Posted by Donnacha at 64.107.44.170 on February 24, 2004 at 16:20:35:
In Reply to: Where can I get my hands on some silent films? posted by JimmyG on February 24, 2004 at 16:08:56:
Well, your local library (not the crap one, the good one - they come in pairs) should have some DVDs. Check there. Also, some video rental stores have "special interest" DVDs - check 'em out because no-one really rents them and they won't last long on shelves.
As for buying, you're spoiled for choice. A lot of Silent films have changed hands over time though, so you should make sure you're getting a good quality picture restoration. As silly as it might sound, you should check out sound options, too. It's a bit of a misnomer to call them 'silent', as a lot of the time, the filmmakers were every bit as involved with the appropriate in-theater soundtrack. Scores were written for a lot of these films, and few transcripts of them survive.
Check out the reviews of discs you're interested in on DVDTalk.com and DVDfile.com. You'd be surprised at how good some releases are and some aren't. They'll also link to places to get good prices from.