The Silent Film Universe

"I adore this book. Not only does Ben Model articulate why we love silent movies, but he educates us for the first time about the brilliance of silent film artistry in its techniques of cranking and projecting. Fascinating, essential reading for both lifelong silent film enthusiasts like me and newcomers to the medium." - Alexander Payne, film director and screenwriter

"Because he accompanies showings of silent films for modern audiences, Ben Model knows what people understand and relate to right away-and what requires some explanation and historical context. That, paired with his encyclopedic knowledge, makes him a perfect guide to these intoxicating movies and the era that produced them."  -- Leonard Maltin, film critic and historian

"In The Silent Film Universe, Ben Model has written a unique book, and only he could do it. This is the end product of Ben's experience: A hands-on, imaginative, thought-provoking, and illuminating presentation on silent film." - Jeanine Basinger, Corwin-Fuller Professor Emerita of Film Studies at Wesleyan University and founder of the Wesleyan Cinema Archive

"Ben Model's The Silent Film Universe is both a generous gift and a signal contribution to our understanding of silent film. Using hard data as well as a musician's understanding of rhythm and musical and visual melody, he gifts us with a deeper understanding of why silents are still capable of provoking a dream state a century after they were rendered obsolete." - Scott Eyman, author