Stummfilme

Stummfilme, or silent films, are motion pictures produced without synchronized recorded sound. Dialogue and narration are conveyed through expressive acting, mime, and the use of intertitles (Zwischentitel) that appear on screen to provide dialogue or exposition. In addition to intertitles, music and sound effects were commonly supplied in theaters as live accompaniment or via separate soundtracks, sometimes with cue sheets to guide performers. The silent era roughly spans from the 1890s to the late 1920s, when synchronized sound-on-film technology emerged and gradually displaced silent production.

Visually driven storytelling is a defining feature of Stummfilme. Filmmakers emphasized composition, lighting, editing, and performance to convey mood and plot without spoken dialogue. German cinema produced influential form experiments and genres within this period, including German Expressionism with films such as Nosferatu (1922) and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), which used stylized sets and stark contrasts. American silent cinema featured stars like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd, who advanced physical comedy and timing. The era also saw ambitious productions such as Metropolis (1927) and other international works that showcased innovations in special effects, narrative structure, and montage.

Technical aspects varied widely: standard aspect ratios around 1.33:1, black-and-white stock (with occasional tinting), and variable frame rates. Intertitles were produced in many languages to facilitate international distribution. With the arrival of sound films in the late 1920s, the production and distribution of Stummfilme declined, but their influence on film language—through visual storytelling, editing techniques, and the use of intertitles—remains foundational in cinema history.