Silent Screen Body Language

Just as some languages are beautiful to the ear, the language of silent film is beautiful to the eye.

Silent film is especially known for the emotions transmitted via the eyes, but the rest of the body was an equally important communication instrument when unspoken cinema was the universal language. A gesture, a glance, a movement, the placement of a hand, all had to be understood by various cultures wherever there was a movie palace. People around the world knew love, hate, joy, passion and fear when they saw it - no Rosetta Stone required.

The Eyes

The eyes are the window to the soul, right? So, any silent film performer worth his or her salt had to have expressive eyes.

Theda Bara's black-smudged eyes were synonymous with smoldering passion.

Gloria Swanson's gaze was intense. Here icy blue eyes were her trademark.

Buster Keaton may have been known as "The Great Stone Face," 

but his eyes spoke volumes.

The Hands
The elegant and delicate placement of the hand was a trademark silent film must.

Mary Miles Minter knew just how to gesture with her digits.

Mary Pickford's hands were an encyclopedia of expressions.

Lillian Gish often let her hands do the talking.

Charlie Chaplin's leading lady, Edna Purviance, 

had extremely expressive hands.

The Body
Some actors and actresses moved with a signature grace and purpose that was closer to dance than acting.

Douglas Fairbanks moved with a grace and athleticism 

that will never be equaled.

Chaplin moved with such grace and precision that 

W.C. Fields called him a ballet dancer.

Valentino's movements projected danger, passion and allure.

Lovely Clara Bow was always in motion. Only sound could slow her down.

They Had Faces
A gallery of fabulous faces:

The one and only Garbo

The great Norma Talmadge

The face of John Gilbert

The timeless beauty of Louise Brooks

The haunting face of Maria Falconetti

In all its variations, the face of Lon Chaney is unforgettable.

Above all, the silent cinema is a celebration of the human face and form. Its language speaks not only to the eyes, but also to the universal heart of mankind.