Guillermo Garnica Bouchot
Top Sci-fi Silent Films Numbers 30 to 21
30. The Master Mystery (1918) US D: Harry Grossman, Burton L. King
IMDB Rating: 6.0
139 Votes
15 chapter serial that presents the great illusionist Harry Houdini as Quentin Locke a Justice department agent. Locke investigates a cartel that owns a dangerous gas as a weapon and is guarded by a robot. Most of the footage survived to this day
29. L’uomo Meccanico (1921) (The Mechanical Man) Italy D:André Deed
IMDB Rating: 6.0
240 Votes
A scientist creates a robot, but then some gangsters stole it from him and killed him in the process. Then the robot is used by the mobsters to commit their crimes until the scientist’s brother creates a new robot to stop it. Probably the first film that shows a battle between two robots. For a long time was considered lost, but an incomplete version was found in Brazil at the Cinemateca Brasileira. They were able to save 26 minutes of the original 80 minutes.
28. Madrid en el año 2000 (1925) (Madrid in the year 2000) Spain D: Manuel Noriega
IMDB Rating: 6.1
12 Votes
A film that envisions how Madrid will look like in the year 2000. Considered lost, some diaries of the time recognized the excellent special effects.
27. Homunculus, 1. Teil (1916) Germany D: Otto Rippert
IMDB Rating: 6.1
89 Votes
Part one of six of the most famous serial in Germany during WWI. Held such a strong influence that fashion tendencies were inspired by the clothes used in the serial. This popular series will appear two more times on this list
26. Alraune (1928) Germany D: Henrik Galeen
IMDB Rating: 6.1
332 Votes
Another version of the legend of Alraune. This one coming from Germany. A genetics scientist impregnates a prostitute with the semen of a hanged man. A girl is born and quickly grows up to adulthood. She is beautiful, promiscuous, but corrupted and unable to feel empathy, causing disgrace to all the men she enchants. Widely available.
25. Homunculus, 6. Teil – Das Ende des Homunculus (1917) Germany D: Otto Rippert
IMDB Rating: 6.2
17 Votes
The final chapter of six. Each part runs for about one hour. There are several prints preserved around the world. Also, there are videos of the serial available on the net but could not find the entire series nor this part in particular.
24. The Power God (1925) US D: Francis Ford, Ben F. Wilson
IMDB Rating: 6.2
Votes 51
Fifteen chapter serial where Prof. Sturgess and his assistant Jim invent a machine that extracts unlimited power from the atoms of the air. Coal and oil companies are threatened and hire a criminal to deal with the professor. Available on DVD.
23. A Blind Bargain (1922) US D: Wallace Worsley
IMDB Rating: 6.2
53 Votes
Robert, desperate to save his mother, makes a bargain with the sinister Dr. Lamb. After Lamb operates on his mother, Robert will surrender himself to Lamb’s sinister experiments. Lon Chaney, known as The Man of a Thousand Faces, performs a dual role as Dr. Lamb and the Hunchback. Considered lost, the last known print burned at the infamous 1965 MGM vault #7 fire, where many films were lost.
22. High Treason (1929) UK D: Maurice Elvey
IMDB Rating: 6.2
148 Votes
A group of people forming the peace league are trying to stop a second world war between the United States of Europe against the Empire of the Atlantic States. Released in both silent and sound versions. BFI preserves the silent version and AMIPA the sonorized variant. Widely available.
21. The Monster (1925) US D: Roland West
IMDB Rating: 6.2
1,050 Votes
Horror-Comedy where Johnny, a store clerk, investigates kidnapping cases that lead him to a gloomy sanitarium run by mysterious Dr. Ziska (Lon Chaney). An early example of the mad scientist and dark house movie. Adapted from a Broadway play. Available here.
