We're planning a comprehensive and engaging book about intertitles, the text that appears in silent movies to introduce characters, show the passage of time, link narrative scenes, comment on the movie itself, and much more. It will be an edited volume with multiple authors.
If you are interested in contributing, please write Gregory Robinson at: [email protected] The book covers topics such as:
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Intolerance (1916)D.W. Griffith stated that he didn't like intertitles, but Intolerance contained over 230 of them.
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The Shiek (1921)Some intertitles are truly lovely, even when removed from their cinematic context.
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His Picture in the Papers (1916)There were several famous intertitle writers in the silent era, including Anita Loos, who was often really funny.
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For information on Ralph Spence, the silent era's most famous title writer, visit: http://ralphspence.weebly.com/
For a terrific collection of intertitles, visit: http://silentintertitles.tumblr.com/
For an archive of intertitle text, visit: http://intertitleorama.webs.com/
For a little light reading on intertitles, visit:
Altman, R. Sound Theory, Sound Practice. Routledge, 1992.
Brownlow, Kevin. The Parade's Gone by. Berkeley : University of California Press, 1968. Library of Congress.
Chisholm, B. "Reading Intertitles." Journal of Popular Film and Television 15 (1987): 137-42.
Davis, Lon. Silent Lives. Albany: Bear Manor Media, 2008. Print.
De Lissa Berg, Clara. Careers for Women. Ed. Catherine Filene. Boston; New York
Deutelbaum, Marshall. "Trial Balloons." Image 18. Print.
Elliott,, Kamilla. Rethinking the Novel/film Debate.Cambridge University Press, 2003.
Everson, William K. American Silent Film. N.p.: n.p., 1998. Library of Congress.
Frost, Laura. "Blondes Have More Fun: Anita Loos and the Language of Silent Cinema." Modernism/modernity 17.2 (April, 2010): 291-311. Print.
Gaudreault, André, and Timothy Barnard. "Titles, Subtitles, and Intertitles: Factors of Autonomy, Factors of Concatenation." Film History: An International Journal 25.1 (2013): 81-94.
Harris, Adam Duncan. Extra Credits: The History and Collection of Pacific Title and Art Studio. 2000. Print.
Hilliker, Kathryn. "Writing the Titles."
Kitchen, Karl. "Doctoring Sick Films Newest Job." The Duluth News Tribune 15 Aug. 1920: 1-2. Print.
la Tour, Clair. "Intertitles and Titles." Encyclopedia of Early Cinema. Ed. Richard Abel. Abingdon, Oxon, OX ; New York, NY: Routledge, 2005. Print.
"Let's Talk Intertitles." Blog. Web. <http://oscarvations.blogspot.com/2009/03/lets-talk-intertitles.html>.
Liepa, T. "Figures of Silent Speech: Silent Film Dialogue and the American Vernacular, 1909--1916." Figures of Silent Speech: Silent Film Dialogue and the American Vernacular, 1909-1916. D., New York University, 2008. Print.
Lindsay, Vachel. The Art of the Moving Picture. Modern Library, 2000. Print.
Mason, Laura K. "Capturing the Caption." Motion Picture Magazine 24 Jan. 1923: 39-40. Print.
Natteford, J.F. "Title Work Years Ago." New York Times 2 Dec. 1923: Print.
Nornes, A M, and M Nornes. Cinema Babel: Translating Global Cinema. N.p.: Univ Of Minnesota Press, 2007.
Pidgin, C.F. Patent Office. Issued 18 Sep. 1917.
Rhoads, W. "Letter to the Editor." Moving Picture World 22 Feb. 1908: n. pag. Print.
Savukova, Galina. Reading Films: Words on the Silent Screens of American Cinema. City University of New York, 2010. Google Scholar. Web. n.d.
Schmidt, Karl. "The Handwriting on the Screen." Everybody's Magazine May 1917: 622-3. Print.
Stempel, T. Framework: A History of Screenwriting in the American Film. New York: Syracuse University Press, 2000. Print.
"Titles and Closeups." Print.
Van Wert, William F. "Intertitles." Sight and Sound 49.2: 98-106. Print.
Wilk, M. Schmucks with Underwoods: Conversations with Hollywood's Classic Screenwriters. New York: Applause Books, 2004. Print.
For a terrific collection of intertitles, visit: http://silentintertitles.tumblr.com/
For an archive of intertitle text, visit: http://intertitleorama.webs.com/
For a little light reading on intertitles, visit:
Altman, R. Sound Theory, Sound Practice. Routledge, 1992.
Brownlow, Kevin. The Parade's Gone by. Berkeley : University of California Press, 1968. Library of Congress.
Chisholm, B. "Reading Intertitles." Journal of Popular Film and Television 15 (1987): 137-42.
Davis, Lon. Silent Lives. Albany: Bear Manor Media, 2008. Print.
De Lissa Berg, Clara. Careers for Women. Ed. Catherine Filene. Boston; New York
Deutelbaum, Marshall. "Trial Balloons." Image 18. Print.
Elliott,, Kamilla. Rethinking the Novel/film Debate.Cambridge University Press, 2003.
Everson, William K. American Silent Film. N.p.: n.p., 1998. Library of Congress.
Frost, Laura. "Blondes Have More Fun: Anita Loos and the Language of Silent Cinema." Modernism/modernity 17.2 (April, 2010): 291-311. Print.
Gaudreault, André, and Timothy Barnard. "Titles, Subtitles, and Intertitles: Factors of Autonomy, Factors of Concatenation." Film History: An International Journal 25.1 (2013): 81-94.
Harris, Adam Duncan. Extra Credits: The History and Collection of Pacific Title and Art Studio. 2000. Print.
Hilliker, Kathryn. "Writing the Titles."
Kitchen, Karl. "Doctoring Sick Films Newest Job." The Duluth News Tribune 15 Aug. 1920: 1-2. Print.
la Tour, Clair. "Intertitles and Titles." Encyclopedia of Early Cinema. Ed. Richard Abel. Abingdon, Oxon, OX ; New York, NY: Routledge, 2005. Print.
"Let's Talk Intertitles." Blog. Web. <http://oscarvations.blogspot.com/2009/03/lets-talk-intertitles.html>.
Liepa, T. "Figures of Silent Speech: Silent Film Dialogue and the American Vernacular, 1909--1916." Figures of Silent Speech: Silent Film Dialogue and the American Vernacular, 1909-1916. D., New York University, 2008. Print.
Lindsay, Vachel. The Art of the Moving Picture. Modern Library, 2000. Print.
Mason, Laura K. "Capturing the Caption." Motion Picture Magazine 24 Jan. 1923: 39-40. Print.
Natteford, J.F. "Title Work Years Ago." New York Times 2 Dec. 1923: Print.
Nornes, A M, and M Nornes. Cinema Babel: Translating Global Cinema. N.p.: Univ Of Minnesota Press, 2007.
Pidgin, C.F. Patent Office. Issued 18 Sep. 1917.
Rhoads, W. "Letter to the Editor." Moving Picture World 22 Feb. 1908: n. pag. Print.
Savukova, Galina. Reading Films: Words on the Silent Screens of American Cinema. City University of New York, 2010. Google Scholar. Web. n.d.
Schmidt, Karl. "The Handwriting on the Screen." Everybody's Magazine May 1917: 622-3. Print.
Stempel, T. Framework: A History of Screenwriting in the American Film. New York: Syracuse University Press, 2000. Print.
"Titles and Closeups." Print.
Van Wert, William F. "Intertitles." Sight and Sound 49.2: 98-106. Print.
Wilk, M. Schmucks with Underwoods: Conversations with Hollywood's Classic Screenwriters. New York: Applause Books, 2004. Print.