Film Weekly Magazine

The legacy of Willis O’Brien is that he remains one of the most important figures in the history of motion picture special effects. He was a true pioneer that forever changed the motion picture industry. Among his greatest contributions was his innovative and amazing work with stop motion animation. This method entailed filming a small model frame by frame as minor movements on the model were made prior to snapping a new frame. When played at full speed, this would present the image of the model moving as if it were a living being.

The 1925 film The Lost World Read the rest of this entry »

Back in the 1920s, films were quite different from what we are used to today. There really weren’t any TV movies, there was no home video and forget about movie channels on sites like TVbyDIRECT.com. If you wanted to see a movie, it was usually in black and white, theatres were the only place you could see them and they were serials.

A serialized film is basically a huge epic told in 15 to 30 minute installments and that’s exactly how it was done with Son of Tarzan.

Based on the legendary novel by the equally legendary author Edgar Rice Burroughs, this swashbuckling adventure followed the story of Jack (the son of Tarzan and Jane). When young Jack feels the call of the wild, he is lured to the continent of Africa and, from there, an epic odyssey of thrills and chills unfurls.

While critics of the film serial enjoyed their experience, there were a few criticisms that would be considered non-issues today. Some thought the serial should have been five episodes longer bringing the total from 15 to 20. Others thought that the film would have been even better with better actors.

Regardless of the minor criticisms, Son of Tarzan remains a classic to this day.

Movies in the 1930s offered a different style compared to what is shown on screen today. During a time when there was a sense of romanticism, actresses ruled the screen with such class and dignity. There were many great actresses during this time, so roles were sought after and fought for. Genuine talent was a must. When discussing who should be at the top, there are bound to be disagreements, but there are definitely many contenders.

The top ten movie Read the rest of this entry »

The 1930s saw several few glamorous actors whose names still resonate today. Some of the most prolific actors from Hollywood’s Golden Era include:

Clark Gable, whose work spans half a century and includes notables like Gone With the Wind, It Happened One Night and Mutiny on the Bounty.

C. Aubrey Smith, whose work includes the breathtakingly beautiful Hitchcock work Rebecca, as well as China Seas and Tarzan the Ape Man.

John Wayne, an old west Read the rest of this entry »

The 1920s were a time of magic. Out in Hollywood, movie studios were creating their new style of entertainment which spread across America. The actresses in these films became some of the most famous people in the country.
Mary Pickford, Clara Bow and Lillian Gish were big name draws in the silent movies. Pickford’s golden curls were her signature style. Clara Bow was known as the “It” girl. Norma Talmadge’s films were hugely successful. She was also an accidental trendsetter when Read the rest of this entry »

The era known as the “Roaring 20′s” produced many great actors. The 1920′s era is very well known for having silent films. The following is a list of the top ten actors from the 1920s.

1 – Charlie Chaplin
He is best known for being in silent movies and forming United Artists Corporation.

2 – Al Jolsen
He is best known for his role in the “Jazz Singer”.

3 – Buster Keaton
He was known as a brilliant comedian, especially in silent movies.

4 – Warner Baxter
Starred in the movie “In Old Arizona”.

5 – Douglas Fairbanks
He was famous for starring Read the rest of this entry »

The monster movies of the 1920′s and the 1930′s truly were amazing. Many of the films released during this time period are still considered all-time classics this day. Sadly, many silent era horror films have been lost or destroyed such as the Lon Chaney Sr. film LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT. However, we are left with amazing selections from the 1920′s along the lines of NOSFERATU, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Despite their age, these films still elicit frights Read the rest of this entry »