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The films of early cinema, 1895 to the 1940s, in the best public prints we can find.

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Every film here is in the public domain or openly licensed. Each film page credits its source.

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Reading Room — Kino-polis

Reading Room

Essays, interviews, lectures and archives on the films of the silent and early sound eras. Read about a film, then watch it.

EssayThe latest

Tod Browning’s Ballyhoo Art (opens in a new tab)

Farran Smith Nehme‬2020

Read the essay (opens in a new tab)Watch The Unknown

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979 entries

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Essay
The Adventures of Prince Achmed (programme notes)

(opens in a new tab)

BFI2026

Essay

His Greatest Bluff (opens in a new tab)

Andreas TheinSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2026

Essay

Queen Kelly (opens in a new tab)

Pamela HutchinsonSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2026

Essay

The Humming Bird (opens in a new tab)

Farran Smith NehmeSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2026

Essay

High Treason (opens in a new tab)

Bryony DixonSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2026

Essay

Miss Lulu Bett (opens in a new tab)

Monica NolanSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2026

Essay

The Clown (opens in a new tab)

Julie K. AllenSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2026

Essay

San Francisco Silent Film Festival 2026 (opens in a new tab)

David HudsonThe Criterion Collection2026

Essay

Instant Expert: Queen Kelly (opens in a new tab)

Pamela HutchinsonSilent London2026

Essay

Lost 19th century film by Méliès discovered at the Library (opens in a new tab)

Library of Congress2026

Essay

10 great films of 1926 (opens in a new tab)

Pamela HutchinsonBFI / Sight & Sound2026

Essay

Master of the House (opens in a new tab)

David ThomsonSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2025

On Master of the House

Essay

The Gold Rush (opens in a new tab)

Steve MassaSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2025

On The Gold Rush

Essay

Amazing Tales from the Archives 2025 (opens in a new tab)

SFSFFSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2025

Essay

Silent Sherlock: Three Classic Cases (opens in a new tab)

Bryony DixonSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2025

Essay

The Flying Ace (opens in a new tab)

Allyson Nadia FieldSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2025

On The Flying Ace

Essay

The Wreck of the Hesperus (opens in a new tab)

David KiehnSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2025

Essay

Beau Geste (opens in a new tab)

Frank ThompsonSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2025

Essay

The New Klondike (opens in a new tab)

Scott SimmonSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2025

Essay

Island Fisherman (opens in a new tab)

Monica NolanSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2025

Essay

My Son (opens in a new tab)

Peter BagrovSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2025

Essay

The Affairs of Anatol (opens in a new tab)

Farran Smith NehmeSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2025

Essay

The Devil’s Circus (opens in a new tab)

Michael AtkinsonSan Francisco Silent Film Festival2025

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