Thames Silents
Encyclopedia
Thames Silents is a series of releases (theatrical, broadcast and home video) of films from the silent era produced by the British ITV
contractor Thames Television
. The key figure behind these efforts were noted film historian and documentarian Kevin Brownlow
and his associate David Gill
.
Thames' first venture into the genre was Hollywood
, a thirteen part documentary series first shown on the ITV network in 1979. It was an enormous success, and generated a degree of renewed interest in silent cinema. Subsequently, Thames produced three television series, Unknown Chaplin
, Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow
and Harold Lloyd: The Third Genius examining the production of silent comedy.
In conjunction with several US organisations, Thames Silents re-released full-length silent films, often for cinema distribution. Most notably this included Abel Gance
's Napoléon as well as Chaplin, Keaton and Lloyd comedies, and films by other notable silent film figures such as Douglas Fairbanks
, Rudolph Valentino
, Erich von Stroheim
, Rex Ingram
, and D.W. Griffith. Napoleon was one of Channel Four's earliest broadcasts, and many of the films were released on home video. The composer Carl Davis
became strongly associated with the series, composing new scores for almost all of the releases.
Thames Silents continued after Thames Television lost its ITV franchise in 1993, however it is no longer used as an imprint by its parent organisation FreemantleMedia. Brownlow has continued documentary production and film restoration under his Photoplay Productions.
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
contractor Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
. The key figure behind these efforts were noted film historian and documentarian Kevin Brownlow
Kevin Brownlow
Kevin Brownlow is a filmmaker, film historian, television documentary-maker, author, and Academy Award recipient. Brownlow is best known for his work documenting the history of the silent era. Brownlow became interested in silent film at the age of eleven. This interest grew into a career spent...
and his associate David Gill
David Gill (film historian)
David Ian Gill was born in Papua New Guinea, the son of Cecil Gill, a missionary doctor. His uncle was the sculptor Eric Gill. The family returned to England in 1933 where Gill attended the Belmont Abbey School, Hereford...
.
Thames' first venture into the genre was Hollywood
Hollywood (documentary)
Hollywood is a 1980 documentary series produced by Thames Television which explored the establishment and development of the Hollywood studios and its impact on 1920s culture....
, a thirteen part documentary series first shown on the ITV network in 1979. It was an enormous success, and generated a degree of renewed interest in silent cinema. Subsequently, Thames produced three television series, Unknown Chaplin
Unknown Chaplin
Unknown Chaplin is an acclaimed three-part 1983 British television documentary about the career and the methods of the film luminary Charles Chaplin using previously unseen film for illustration....
, Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow
Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow
Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow is a 3-part television documentary series made in 1987, charting the life and career of Buster Keaton. The series was written and produced by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill for Thames Television and narrated by Lindsay Anderson...
and Harold Lloyd: The Third Genius examining the production of silent comedy.
In conjunction with several US organisations, Thames Silents re-released full-length silent films, often for cinema distribution. Most notably this included Abel Gance
Abel Gance
Abel Gance was a French film director and producer, writer and actor. He is best known for three major silent films: J'accuse , La Roue , and the monumental Napoléon .-Early life:...
's Napoléon as well as Chaplin, Keaton and Lloyd comedies, and films by other notable silent film figures such as Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. was an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films such as The Thief of Bagdad, Robin Hood, and The Mark of Zorro....
, Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
, Erich von Stroheim
Erich von Stroheim
Erich von Stroheim was an Austrian-born film star of the silent era, subsequently noted as an auteur for his directorial work.-Background:...
, Rex Ingram
Rex Ingram (director)
Rex Ingram was an Irish film director, producer, writer and actor. Legendary director Erich von Stroheim once called him "the world's greatest director."-Early life:...
, and D.W. Griffith. Napoleon was one of Channel Four's earliest broadcasts, and many of the films were released on home video. The composer Carl Davis
Carl Davis
Carl Davis CBE is an American born conductor and composer who has made his home in the UK since 1961. In 1970 he married the English actress Jean Boht....
became strongly associated with the series, composing new scores for almost all of the releases.
Thames Silents continued after Thames Television lost its ITV franchise in 1993, however it is no longer used as an imprint by its parent organisation FreemantleMedia. Brownlow has continued documentary production and film restoration under his Photoplay Productions.