
What Do Those Old Films Mean?(1985)
Noel Burch’s fascinating and well-made (if at times historically contestable) six-part BBC television series, about early silent cinema in Denmark, England, the Soviet Union, France, Germany, and the U.S., mixes beautiful clips of rare films with various social theories about their significance.


Movie: What Do Those Old Films Mean?

What Do Those Old Films Mean?
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Overview
Noel Burch’s fascinating and well-made (if at times historically contestable) six-part BBC television series, about early silent cinema in Denmark, England, the Soviet Union, France, Germany, and the U.S., mixes beautiful clips of rare films with various social theories about their significance.
Release Date
1985-11-16
Average
7
Rating:
3.5 startsTagline
Genres
Languages:
English
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