San Francisco Sightseeing Articles

The summer feels right to the Hollywood blockbuster, right? Wrong. To fully appreciate the ability of modern cinema, you have to tour back in time to see where the art form came from. The 11th San Francisco Silent Film Festival is your ticket to the first three decades of the 20th century when films leapt off the silver screen in all their monochromatic magnificence without accosting the senses.

By no means were these original filmmakers limited by the medium. Their works show a level of originality, brilliance, and experimentation seen seldom today. Nor were these films truly silent; musical accompaniments by solo piano, Wurlitzer organ, or funky band captured audiences' imaginations as fully as any surround-sound symphonic scores do today.

Watching these gems on the Castro's huge screen is a genuine treat. On-stage conversations with film scholars, and the progeny of some distinguished silent movie stars, add to the entertainment value. To round out the knowledge, many people attend in period dress.

This year's festival commemorates the centenary of the San Francisco earthquake and fire by presenting archival newsreel recording from the Library of Congress.