Silent Movie
Three determined filmmakers use silent-era slapstick and celebrity cameos to save a failing Hollywood studio from financial collapse.
Overview
A hilarious homage to the silent film era that proves laughter transcends words.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- cheerful
- irreverent
- farcical
- lazy sunday
- comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's audacious near-silence, nostalgic visual comedy, brisk pacing, and strong ensemble of comic performers, while acknowledging that some gags are uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The filmmakers pursue a silent movie and the film itself uses almost no dialogue, making visual action and pantomime the primary storytelling tools.
Mel Funn, Marty Eggs, and Dom Bell try to rescue a troubled studio by recruiting stars while creditors obstruct their production.
The film is structured as an almost nonstop sequence of sight gags, chase scenes, stunts, mime, and slapstick performances.
Only one word is spoken in the entire film, forcing characters and filmmakers to communicate through gesture, reaction, and visual circumstance.
Films like Silent Movie, and why
The Artist
shared silent-era parody, visual slapstick, and irreverent Hollywood satire
Blazing Saddles
shared Mel Brooks-style parody, rapid-fire gags, and comic ensemble energy
The Producers
shared physical comedy, filmmaking satire, and affectionate engagement with classic cinema
Movie Details
- Director
- Mel Brooks
- Release Date
- 1976-06-17
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (357)
Cast
- Mel Brooks
- Marty Feldman
- Dom DeLuise
- Sid Caesar
- Harold Gould
- Ron Carey
- Bernadette Peters
- Carol Arthur
- Liam Dunn
- Fritz Feld
Common questions
- What is Silent Movie about?
- Three determined filmmakers use silent-era slapstick and celebrity cameos to save a failing Hollywood studio from financial collapse.
- What is Silent Movie like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Silent Movie as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Silent Movie violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Silent Movie as mild.
- What did critics think of Silent Movie?
- Critics broadly praised the film's audacious near-silence, nostalgic visual comedy, brisk pacing, and strong ensemble of comic performers, while acknowledging that some gags are uneven.
- Which films are like Silent Movie?
- Films with a similar feel include The Artist, Blazing Saddles, and The Producers.
- How long is Silent Movie?
- Silent Movie runs 87 minutes.
