Ancient Rockets: Treasures and Train Wrecks of the Silent ScreenFrom Metropolis to the pre-technicolor Oz, this fantastical retrospective takes readers through the wildest frontiers of silent films. Glorious landscapes are explored from Tarzan’s jungle and Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory to the Adventures of Prince Achmed and 20,000 Leagues under the Sea. Highlighting the earliest and cheesiest special effects, Kage Baker reviews 49 cinematic odysseys with acerbic wit and historical acumen. Contrasting the tour de forces with the utter train wrecks of the silver screen, these sci-fi movies are affectionately viewed, giving special recognition to the flimsy plots, terrifying fiends, and the best and worst directors that inspired generations of fans and filmmakers alike. |
Contents
Le Voyage dans la Lune A Trip to the Moon | 9 |
How He Came Into the World | 23 |
Queen of Mars | 38 |
Mond Woman on the Moon | 52 |
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actor Adventures of Tarzan Aelita animated appears Attila audience Automaton Bagdad Baum Baum’s Brunhild Caligari camera Christine Christmas cinematic costume Dick dinosaurs Dorothy eyes fairy Father Faramund Faust footage Frankenstein Frau im Mond Gertie Girl of Oz goes Golem Greystoke Gunther Hagen heroes Houdini Image Entertainment Internet Archive Jane Jekyll jungle Kage Kage Baker kids Kino Kriemhild Lion looks Magic Cloak Mathias McCay’s Meanwhile Méliès Monster moon Motorist movie Murnau never night Nosferatu Opera original Oz Film panto Patchwork Girl Paulovich Phantom played plot pretty Queen Rarebit Fiend release robot Santa Scarecrow Scarecrow of Oz scene science fiction Scrooge Semon sequence shot Siegfried silent films sort special effects story survived Tarzan Tarzan the Tiger tells There’s Thief Thief of Bagdad thing title cards village watch What’s wife Winsor McCay witches Wizard of Oz wonder young