Slubowanie (1924) ***

A classic of Polish silent cinema, based on the same old Jewish legend that also inspired Michal Waszynski's "Dybuk" (1937). This silent film was slightly modified for a US release in 1933, adding a soundtrack and a few new scenes. That sound version is atrocious, but it was thanks to it that the film itself has been preserved in the United States, while all the original silent copies in Poland has been destroyed during World War II.

Waxworks (1924) ***

Uneven, but fascinating German expressionist film directed by Paul Leni and consisting of three distinct segments. The first one (first photo), set in 9th century Baghdad, is an example of "caligarism" at its most extreme and visually thrilling. Unfortunately, its story is a bit weak. The second segment (second photo), about Ivan The Terrible, is by far the best, both visually and narratively. It has clearly been an inspiration for Sergei Eisenstein's films made 20 years later. The third segment (last photo), about Jack the Ripper, is visually stunning, but much too short to develop any narrative threads.

Kriemhild's Revenge (1924) ***

Moon Of Israel (1924) ***

Peter Pan (1924) ***

Ole Opfinders offer (1924)

He Who Gets Slapped (1924) ***

A man becomes a clown.

The Marriage Circle (1924) ***

An excellent comedy of manners about two Viennese couples facing divorce. Remade as "One Hour With You" in 1932.

Dante's Inferno (1924) ***

Hot Water (1924) ***

This Harold Lloyd comedy has plenty of hilarious situations (Harold causing a traffic jam, Harold smashing his new car, Harold thinking that he murdered his mother-in-law). Co-directed by Fred Newmeyer and Sam Taylor.

Quo Vadis (1924) ***

Girl Shy (1924) ***

A fine Harold Lloyd comedy that satirizes the "vamp" melodramas and concludes with a series of wild rides in cars, trolleys, motocycles and horse carriages. Co-directed by Fred Newmeyer and Sam Taylor.

The Saga Of Gosta Berling (1924) ***

A classic of silent Swedish cinema. Greta Garbo's first film.

Michael (1924) ***

German drama about a famous painter who falls in love with his male model.

Forbidden Paradise (1924) ***

Pola Negri's best American film is a clever parody of those costume dramas she used to make in Germany.

Kino-Eye (1924) ***

Dziga Vertov's feature film debut is a documentary about Soviet boy scouts.

The Navigator (1924) ***

Buster and his girlfriend find themselves alone on a big cruise ship.

Messalina (1924) ***

America (1924) **

In this film, D.W. Griffith is doing to Native Americans what he did to African-Americans in "The Birth Of A Nation". Set during the American Revolution, the film first focuses on the battles of Lexington and Concord, and then moves to Upper State New York, denouncing native "savages" for remaining loyal to the British.

The Extraordinary Adventures Of Mr West In The Land Of The Bolsheviks (1924) **

A Soviet comedy about an naive American who visits Moscow.

Enchanted Cottage (1924) *

Boring silent melodrama about a man marrying an allegedly ugly woman.

The Iron Horse (1924) *

Excruciatingly slow-moving epic western about the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Terribly dated by today's standards.

Isn't Life Wonderful (1924) *

Hopelessly miserabilist drama about ethnic German refugees from Eastern Europe suffering unspeakable misery in the Weimar Republic.

Monsieur Beaucaire (1924) *

Boring silent costume drama starring Rudolpho Valentino as a 18th century French aristocrat.

Entr'acte (1924) ****

Directed by René Clair. Francis Picabia wrote the script of this surrealistic film - a prime example of the French avant-garde movement of 1920's. The begining is slow (most memorable are low-angle shots of a ballerina's legs), but the film concludes with a wild chase inspired by Mack Sennett.

Ballet mécanique (1924) ****

Famous cubist painter Fernand Leger directed this short film to explore the medium of cinema.

The First Hundred Years (1924) ****

Newlyweds Harry Langdon and Alice Day hire a cook-from-hell Louise Carver. Later, they get involved with sexy dame Madeline Hurlock. Probably Langdon's best short. Directed by Harry Sweet. Excerpted in "When Comedy Was King" (1960).

Galloping Bungalows (1924) ****

A Mack Sennett farce with Bathing Beauties and a frantic chase involving galloping bungalows and fire engines.

Paris qui dort (1924) ****

A crazy scientist invents a mysterious ray that paralyzes everyone. Only a few people remain active and they try to solve the mystery. A classic of French cinema, directed by René Clair.

The Hollywood Kid (1924) ****

Lizzies Of The Field (1924) ***

Directed by D.Lord and produced by Mack Sennett. A big road race with tin lizzies flying through the air, crashing into each other and collapsing in heaps of rubble. Typical sennettesque mayhem in a silent comedy about Red Dog Garage and Black Cat Garage competing for business.

Luck O' The Foolish (1924) ***

One of Harry Langdon's best shorts. The baby-faced comedian enjoys his honeymoon on a train. The best gag has Harry shaving over the shoulder of another traveler. Another highlight involves a handcuffed criminal. Excerpted in "The Golden Age Of Comedy" (1957). Produced by Mack Sennett and directed by Harry Edwards.

Big Moments From Little Pictures (1924) ***

Directed by J.A.Howe and R.Clements. Produced by Hal Roach. Will Rogers presents excerpts from his movies, in which he impersonates famous movie stars. He lampoons Douglas Fairbanks from "Robin Hood" (1922) and brilliantly imitates Ford Sterling from Mack Sennett's Keystone Kops comedies. This film was excerpted in "The Golden Age Of Comedy" (1957).

All Wet (1924) ***

Directed by Leo McCarey and produced by Hal Roach. Charley Chase tries to recover his automobile, which sunk in a deep puddle. Good situation comedy.

High Society (1924) ***

La Voyeuse (1924) ***

Ten Dollars Or Ten Days (1924) ***

Directed by D.Lord and produced by Mack Sennett. At first, it's a very confusing film about pharmacists mixing their medicines with poisons. Later, however, the plot thickens when Ben Turpin is accused of a crime he didn't commit. There are plenty of funny scenes involving night watchmen afraid of ghosts and Ben performing some high-rise acrobatics (like hanging from a rope attached to his neck).

Smithy (1924) ***

Discharged from the Army, Stan (Laurel) finds a job at a construction site. There are some very amusing rooftop acrobatics involving ladders, heavy objects and his co-workers' heads. This excellent comedy (produced by Hal Roach), is even funnier than a similar film Stan Laurel later made with Oliver Hardy, "The Finishing Touch" (1928).

The Casting Couch (1924) ***

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Backward Flow (1924) ***

Publicity Pays (1924) ***

Directed by Leo McCare and produced by Hal Roach. In this fine comedy, hotel guest Charley Chase tries to catch a runaway monkey. The "high-rise" stunts are clearly inspired by Harold Lloyd's comedies.

The Hansom Cabman (1924) ***

A very surprising Harry Langdon's comedy.

His New Mamma (1924) ***

A Mack Sennett comedy starring Harry Langdon, with Bathing Beauties and Keystone Kops. Confusing, but very funny.

Picking Peaches (1924) ***

Directed by E.Kenton and produced by Mack Sennett. Harry Langdon's film debut is a comedy about a "beauty & fashion" contest. The best scene has Harry hiding under covers.

Wall Street Blues (1924) ***

A typical Mack Sennett farce with a classic cliffhanger sequence.

Out Bound (1924) ***

Produced by E.W.Hammons for Jack White's Cameo Comedies, released by Educational, directed by Harry Edwards, and starring Sid Smith and Cliff Bowes, it's a typical silent comedy, less dynamic than Keystone/Sennett farces, and less metriculously constructed than Hal Roach's creations. But it has a spectacular climax with a bed hanging over a precipice.

One Wet Night (1924) ***

Directed by William H.Watson for Universal Pictures. There are plenty of puddles and people splashed with water in this moist slapstick farce starring Alice Howell. No dry wit here.

Family Life (1924) **

Directed by Bob Kerr. Mark Jones and Ruth Hiatt star in this rather mediocre slapstick farce. Produced by Jack White and E.W.Hammons for Educational Films, it features demolished houses and some wild antics on the beach.

All Night Long (1924) **

Directed by Harry Edwards and produced by Mack Sennett. Harry (Langdon) fondly remembers his old days in the Army: the potatoes, flirty French girls and the trenches.

Yukon Jake (1924) **

Directed by D.Lord and produced by Mack Sennett. Two Yukon bandits kidnap a rich man's daughter. They are chased by lawman Ben Turpin, himself chased by a bear.

West Of Hot Dog (1924) **

Directed by P.Pembroke for Standard. Tenderfoot Stan is robbed by bandits in the Far West. Later, when he inherits a fortune, his chances of survival are reduced drastically. There are exciting gunfights near the end, with Stan's opponents killing each other off. Stan Laurel is clearly imitating Harry Langdon in this film, which was produced by Joe Rock.

Smile Please (1924) **

Directed by Roy Del Ruth and produced by Mack Sennett. Harry saves a girl twice: first from a runaway horse, then from a terrible fire. The girl's boyfriend is understandably angry and tries to ruin their wedding. The final "bees in the pants" and "skunk in a photo camera" gags are a bit predictable.

Feet Of Mud (1924) **

Harry Langon's big trouble in little Chinatown.

Our Congressman (1924) **

Directed by R.Wagner and produced by Hal Roach. A Will Rogers comedy that pokes fun at the snobbery of the Washington social elites.

Shanghaied Lovers (1924) *

Harry and his wife are kidnapped by sailors.

Alice's Wild West Show (1924) ***

Excellent cartoon western.

Opus III (1924) ***

Trip To Mars (1924) ***

Koko is sent to Mars.

The Cat And The Magnet (1924) ***

Produced and directed by Paul Terry. A cat is stealing donuts. Mice are using those donuts as tires for their cars, but a cop wants to eat them. Later, the cat uses a magnet to catch the mice. He also tries to steal Al Falfa's hammer.

Alice's Spooky Adventure (1924) ***

Alice finds herself among ghosts.

Alice's Fishy Story (1924) ***

Alice finds herself among Inuit fishermen.

Out Of Order (1924) ***

Aka "The Virgin With The Hot Pants". It's available here.