Silent Films

Silent films are movies made before synchronized sound became standard in the late 1920s. They rely entirely on visual storytelling—actors' expressions, gestures, and set design—to convey the narrative. Intertitles—text cards—are used to provide dialogue and important information. Live music often accompanied screenings to enhance the viewing experience. Despite the lack of spoken dialogue, silent films excelled at visual innovation and physical acting, influencing filmmaking styles. They laid the foundation for modern cinema, with classics like "The Birth of a Nation" and "Nosferatu," showcasing storytelling through imagery rather than sound.