Photoplay Productions

Photoplay is the independent company run by Kevin Brownlow and Patrick Stanbury dedicated to film history and in particular to silent film.

Photoplay Productions is a world leader in silent film restoration and film-history documentaries. Under the direction of Kevin Brownlow and Patrick Stanbury it is one of the few independent companies to operate in this field and has been credited with the revival of interest in the lost art of silent movies.

Documentary Production
Photoplay Productions has been recognised as a driving force in the revival of interest in the lost world of silent cinema.

Amongst its film history documentaries are:

D. W. Griffith: Father of Film, produced by Kevin Brownlow, David Gilll and Patrick Stanbury. Narrated by Sam Wanamaker.

I’m King Kong! - The Exploits of Merian C Cooper (2005) directed by Kevin Brownlow and Christopher Bird. Narrated by Alec Baldwin

Garbo (2005) directed by Kevin Brownlow and Christopher Bird. Narrated by Julie Christie

Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood (1995) directed by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh

Universal Horror (1998) directed by Kevin Brownlow. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh

The Tramp and the Dictator (2002) directed by Kevin Brownlow and Michael Kloft. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh

Cecil B. DeMille - American Epic (2003) directed by Kevin Brownlow directed by Kevin Brownlow. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh

Lon Chaney - A Thousand Faces (2000) directed by Kevin Brownlow Narrated by Kenneth Branagh

So Funny It Hurt – Buster Keaton And MGM (2004) directed by Kevin Brownlow and Christopher Bird. Narrated by James Karen

Abel Gance - The Charm of Dynamite (1968) directed by Kevin Brownlow. Narrated by Lindsay Anderson

Selected Film Restoration

Photoplay Productions has restored numerous feature silent films and shorts, with music by Carl Davis including the following titles:

Features

Napoleon (1927) directed by Abel Gance starring Albert Dieudonné

The Birth of a Nation (1915) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian Gish and Henry B Walthall

Greed (1924) directed by Eric Von Stroheim with ZaSu Pitts and Gibson Gowland

Nosferatu (1922) directed by F. W. Murnau starring Max Schreck

It (1927) directed by Clarence Badger starring Clara Bow

Old Heidelberg (1927) directed by Ernst Lubitsch starring Ramon Novarro and Norma Shearer

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) directed by F. W. Murnau starring Janet Gaynor and George O'Brien

Flesh and the Devil (1926) directed by Clarence Brown with Greta Garbo and John Gilbert

The Mysterious Lady (1928) directed by Fred Niblo starring Greta Garbo and Conrad Nagel

A Woman of Affairs (1928) directed by Clarence Brown starring Greta Garbo and John Gilbert

The Blot (1921) directed by Lois Weber starring Claire Windsor and Louis Calhern

The Crowd (1928) directed by King Vidor starring Eleanor Boardman and James Murray

La Terre (1919) directed by André Antoine starring Germaine Rouer and Armand Bour

The Yellow Ticket (1918) directed by Victor Jansen starring Pola Negri

The Godless Girl (1928) directed by Cecil B. DeMille

The Wind (1928) directed by Victor Seastrom with Lillian Gish and Lars Hanson

The Wedding March (1928) starring Erich von Stroheim with Fay Wray

The Iron Mask (1929) directed by Allan Dwan starring Douglas Fairbanks

The Thief of Bagdad (1924) directed by Raoul Walsh starring Douglas Fairbanks

The Eagle (1925) directed by Clarence Brown with Rudolph Valentino and Vilma Banky

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse[11] (1921) by Rex Ingram with Rudolph Valentino

The Big Parade (1925) directed by King Vidor starring John Gilbert and Renee Adoree

Wings (1927) directed by William Wellman starring Clara Bow, Richard Arlen and Charles "Buddy" Rogers

The Chess Player (1926) directed by Raymond Bernard starring Pierre Blanchar and Edith Jehanne

Orphans of the Storm (1921) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian and Dorothy Gish

Show People (1928) by King Vidor with Marion Davies and William Haines

The Iron Horse (1924) directed by John Ford starring George O 'Brien and Madge Bellamy

The Extra Girl (1923) with Mabel Normand

Ben-Hur - A Tale of the Christ (1925) by Fred Niblo with Ramon Novarro

The Cat and the Canary (1927) by Paul Leni

The General (1926) with Buster Keaton

Our Hospitality (1923) with Buster Keaton

Speedy (1928) directed by Ted Wilde starring Harold Lloyd

The Kid Brother (1927) directed by Ted Wilde starring Harold Lloyd

Safety Last! (1923) directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor starring Harold Lloyd

Girl Shy (1924) directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor starring Harold Lloyd

Hot Water (1924) directed by Fred C. Newmeyer starring Harold Lloyd

The Phantom of the Opera (1925) directed by Rupert Julian with Lon Chaney

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) directed by Wallace Worsley with Lon Chaney

Heart O' the Hills (1919) directed by Sidney Franklin starring Mary Pickford and John Gilbert

Mare Nostrum (1926) directed by Rex Ingram starring Alice Terry and Antonio Moreno

The Wicked Darling (1919) directed by Tod Browning with Lon Chaney and Priscilla Dean

The Strong Man (1927) directed by Frank Capra starring Harry Langdon

Broken Blossoms (1919) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian Gish and Richard Barthelmess

Intolerance (1916) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian Gish, Robert Harron and Constance Talmadge

Shorts

The Adventures of Dollie(1908) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian and Dorothy Gish

The Immigrant (1917) directed by Charles Chaplin

One Week (1920) starring Buster Keaton

Get Out and Get Under (1920) directed by Hal Roach with Harold Lloyd

Giving them Fits (1915) directed by Hal Roach with Harold Lloyd

Sword Points (1928) directed by Mark Sandrich starring Lupino Lane
Academy Recognition

In 2010 Photoplay Director Kevin Brownlow was awarded an honorary Academy Award for his services to cinema in the role of film historian and film restorer.

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