Definition

Noun: A motion picture film produced without synchronized recorded sound, especially one from the era before the advent of "talkies" (sound films). The story is conveyed through visual action, title cards with written dialogue, and live musical accompaniment during screenings.

Usage

The term is used to describe a specific historical genre and technological era of filmmaking. * Charlie Chaplin was a legendary star of the silent movie era. * The film festival is featuring a classic silent movie with a live orchestra. * Modern filmmakers sometimes use silent movie techniques for artistic effect.

Advanced Usage

• As a historical/cultural reference: The term often evokes the specific period in cinema history (roughly the 1890s to the late 1920s) and its distinct artistic style, which relied heavily on expressive acting and visual storytelling.
  • The documentary explored the transition from silent movies to sound.

Variants and Related Words

• Silent film (n): A direct synonym, often used interchangeably.
• Silent cinema (n): Refers to the art form or industry of making silent movies collectively.
• Talkie (n): The term for a sound film, which succeeded and largely replaced the silent movie.

Synonyms

• Silent film
• Silent picture

Related Phrases/Idioms

• The silent era/treatment: Refers to the period or the stylistic approach of silent movies.
  • This actor was famous for his work in the silent era.

Noun

1. a movie without a soundtrack