Reel Old Movies

In honor of 2023’s National Silent Movie Day on September 29, check out these silent film classics that are considered must-see favorites by silent film fans. 

Now available! "Visual History of Silent Movies: A reissue of the 1927 pictorial survey 'Masters and Masterpieces of the Screen'"  — order your paperback at Amazon 

On this date in Hollywood history -- September edition:  The Hitchcock classic "Psycho" opens across the U.S., Charlie Chaplin barred from re-entry to the U.S., "The Quiet Man" premieres, birthdays for Raquel Welch, Greta Garbo and Claudette Colbert and more ... 

The Margot Robbie-Ryan Gosling “Barbie” won over audiences at the box office with its fashionable icon’s journey from Barbieland to the human world – and from existential crisis to enlightenment. If you can’t get enough of absurdist comedy, identity crises, colorful scene design or stylish wardrobes, consider a few classic films from the Golden Age of Hollywood that scratch some of the same itches of 2023’s summer all-star “Barbie.” What else would you suggest? Share with @ReelOldMovies on Instagram ‘The Red Shoes’ (1948) Critics and audiences have lauded “Barbie” for its set design and innovative color palette. “The Red Shoes” is the height of a color-saturated screen experience . The plot also echoes some of the same themes of “Barbie.” A ballerina faces a world in which she is forced to choose between her passion for her art and her love for a composer. The 1948 drama has been celebrated since its release for its use of Technicolor, with director Martin Scorsese calling it one of th...

In between kitchen gadgets and electronic devices, a few deals lurk for classic movie fans during Amazon’s Prime Day sale July 11-12, 2023.  Here’s a quick round-up of DVDs, books and more that are on deep discount if you need to round out your collection! [Note: Post will be updated throughout the day] 'Godfather' trilogy $29.99 (38% discount) The 50th anniversary box set of all three movies Audrey Hepburn DVD collection $13.99 (39% discount) Movies in the box set include all the favorites: "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "Funny Face," "My Fair Lady," "Roman Holiday," "Sabrina," "Paris When It Sizzles," and "War and Peace." Abbott & Costello: Universal Pictures Collection $34.99 (65% discount) All 28 films produced during the height of their popularity at Universal Pictures are here in one DVD collection John Wayne's Western DVDs $25.99 (32% discount) Fourteen of John Wayne's Western classics are i...

On this date in Hollywood history -- July edition: "White Zombie," "Easy Rider" and film noir classic "Double Indemnity" premiere, Alan Arkin dies, birthdays for Theda Bara, William Powell, Clara Bow, "Phantom of the Opera" star Mary Philbin, Olivia de Havilland, Thomas Mitchell, Barbara Stanwyck, James Cagney, Ginger Rogers and John Gilbert, and more ...  Discover what happened on days throughout July in Hollywood history, from historic film premieres and industry milestones to anniversaries of birthdays/deaths of beloved Old Hollywood figures, and more. ( And explore previous months ) This story will be updated throughout the month July 29 Theda Bara (born July 29, 1885, died April 7, 1955) was one of the most popular actresses of the silent movie era and known for her femme fatale roles. She isn’t as well known to mass modern audiences in part because so many of her films have been lost to history.  One that survives: 1925’s “The Unchastened W...

On this date in Hollywood history -- June edition: Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Rosalind Russell, Hazel Scott and more celebrate birthdays, Joan Crawford and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. tie the knot, "Cleopatra" with Elizabeth Taylor releases, "Grease" makes its premiere and more! ... Discover what happened on days throughout June in Hollywood history, from historic film premieres and industry milestones to anniversaries of birthdays/deaths of beloved Old Hollywood figures, and more. ( And explore previous months ) This story will be updated throughout the month June 24 Mary Pickford was Hollywood’s first million-dollar star. On June 24, 1916, “America’s Sweetheart” signed a contract for a million dollars over two years, with control over her movies’ productions and half the profits to boot! Three years later, the shrewd businesswoman would co-found United Artists movie company. A few of Pickford’s movies made in that period: “A Romance of the Redwoods” (1917), “The Poor...