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With The Artist sweeping the boards at the Golden Globes and currently taking the box office by storm, it begs the question as to whether half of its fans have gone out and really indulged in Silent Cinema before?

That statement is not intended to be offensive to people, nor is it supposed to imply that they haven’t, all I want to enthuse is, if not, then why not? As  you are missing out on such a treat.

Since childhood I have fawned over books and films of silent stars, Theda Bara, Clara Bow and for me, most significantly Rudolph Valentino.  I in part grew up with Valentino’s “Sheik”, his every expression and the inference that silence allows is therapeutic and at times exciting.

These early introductions lead to be something of an obsession and now barely a day goes by when I don’t indulge.

For those novices of silent cinema, potentially hungry for an education after The Artist’s awakening I have compiled my top 5 moments of the Silent era. For those who are already fans, then sit back, enjoy and feel free to chip in and share your own cinematic highlights.

 1)   “The Sheik” - Rudolph Valentino –  (The Look at 9.17 in clip)

After refusing a marriage proposal Lady Diana Mayo (Agnes Ayres) goes into a casino. When Valentino’s Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan first sets eyes on her, the look he gives her caused such shock waves that it presented a previously unseen sexuality into the cinema. Although to a modern eye the look could go unnoticed; with Valentino’s widening of the eyes he made instant fans (and enemies).  Watch the clip and try and imagine it’s 1921.

2)  ”A Fool There Was”  - Theda Bara

” You have ruined me you devil and now you discard me” 

Although there is no defining moment as such in this film, it is the one where “The Vamp is born”. Theda Bara’s legendary guise and “manufactured” image became prevalent as a sexual predator. Her risque costumes and heavily Kholed eyes became synonymous with Bara and opened the door for a new Villainess in cinema.

3) “It” – Clara Bow 

This 1927 comedy saw Bow in a role that pretty much defined her career and is synonymous with the Bow we know and love. The social climbing “It girl” that she plays in the movie went on to become how most people saw the actress herself (if not a little more “wholesome”), with her charm and frivolity making for something of a zeitgeist of the time.

4) “Son of The Sheik” – Rudolph Valentino/ Vilma Banky  (The rape scene)

This was one of the most controversial scenes ever seen. Cementing Rudie’s reputation as a “latin lover” the steamy nature of this scenes caused people to faint in the cinema aisles. Men became so enraged by the sultry Valentino that he became ridiculed for his “femininity”. The initial shock of the scene initially caused it to be cut, however many felt that it lost some of the implications of the entire plot-line.

5) “Male and Female” – Gloria Swanson (The Lion’s Bride)

Cecile B DeMile’s 1919 film saw the famous re enactment of the painting “The Lion’s Bride”. The scene was initially deemed as too dangerous, however Swanson’s love of the painting caused her to insist that they shot the scene. DeMile accompanied the actress into the layer with a gun, whilst others goaded the lion to roar. The result is one of the most iconic shots in cinematic history. The risk however was astronomical.