Scott Lord on the Silent Film of Greta Garbo, Mauritz Stiller, Victor Sjostrom as Victor Seastrom, John Brunius, Gustaf Molander - the Golden Age of Swedish Silent Film........Lost Films in Found Magazines, among them Victor Seastrom directing John Gilbert and Lon Chaney, the printed word offering clues to deteriorated celluloid, extratextual discourse illustrating how novels were adapted to the screen; the photoplay as a literature;how it was reviewed, audience reception perhaps actor to actor.
Exhibitor's Trade Review lured projectionists to screen a Bible series during 1922 by promising the distribution of "direct propaganda" to ministerial bodies and schools. Perhaps a modern account would prefer the term "hype".
Little is known as to whether the films based on the Holy Bible exhibited during the 1920's are entirely lost films, with no surviving copies or not. It is often noted that the cinematic depiction of Jesus Christ was not entirely allowed during the silent film era. Not incidently, Vitagraph during 1910,not long after the cinema of attractions and Nickelodeon
, questioned the venue available to the flanneur for theatrical release of film, remotely querying as to audience reception in spectatorship, by asking while advertising in the periodical The Film Index, "Have you written to your exchange to engage the series for extra exhibitions in churches and halls?" The advertisement also offerred a printed lecture and "elaborate beautiful posters" for the "greatest drawing card for an entire entertainment, the greatest since the Passion Play", Vitagraph's five reel series,"Life of Moses". The studio advertised that all five reels were to be released in early Lent.
Previously, Vitagraph studios, during 1909 had produced versions of "Jeptha's Daughter", and "Solomon's Judgement", the advertising for which highlighted its costumes and scenery. Both films were directed by J. Stuart Blackton, the former having starred actress Annette Kellerman, the latter actress Florence Lawrence. Universal followed with a three reel version of "Jeptha's Daughter" in 1912 directed by J.Farrell MacDonald and starring actress Constance Crawley.
"The Deluge", "Vitagraph Portrayal of the Great Flood" was reviewed with a synopsis and publicity stills by the periodical The Film Index in February of 1911 and appears in advertisements placed in French periodicals. "This indescribably beautiful release is not a mere phantasy; it is a matter of careful research and Biblical record. Its costumes are designed from Tissot."
Silent Film Noah's Ark (Vitagraph, 1911) Adam and Eve (Vitagraph, 1912)
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