Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "silent-film-star"

1. Sunset Blvd. (1950)

Passed | 110 min | Drama, Film-Noir

A screenwriter develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star determined to make a triumphant return.

Director: Billy Wilder | Stars: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson

Votes: 236,179

2. Chaplin (1992)

PG-13 | 143 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama

An elderly Charlie Chaplin discusses his autobiography with his editor, recounting his amazing journey from his poverty-stricken childhood to world-wide success after the ingenious invention of the Little Tramp.

Director: Richard Attenborough | Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Geraldine Chaplin, Paul Rhys, John Thaw

Votes: 62,162 | Gross: $9.49M

3. The Artist (I) (2011)

PG-13 | 100 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

When George, a silent movie superstar, meets Peppy Miller, a dancer, sparks fly between the two. However, after the introduction of talking pictures, their fortunes change, affecting their dynamic.

Director: Michel Hazanavicius | Stars: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell

Votes: 248,498 | Gross: $44.67M

4. In a Lonely Place (1950)

Not Rated | 94 min | Drama, Film-Noir, Mystery

A potentially violent screenwriter is a murder suspect until his lovely neighbor clears him. However, she soon starts to have her doubts.

Director: Nicholas Ray | Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame, Frank Lovejoy, Carl Benton Reid

Votes: 35,178

5. Ragtime (1981)

PG | 155 min | Drama

A young black pianist becomes embroiled in the lives of an upper-class white family set among the racial tensions, infidelity, violence and other nostalgic events in early 1900s New York City.

Director: Milos Forman | Stars: James Cagney, Elizabeth McGovern, Howard E. Rollins Jr., Brad Dourif

Votes: 10,546 | Gross: $21.02M

6. Inserts (1975)

NC-17 | 117 min | Comedy, Drama

A young, once-great Hollywood film director refuses to accept changing times during the early 1930s, and confines himself to his decaying mansion to make silent porn flicks.

Director: John Byrum | Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Jessica Harper, Bob Hoskins, Veronica Cartwright

Votes: 2,439

7. Lillie (1978)

672 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

Seen on Masterpiece Theatre, starring Francesca Annis in an award-winning performance, Lillie vividly captures the complex woman who became one of the most notorious and respected figures of the Victorian era.

Stars: Francesca Annis, Catherine Feller, Peggy Ann Wood, Anton Rodgers

Votes: 679

8. The Real Charlie Chaplin (2021)

114 min | Documentary, Biography

A look at the life and work of Charlie Chaplin in his own words featuring an in-depth interview he gave to Life magazine in 1966.

Directors: Peter Middleton, James Spinney | Stars: Pearl Mackie, Jeff Rawle, Paul Ryan, Matthew Wolf

Votes: 1,787

9. Show People (1928)

Passed | 83 min | Comedy, Romance

A young lady from Georgia goes to Hollywood in the hopes of becoming an actress.

Director: King Vidor | Stars: Marion Davies, William Haines, Dell Henderson, Paul Ralli

Votes: 4,003 | Gross: $1.10M

10. The Wild Party (1975)

R | 95 min | Comedy, Drama

With the arrival of talking pictures, a silent film comedian (a Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle-type) throws a lavish party to try and save his failing career. His plan is to release one last, great silent masterpiece.

Director: James Ivory | Stars: James Coco, Raquel Welch, Perry King, Tiffany Bolling

Votes: 805

11. Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché (2018)

Not Rated | 103 min | Documentary, Biography, History

Pamela B. Green's energetic film about pioneer filmmaker Alice Guy-Blaché is both a tribute and a detective story, tracing the circumstances by which this extraordinary artist faded from memory and the path toward her reclamation.

Director: Pamela B. Green | Stars: Jodie Foster, Alice Guy, Pamela B. Green, Catherine Hardwicke

Votes: 1,124 | Gross: $0.10M

12. The Buster Keaton Story (1957)

Not Rated | 91 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama

An inaccurate retelling of the life of silent filmmaker and comedian Buster Keaton.

Director: Sidney Sheldon | Stars: Donald O'Connor, Ann Blyth, Rhonda Fleming, Peter Lorre

Votes: 349

13. Hollywood Story (1951)

Passed | 77 min | Crime, Drama, Film-Noir

An independent producer unwisely opens a can of worms after he decides to make a movie about the unsolved murder of a famous silent film director in 1929.

Director: William Castle | Stars: Richard Conte, Julie Adams, Richard Egan, Henry Hull

Votes: 916

14. Hollywood Babylon (1971)

X | 87 min | Drama

A faux cautionary documentary that portrays several notorious celebrity sex scandals from the golden age of Hollywood through film clips and often humorous softcore reenactments.

Director: Van Guylder | Stars: Roger Gentry, Myron Griffin, Ashley Phillips, Uschi Digard

Votes: 148

15. Hollywood (1980)

676 min | Documentary, Biography, History

The history of the American film industry in Hollywood during the Silent era.

Stars: James Mason, Colleen Moore, Byron Haskin, Viola Dana

Votes: 852

16. Rum Runners (1971)

Not Rated | 135 min | Adventure, Comedy

In the prohibition years, the 'rumrunners' travel through the Caribbean Sea with the forbidden liquor barely escaping the ship patrols. While on the run, one of the bootleggers falls in love with an actress on a movie set.

Director: Robert Enrico | Stars: Lino Ventura, Brigitte Bardot, Bill Travers, Clive Revill

Votes: 601

17. It Happened in Hollywood (1937)

Approved | 67 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

While hospitalized young Billy meets his silent movie idol Tim Bart but then the talkies came, destroying Bart's career. Now Bart must convince his young friend he is still a star.

Director: Harry Lachman | Stars: Richard Dix, Fay Wray, Victor Kilian, Charles Arnt

Votes: 696

18. Merton of the Movies (1947)

Approved | 82 min | Comedy, Romance

A Kansas bumpkin goes to Hollywood to become a movie star and gets a job burlesquing his favorite actor - only he thinks the role is serious.

Director: Robert Alton | Stars: Red Skelton, Virginia O'Brien, Gloria Grahame, Leon Ames

Votes: 501

19. Valentino (1951)

Approved | 102 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

Italian immigrant Rudolph Valentino makes it big in silent Hollywood, but he ends up struggling between his career and the woman he loves.

Director: Lewis Allen | Stars: Eleanor Parker, Richard Carlson, Patricia Medina, Joseph Calleia

Votes: 338

20. Forever (1992)

R | 93 min | Horror, Mystery

A director of rock videos moves into the house where William Desmond Taylor, a famous director during the silent era, was murdered. He finds some old reels of film, and as he plays the film... See full summary »

Director: Thomas Palmer Jr. | Stars: Sean Young, Terence Knox, Diane Ladd, Steve Railsback

Votes: 158

21. The Legend of Valentino (1975 TV Movie)

Unrated | 100 min | Biography, Drama

A "dramatization" of the life of actor Rudolph Valentino, widely regarded as the screen's first male sex symbol.

Director: Melville Shavelson | Stars: Franco Nero, Suzanne Pleshette, Judd Hirsch, Lesley Ann Warren

Votes: 133

22. Young Charlie Chaplin (1989)

TV-PG | 160 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama

The challenging and spirited early life of cinema's first great comedic artist, Charlie Chaplin, is portrayed. The innately talented young Charlie must overcome a wayward life of poverty and familial chaos to reach the pinnacle of stardom.

Stars: Joe Geary, Lee Whitlock, Twiggy, Ian McShane

Votes: 85

23. The Bachelor's Daughters (1946)

Passed | 88 min | Comedy, Romance

A semi-trifle with Adolphe Menjou as a department store floorwalker who is persuaded by four husband-seeking salesgirls---two-bordering-on-three of which were well beyond the "girl" stage--... See full summary »

Director: Andrew L. Stone | Stars: Gail Russell, Claire Trevor, Ann Dvorak, Adolphe Menjou

Votes: 128

24. Houdini (1996)

G | 61 min | Documentary, Biography

The film takes a look back at the life of the great Houdini, escape-artist and magician extraordinaire. It also looks into his trying to debunk spiritualists and his silent movie career. It... See full summary »

Director: Gene M. Gamache | Stars: Hal Douglas, Harry Houdini

Votes: 21

25. What a Glorious Feeling: The Making of 'Singin' in the Rain' (2002 Video)

36 min | Documentary, Short

Movie and stage icon Debbie Reynolds hosts the making of "Singin' in the Rain". The short documentary includes Donald O'Connor, who played the comical "Cosmo Brown", Stanley Donen, one half... See full summary »

Director: Peter Fitzgerald | Stars: Debbie Reynolds, Rudy Behlmer, Cyd Charisse, Betty Comden

Votes: 126

26. Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood (1995)

348 min | Documentary, History

Documentary mini-series about the rise and fall of the European silent film industry.

Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Ulrich Tukur, Sidney Gilliat

Votes: 440

27. Chaplin's Goliath (1996)

54 min | Documentary, Biography

A film about Eric Campbell, the tall Scottish actor who was most famous for playing the quintessential villain for Charles Chaplin's Tramp character.

Director: Kevin Macdonald | Stars: Bill Paterson, Brenda Bull, Peter Menzies, Jimmy Logan

Votes: 147

28. Mabel and Fatty Viewing the World's Fair at San Francisco (1915)

9 min | Documentary, Short, Comedy

Actors Fatty Arbuckle and Mabel Normand do some sightseeing at the San Francisco World's Fair in 1915.

Directors: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, Mabel Normand | Stars: Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, Mabel Normand, James Rolph Jr., Mme. Ernestine Schumann-Heink

Votes: 130

29. 4 Clowns (1970)

G | 97 min | Comedy

The "four clowns" of this Robert Youngson anthology are: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Charley Chase and Buster Keaton. There are examples of Laurel and Hardy's individual work prior to their ... See full summary »

Director: Robert Youngson | Stars: Oliver Hardy, Stan Laurel, Buster Keaton, Charley Chase

Votes: 166

30. Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies (2008)

Not Rated | 102 min | Documentary, Biography

A chronicle of the life and career of silent film star Mary Pickford.

Director: Nicholas Eliopoulos | Stars: Charles Chaplin, Walt Disney, Amelia Earhart, Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Votes: 223

31. Star Power: The Creation of United Artists (1998 Video)

Not Rated | 55 min | Documentary, Biography

The careers of D.W. Griffith, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Charlie Chaplin are chronicled culminating in the formation of United Artists and 1919.

Director: Hugh Munro Neely | Stars: Roddy McDowall, Marc Wanamaker, Christopher Sanders, Joy Noe

Votes: 28

32. The Birth of the Tramp (2013 TV Movie)

52 min | Documentary, Biography

A look back at Charlie Chaplin's early life and career, from his rough childhood and music hall success in England to his early Hollywood days and the development of his enormously popular "Little Tramp" character.

Directors: Serge Bromberg, Eric Lange | Stars: Peter Hudson, Kate Guyonvarch, Kevin Brownlow, David Robinson

Votes: 354

33. A Lover's Oath (1925)

60 min | Romance, Fantasy

Only a fragment of this partially lost film survives. The son of the chief of one desert tribe, betrothed to the daughter of the chief of a neighboring tribe, almost loses the woman to a riotous rich man who attempts to abduct her.

Director: Ferdinand P. Earle | Stars: Ramon Novarro, Kathleen Key, Edwin Stevens, Frederick Warde

Votes: 24

34. Good Night Valentino (2003)

Not Rated | 15 min | Drama, Short

Dramatization of an H.L. Mencken story. Rudolph Valentino comes to Menckin's hotel room to seek advice about how to deal with a newspaper editorial that claims Valentino's screen career has emasculated the American male.

Director: Edoardo Ballerini | Stars: Edoardo Ballerini, John Rothman, Blaire Chandler

Votes: 66

35. Curse of the Remote Island (2008)

16 min | Animation, Short

Add a Plot

Director: Christer Lindström | Stars: Christer Lindström, Perttu Helin, Heikki Jytilä, Saku Toivanen

Votes: 50

36. Chaplin's Art of Comedy (1966)

G | 85 min | Documentary, Comedy

A survey of Charles Chaplin's early career using re-edited footage from his classic silent shorts.

Director: Samuel M. Sherman | Stars: Charles Chaplin, Ben Turpin, Edna Purviance, Gilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson

Votes: 17

37. Taxi Dancer (1998)

40 min | Short, Drama

Black and white silent film dealing with the death of Rudolph Valentino as perceived by a deaf elevator operator (liftboy) who's become fascinated with him.

Director: Caroline Strubbe | Stars: Delphine Roy, Georgette Stulens, Jeroen Willems

Votes: 9

38. In Hollywood with Potash and Perlmutter (1924)

70 min | Comedy

Potash and Perlmutter give up their textile business to produce motion pictures. Though their initial effort is a failure, they interest a banker, Blanchard, in financing their productions,... See full summary »

Director: Alfred E. Green | Stars: Alexander Carr, George Sidney, Vera Gordon, Betty Blythe

39. Le Petit Nuage (2012)

8 min | Short, Musical, Romance

LE PETIT NUAGE (The Little Cloud), where two people meet in a cafe and it's love at first sight. One glance and a flicker of attraction transforms into wistful love as we are delighted by ... See full summary »

Director: Renee Kayon | Stars: Joffrey Platel, Sébastien Pierre, Sarah Demeestere

Votes: 16

40. Screen Snapshots Series 25, No. 8: Looking Back (1946)

Approved | 10 min | Short, Comedy, History

Screen Snapshots No.8 in 1945-46 series (production number 7858) is a review of the film comedy talents of previous eras and years.

Director: Ralph Staub | Stars: Ralph Staub, Bud Abbott, Edgar Bergen, Charles Chaplin

Votes: 14

41. The Life and Times of Harold Lloyd (2005 Video)

Documentary, Short

Add a Plot

Stars: Leonard Maltin, Harold Lloyd

Votes: 9

42. Out of the Closet, Off the Screen: The Life of William Haines (2001)

TV-MA | 45 min | Documentary, Biography

Chronicles the life of openly gay 1930s film actor William Haines, who sacrificed his Hollywood fame when he refused to end his relationship with another man.

Directors: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato | Stars: William Haines, Chris Allen, Stockard Channing, Christina Crawford

Votes: 84

43. American Experience (1987– )
Episode: Mary Pickford (2005)

TV-PG | 90 min | Documentary, Biography, History

Through interviews with film historians and biographers, and through archival footage, the rise and fall of the professional life of actress and businessperson Mary Pickford (1892-1979) - ... See full summary »

Director: Sue Williams | Stars: Jeanine Basinger, Scott Eyman, Robert Cushman, Kevin Brownlow

Votes: 109

44. The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978)
Episode: David Hartman, Paula Kelly (1973)

TV-G | 60 min | Comedy, Family

Highlights of this show include "This Is Your Lifetime" (a spoof of "This Is Your Life"); George is sick in "George and Zelda"; and Carol ironically sings "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" but her car has many issues.

Director: Dave Powers | Stars: Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner

Votes: 85

45. The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978)
Episode: Ken Berry and Carl Reiner (1974)

TV-G | 22 min | Comedy, Family

Included in this show is "Disaster '75" (a spoof of "Airport 1975").

Director: Dave Powers | Stars: Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Carl Reiner

Votes: 47

46. The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978)
Episode: Tim Conway and the Pointer Sisters (1975)

TV-G | 22 min | Comedy, Family

Highlights of this show include Stella Toddler as a game show contestant on "Up Your Income"; and Nora Desmond's butler Max finds a substitute for himself.

Director: Dave Powers | Stars: Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway

Votes: 42

47. The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978)
Episode: Alan King and Lena Zavaroni (1974)

TV-G | 60 min | Comedy, Family

Highlights include: guest Alan King as a baseball fan who is being pestered by a woman who has more interest in him than in the game; two former silent screen stars (Carol, Harvey) are ... See full summary »

Director: Dave Powers | Stars: Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Alan King

Votes: 38

48. MGM Parade (1955–1956)
Episode: Episode #1.30 (1956)

30 min | Documentary

Host Walter Pidgeon admits that he made himself available to host this episode if only to be able to discuss the film career of the legendary Greta Garbo. He mentions her short stint of ... See full summary »

Director: Leonard Spigelgass | Stars: Lew Ayres, James Cagney, Marie Dressler, Conrad Nagel

Votes: 18

49. The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)
Episode: Once Upon a Time (1961)

TV-PG | 25 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror

Janitor Woodrow Mulligan gets a trip from 1890 to 1962 courtesy of his employer's time-machine helmet.

Director: Norman Z. McLeod | Stars: Buster Keaton, Stanley Adams, James Flavin, Gil Lamb

Votes: 2,622

50. E! Mysteries & Scandals (1998– )
Episode: Mabel Normand (1999)

Documentary

Only a teenage girl when she became one of the early stars of the silver screen, Mabel Normand's life soon became swept up in scandals, leading to an early grave.

Stars: A.J. Benza, Betty Fussell, Jerry Herman, Sidney Kirkpatrick

Votes: 20