I saw the 1912 movie Cleopatra on TCM last night!

[Phil C]

It is a silent movie and it is great considering that it was made in 1912. Some credit it as being made in 1913 but it was actually released in late 1912 but probably the mix up is due to the fact that it was widely popular in 1913. No mater. It is a great silent movie and well worth seeing not just because it is a good movie but because it was one of the first longer movies for that time. It runs about an hour and a half during a time when most movies ran about 30 minutes.
Helen Gardner stars as Cleopatra and she was a great talented moive actress and very beautiful. Her performance is outstanding. The rest of the cast is very good too especially Miss Robson who appears briefly as Octavia. I think she took accidently took some pills that had mercury instead of the prescribed medicine and we lost a beautiful talented actress who probably would have made many more movies.
Helen Gardner produced this movie forming her own company in 1912 so she was a smart business woman in an industry dominated by men at the time.
TCM shows this movie regularly so be on the lookout out for it.

[Trashman]

How can you tell if someone is a great actor if there is no dialogue? Not trying to be a smart arse, just wondering?

[Phil C]

Originally posted by Trashman
How can you tell if someone is a great actor if there is no dialogue? Not trying to be a smart arse, just wondering?

Actually that is a good question. The best thing is watch a few silent movies and you eventually can tell. Plus there is the write ups of the experts in the media.

[wimbo_pro]

Originally posted by Trashman
How can you tell if someone is a great actor if there is no dialogue? Not trying to be a smart arse, just wondering?

Same as with voice...if they seem believable.

[Trashman]

Thanks! I read somewhere that there were actors that could not make the transition from silent movies to "talkies".

[Phil C]

Originally posted by Trashman
Thanks! I read somewhere that there were actors that could not make the transition from silent movies to "talkies".

That is right. It was unfortunate for some of them but others were able to adjust. Lon Chaney was one that adjusted very well but unfortunately he passed away after making only one sound movie. Lilian Gish and Greta Garbo did very well also. A funny musical movie about this was made in the early 50s called
"Singing in the Rain." It was set in the late 20s when the change from silent to sound was done. It is a funny, singing and dancing type movie but at the same time it tragic for the stars that were unable to make that change.

[Trashman]

Singing in the rain, isn't that the one with Fred Astare?

[Phil C]

Originally posted by Trashman
Singing in the rain, isn't that the one with Fred Astare?

No this is the one with Gene Kelly and his song and dance routine of Singing in the rain is great. The rest of the cast is also great which includes Donald O'Conner (his song and dance of Make Them Laugh is great and very funny) and a young Debbie Reynolds who is very good. But the movie is stolen by Jean Hagen as Lina. Many felt like Jean should have got the best supporting oscar that year.