After last week's barn burner of a list (we did the year 2015, which we had needed to catch up on anyway) this week our "Siri Says" series returns us to slim pickins - we asked our phone for a number between 1 and 100 and she gave us "27" and so we're choosing from The Movies of 1927. Two big things happened in film this year: one, The Jazz Singer, the first feature film with sound, was released.
And two, on May 11 Douglas Fairbanks (pictured right) created the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The first Oscars ceremony wasn't until May 1929 but that ceremony was to honor the films of 1927/1928, so the two films that won the top awards (which were only that first year split up into "Outstanding Picture" and "Unique and Artistic Picture" - do you thinks the folks who won "Outstanding Picture" were irritated that they were implying their movie wasn't "Artistic" and that's why the two categories were mashed together the following year? Anyway both of those films make my list below.
In a weird coincidence TCM is having a Alfred Hitchcock marathon this summer and I only just saw the two movies of his seen below in the "Runners-up" category last month for the first time. Since I've seen so few movies from 1927 pretty much anything I have seen from the year makes the "Runners-up" list but they're both interesting films... and Ivor Novello is incredibly swoon-worthy in Downhill.
What are your favorite movies of 1927?
London After Midnight is the Holy Grail of silent cinema. Hopefully, in my lifetime, someone will find a complete copy. However, the version pieced together with stills and the soundtrack isn't horrible. It could have been worse. Let's all hope for this masterpiece's return.
• The Gaucho, Overdramatic, but fun.
• It, starring Clara Bow, not bad at all.
• The King of Kings, a Demille Bible movie.
• Wings, directed by William A. Wellman, Brilliant. I hope someday to see it with a live orchestra.
We are jumping into the way back machine! Not quite as much of a challenge as 1922 but a tougher field though there are fine films for the choosing.
Love that The Unknown made you list! That is one freaky odd movie even without the added bonus of the amazing young Joan Crawford. Fascinating to see her but Chaney is the focal point, she credited him with making her take acting seriously. It's the only silent I've watch more than once though given the chance I'd revisit Wings and a few others.
Your other four are marvelous choices as well.
Man, Woman and Sin-One of only a handful of films stage legend Jeanne Eagels made and the only silent that survives.
*Winners of the Wilderness-This isn't really that great of a film but it's a hoot to see Joan Crawford all decked out as a French/Canadian noblewoman during the French & Indian War.
Take away The Jazz Singer's infamy as being the first sound picture and it's a rough view, though it was cool to see Myrna Loy pop up for a bit.