' The Three Musketeers stories, and delves into the follow up, Twenty Years Later, or as we know it, The Man in the Iron Mask.
I came across this near the end of the deadline and purposely put it at the one pointer knowing I'd be able to introduce it to you all this way. Since I was sure it was and is, quite unknown. Otherwise, it would have had a MUCH higher spot on my list.

Douglas Fairbanks was the King of Action films, an accomplished acrobat who did his own stunts. He was the master swashbuckler and gave his roles flair and panache. I was hoping to demonstrate this by finding either a clip or a gif showing him pulling his sword from his scabbard. He actually slides it out part way, flips the scabbard upwards, the sword flies out and upward and he catches it in mid air with a flourish. Stylish as all get out. The man could easily give many of our present day action heroes a run for their money.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiQew3bpKjk

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Need to see both yet. Seems like we are off to a fun start!

Great start!

The Skeleton Dance was my #10. Of course some Disney had to be on the list. Their inventive shorts during the early 1900s, which also showed their own personal style, humor and contributon to family entertainment was unique and extremely impressive back then. And it still is now.

I have not seen Blackmail, however, Hitch is one of my favorite directors and I have seen a fair amount of his films. Having this land on the list only makes me really want to seek it out now. Maybe I’ll watch it soon.

Looking forward to more, Chyp. Good work so far!

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I just watched The Skeleton Dance, very good short film. I imagine Walt Disney has a lot of them as he's certainly one of the greatest and most important figures in early cinema.

I'm guessing that no Lumiere films are going to make the list, but I definitely think that people should check out their early stuff too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkT54BetFBI

Here's Dance Serpentine which is just the shooting of a dance sequence, then the colours are hand painted on. The YouTube video gives a short explanation of this.

I haven't seen Blackmail, it was on my list of films to get to before I sent my list in but I didn't get round to it. I managed to get to another Hitchcock film which I think will make the list higher up.

It looks like a great film though, I'm almost certain I'll enjoy it. I love the early Hitch stuff I've seen so far and heard good stuff about this - backed up by its place on this list. Maybe I'll watch it today actually.

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A Corner in Wheat was my number 25.

I'm a huge fan of D.W. Griffith from what I have seen so far, and this film is a perfect starting point for anyone looking to explore his work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHLfjB7dSyc

It's only 14 minutes long but it's a magnificent, epic film that is film majestically and carries a strong social message in it too. Griffith knew how to create powerful images that evoked human emotions - something he expands upon to magnificent heights with Intolerance and is the master of editing together multiple plotlines through juxtaposition to build suspense and tell stories.

The final scene, wow!

Am I losing my mind or is The Skeleton Dance link in Ed's post before the reveal? Anyway, I just watched that and it was cool, but not much of a movie in my mind. I know I've seen Blackmail since my wife and I watched all of Hitchcock's films several years ago. I don't remember it and I had no desire to revisit it seeing that I'm no longer a huge fan of that director.

Ok now I see that it's The Iron Mask. It must have shown that way since I had just watched it.

Great way to make me crazy

Ed will psychically be revealing all movies from hereon in.
Over to you ed :rotfl:

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

Good start, I’d been meaning to watch Skeleton Dance and never got around to it.

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Just watched Blacmail this past week. It would have been high on my list. Hello Mofos!

I've not seen either. I did however watch one silent film The Lodger with Sean and Raul when they dissected Hitch:p

I'm liking the presentation on the movies and the movie stats as a jpg, that's how I would've done it;)

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

Hadn't heard of Skeleton Dance but watched it just now and it was good, might have made my list. I guess my one-pointer was also on somebody else's list!

Nice job on the artwork Chypmunk :up:

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Underworld marks the first film on here that I've seen and also the first I've voted for. Just a fine piece of gangster cinema.

Would have watched Underworld but I wasn't aware of it. Maybe I'll catch it before this countdown ends.

I liked The Man Who Laughs but it didn't make my list.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

The Man Who Laughs was my #23.

Here's what I said in the Pre-30s Hall of Fame:

"This movie grabbed me tight in the beginning until we fast forward to when most of the story takes place. Instead of being a cool period piece, it turned into a boring romance that I wasn’t a huge fan of. The moments with Queen Anne were excellent, and you can totally see the inspiration for the Joker in Batman in this movie... in that way it’s groundbreaking, but what could have been a masterpiece was simply a decent film."

I'd give it a , just enough to sneak on my list.

Seen 1/4

Co-sign.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

I didn't see either of those either.

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Good work Chyp, loving the countdown already. Only The Man Who Laughs so far from me.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

Saw Skeleton Dance, and liked it quite a bit. Darn. Would have made my list.

I had Underworld on my watch list, but never got to it before the deadline. I guess it didn't need my help anyway:p

I liked The Man Who Laughs, I've seen it twice but it didn't make my list and like Underworld I guess it didn't need my help either. Glad to see it on the countdown.

Just watched Underworld - a little too over-exaggerated at times for my taste, especially in the earlier stages, but overall quite enjoyable and whilst it wouldn't have made my list it would have been one of quite a few that were in consideration for the lower echelons.

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Amazing to see that Underworld made the list! That was one of the films I was annoyed I didn't watch earlier, so I could have championed it more around here.

I watched it recently and i was blown away by it. Absolutely incredible film, as Mark has mentioned, von Sternberg's visual style is superb. But the plot is so ambitious, quite a complex narrative with elements from different genres, some jaw dropping scenes. I was astonished by how violent the film is, particularly the final act. Definitely the template for gangster films to come, along with Howard Hawk's Scarface which I suspect will be on this list too.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

If Scarface shows up I shall have to sack myself - it did make #26 in the 1930s Countdown though Daniel ;)

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Seen neither, unfortunately...

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Remember Skeleton Dance from when i was a kid and thanks @mark f for posting it for a rewatch!

Haven't seen Blackmail but The Man Who Laughs was a blind grab for me in the first Pre-30's HoF and it was #16 on my list--
And I was able to catch Underworld that final week before the Deadline and what I read about it as setting the stage for gangster films is very on the mark. The opening and ending exploding with gunfire and the basis of the film is a love triangle that was very well done. It came in at #22


MY LIST: Seen 3 out of 4 (75%)
16) The Man Who Laughs (#48)
22) Underworld (#47)
25) The Iron Mask (One Pointer)

Like everyone else, the graphics are apropos and very, VERY well done!!

i watched blackmail a couple years ago when tcm had a massive hitchcock marathon and it was my second favorite of his pre-30s work, although i remember essentially nothing about it other than liking it. i had it at #18 on my list.

i haven't seen the others but underworld and the the man who laughs are two that i would've gotten around to eventually if there was more time.

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THE DUM DUM GIRLS COMING DOWN

I haven't seen any of the first four films to show up, but i am certainly going to see Underworld with my girlfriend. Joseph Von Sternberg has made some excellent pictures and i am sure there are more to show up.

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Just watched The Goat, gave a few Keaton shorts a look as prep for this but this wasn't one of them. Nicely inventive in places and pretty amusing with Keaton's usual great timing but wouldn't have made my list.

I watched a lot of Buster Keaton stuff for this countdown. The Goat wasn't one of them.

I can't recall hearing of the other movie.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

Haven't seen either.

Seen: 2/6

I have seen The Goat (1921) by Buster Keaton, maybe when it was on Mubi.com, but can't really recall. I like Buster Keaton, but this is not one of my favorites of his.



Entr'acte (1924) by René Clair is another dada movie from my list. I had it at 18 and everyone who is curious about avantgarde shorts (and dada) should watch it.

+

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

The Goat cost me 5 bucks;) I requested a bunch of Buster Keaton DVDs from my library and kept putting off watching them. I ended up being late returning them and so now owe the library $5, all because of The Goat, which I never did see.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

Seen quite a few Keaton flicks but this wasn’t one of them. Perhaps I’ll see it today or very soon. It’s very short after all...

The other one I haven’t even heard of.

Done that a few times with several HoF films in my time. But not to that degree. Close. . . but, so I feel your pain.

Indeed. An hour later here I am.

I loved it. Would’ve made my list. Not much of a story and it doesn’t tie up the loose ends but hey... I don’t watch Keaton for the story. This was inventive as always, funny and super fast paced especially in the end. Great gags and a lot of fun!

Thanks for the link, @mark f

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

I don't think I've actually seen The Goat, although I love Buster Keaton so I will watch that later.

Entr'acte nearly made my list, I originally had it at number 25 but chopped it off for A Corner in Wheat. A great film though so I'm glad it made it.

I always love following these countdowns to discover the films I didn't while compiling my list.
Seeing that Ent'acte is mark's #1, I WILL be seeing that.
Meanwhile, I just finished The Goat and it is NOT an exaggeration when I say I laughed OUT LOUD numerous times.
Keaton is a silent comedian I never actually watched growing up and only saw clips from various documentaries and the like about silent films comedies. Unlike my all-time favorite, Charles Chaplin, Keaton was in no way so easy to come across for me.
Until now.
I've seen two of his top films and this was absolutely hilarious to watch. I love a great chase and Keaton truly shined in this film doing just that. I won't get into it, just WATCH IT and see!
There were two spots in this short film I had previously recognized, the iconic shot of him on the very front of a train as it stops just inches from the camera, and a bit regarding him hiding on the back of a car, on the spare tire.


MY LIST: Seen 4 out of 6 (66.67%)
16) The Man Who Laughs (#48)
22) Underworld (#47)
25) The Iron Mask (One Pointer)

Just watched The Goat and can totally agree with everything you said. What an amazing comedian Buster Keaton is! Truly ahead of his time. The Goat also would have made my list had I seen it in time.

And now that brings me to 3/6 seen.

The Last Command was one of my tops. Emil Jannings is a quintessential sympathetic louse, and TLC is one of more moving melodramas I've seen.

I think I saw Way Down East a long time ago, but don't remember much apart from being lukewarm on it.

The Man Who Laughs is good tragedy. One I meant to but never got around to revisiting for this.

The Goat wasn't on my list, but one the better Keaton shorts.

Underworld was decent and fun. One of the first gun-centric action movies I've seen. Bancroft's hair is the most memorable part for me.

I liked Entr'acte, but was a bit overwhelmed the first time I saw it. I just watched again via Mark's link. I like surrealism/dadaism a lot, or moreso the influence it had later, and Entr'acte may be my favorite of the time.

The Last Command was my no. 7 and it is my favorite film by Josef von Sternberg. Joseph von Sternberg is an excellent storyteller and i am certainly going to watch more from his filmography.

Here is a ranked list of the films by von Sternberg that i have seen:

1. The Last Command (1928) +
2. Dishonored (1931) +
3. Shanghai Express (1932)
4. The Scarlet Empress (1934)
5. Morocco (1930)

The only film i have seen by Griffith is The Birth of a Nation, which i did not like and i am not that sure i am keen on watching more, though Intolerance is probably a must watch for a cinephile.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

I have seen neither of these two.

Seen:
3/8

I had Josef von Sternberg's Underworld in the nineteenth position. The more I watch it the more I actually prefer it to Scarface (1932).

Holden's List
19. Underworld (#47)

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Way Down East is the first film I've seen, and I like Griffith so far but I haven't seen much including not seeing his two big I ones. It didn't make my list though.

A bit bummed to see Way Down East so low on the countdown, but at least it made it. I love this film! It was my #1

Interesting that you disliked Birth of a Nation but loved this movie. I guess they're very different subject matters (I haven't seen either), but they were both directed by the same guy. Do you usually like Griffith films?

They are both totally different subject matters with different emotional impacts. Even though I hated Birth of a Nation I would recommend it as a must see.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

I watched Underworld. It was ok. Kind of hard for me to follow which affected overall enjoyment but that's because I havent seen a lot of silence though. The director has a unique touch on his films.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

Seen neither.

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Seen 7/8
My list:

The Last Command is another I wasn't aware of that looks like something I'd enjoy.

Way Down East was my #10.

I have seen Shaghai Express and The Scarlet Empress actually won the 30's Hall of Fame so The Last Command sounds like something I could very much enjoy so that'll go on my To Watch List.
CR was mentioning Way Down East and I was unable to see it before the deadline, so I'll be doing the same with that.


MY LIST: Seen 4 out of 8 (50%)
16) The Man Who Laughs (#48)
22) Underworld (#47)
25) The Iron Mask (One Pointer)

Seen 9/10
My list:

(this is getting embarrassing - wonder if any host has ever not had any of the movies on their own list show up in the entire countdown before :eek:)

Interesting, never even knew there was an 'adult' version of this fillum out there :D

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

Both films today were on my list!

6 for Hunchback, 8 for The Wind. Laughton is awesome as Quasimodo and I really liked Gish in The Wind.

Re: The MoFo Top 50 Pre-1930 Countdown: The List
 

Haven't seen those either.
Seen: 3/10

My List
23. The Man Who Laughs (#48)

The Wind was one of the silents I most wanted to see but I couldn't find a good copy.

I'd watch Hunchback but I wasn't that interested.