The Silver Screen Oasis

Parts of Kevin Brownlow, David Gill, & Susan McConachy's superb and rarely seen documentary survey of early European movies, Cinema Europe (1996) is on youtube at the moment, (who knows how long it will remain there). I've posted the parts available below. Not the ideal format, I know, but I haven't been able to find an affordable copy and hope that others might find it as exciting and revelatory as it seemed when first viewed almost 15 years ago. I really hope it shows up again on broadcast television. Until then, I hope you enjoy the doc, narrated mostly by Kenneth Branagh:
Cinema Europe Part 1
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Cinema Europe Part 2
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Cinema Europe Part 3
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Cinema Europe Part 4
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Cinema Europe Part 5
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Cinema Europe Part 6
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Cinema Europe Part 7
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Cinema Europe Part 8
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Cinema Europe Part 9+
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Cinema Europe Part 10
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Cinema Europe Part 11
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Cinema Europe Part 12
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Cinema Europe Part 13
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Cinema Europe Part 14
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Cinema Europe Part 15
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Cinema Europe Part 16
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Cinema Europe Part 17
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Cinema Europe Part 18
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Cinema Europe Part 19
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Cinema Europe Part 20
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Cinema Europe Part 21
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Cinema Europe Part 22
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Cinema Europe Part 23
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Cinema Europe Part 24
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Cinema Europe Part 25
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Cinema Europe Part 26
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It's nice to see that those are up on the web again since the DVD is out of print. It's one of the best documentaries about silent cinema, along with Hollywood, and should be seen by all silent film fans.

Yup it's a wonderful documentary, the sections on Nordic cinema are particularly fascinating, given that the silent films of Sweden and Denmark have been sadly neglected for the most part. I'm looking forward to diving into some Benjamin Christenson.

It's a great series, good on that person for posting it.