Kevin Brownlow's superlative written history of the silent film, The Parade's Gone By, led to "Hollywood," Brownlow's 1980 documentary collaboration with David Gill for Thames Television. The 13-part series, while incomplete and subjective as to the stars, directors, and films included, is nevertheless, a priceless, irreplaceable contribution to the preservation of film history.
Part I of the series, "The Pioneers," is a two-part prolog that begins by dispelling common misconceptions about silent film, such as sped-up movement, blurry images, and complete silence. With a narration by James Mason, the episode then illustrates, with well-chosen clips, the fallacy of those assumptions. When projected at the proper speed, the crisp photographic images were accompanied by music, at times played by an orchestra in film palaces of incomparable splendor. The episode then moves back in time to the dawn of film and the earliest film-makers and exhibition venues, such as Edison and his Vitascope. When the novelty of film began to fade, "The Great Train Robbery" revitalized audience interest and "The Birth of a Nation" excited and inflamed the country.
Film clips are not only appropriate, but long enough to provide a feel for the movie excerpted. The interviews with Lillian Gish, Viola Dana, Blanche Sweet, Hal Roach, King Vidor, and others are a unique legacy; while some are better than others and a few are preachy and dated, all have great historic value. The ongoing controversy over D.W. Griffith's "The Birth of a Nation" is discussed and the racism not excused; however, the furor caused definitely illustrates the power of film to incite emotions.
The one flaw in both the initial episode and the series stems from the era in which the documentary was made. The interviews were completed in the 1970's, and the series first broadcast in 1980; thus, the image quality of the interviews is barely passable by VHS standards; the color is faded and washed out, and the image fuzzy. The film clips also suffer as they were excerpted before many of the movies featured had undergone extensive restoration. Aficionados of silent film will be familiar with much improved copies of these classics. However, nothing should deter anyone remotely interested in film history in general or silent film in particular from viewing this essential series. Whether or not the money and effort required to restore "Hollywood" to blu-ray standards is ever found, the first and subsequent episodes of the series are addictive and enthralling to film enthusiasts, who should seek out The Parade's Gone By if they have not already read that exceptional book as well.
Part I of the series, "The Pioneers," is a two-part prolog that begins by dispelling common misconceptions about silent film, such as sped-up movement, blurry images, and complete silence. With a narration by James Mason, the episode then illustrates, with well-chosen clips, the fallacy of those assumptions. When projected at the proper speed, the crisp photographic images were accompanied by music, at times played by an orchestra in film palaces of incomparable splendor. The episode then moves back in time to the dawn of film and the earliest film-makers and exhibition venues, such as Edison and his Vitascope. When the novelty of film began to fade, "The Great Train Robbery" revitalized audience interest and "The Birth of a Nation" excited and inflamed the country.
Film clips are not only appropriate, but long enough to provide a feel for the movie excerpted. The interviews with Lillian Gish, Viola Dana, Blanche Sweet, Hal Roach, King Vidor, and others are a unique legacy; while some are better than others and a few are preachy and dated, all have great historic value. The ongoing controversy over D.W. Griffith's "The Birth of a Nation" is discussed and the racism not excused; however, the furor caused definitely illustrates the power of film to incite emotions.
The one flaw in both the initial episode and the series stems from the era in which the documentary was made. The interviews were completed in the 1970's, and the series first broadcast in 1980; thus, the image quality of the interviews is barely passable by VHS standards; the color is faded and washed out, and the image fuzzy. The film clips also suffer as they were excerpted before many of the movies featured had undergone extensive restoration. Aficionados of silent film will be familiar with much improved copies of these classics. However, nothing should deter anyone remotely interested in film history in general or silent film in particular from viewing this essential series. Whether or not the money and effort required to restore "Hollywood" to blu-ray standards is ever found, the first and subsequent episodes of the series are addictive and enthralling to film enthusiasts, who should seek out The Parade's Gone By if they have not already read that exceptional book as well.