Sherlock Jr. (1924)
The greatest stuntman of all time!
Presentation:
Although lesser known than Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton is to GOAT of silent cinema for me. In my opinion, Chaplin movies aren’t even funnier. Keaton has the humor, the greatest stunts in silent cinema, and he has a shockingly handsome face to look at. There are many great Keaton films to watch, but I believe Sherlock Jr. is the most enjoyable one with a brilliant story and hilarious action. The stunts are perhaps not as iconic as his other films like The General, but this is his most entertaining film and it’s only 40 minutes on YouTube so you have nothing to lose.
Conclusion:
Do perfect movies exist? For me to enjoy a silent movie in 2026, there needs to be great plot, great humor, or great cinematography. This film has all 3, making it my favorite silent film of all time. If you are to watch one silent slapstick film, please let it be this one. Slapstick can definitely be cinematic.
Recommendations
The art of claymation.