I am a movie snob. I have a degree that gives me permission to be this way. Considering the tremendous amount of money my parents forked over to the university I went to so I could earn that piece of paper I think that truly entitles me to the right to be a movie snob. It wasn’t my actual major but my minor and it technically is called Film Theory and Criticism.

The great thing about getting this minor is that you spend a lot of time watching movies. The other great thing is that you got to watch a lot of older movies. Older movies are things a lot of people don’t think about these days. I know some people who don’t even want to consider looking at a movie that isn’t in color. It’s like there is an entire generation who thinks the history of movies started with “The Godfather” and then advanced from there. Good lord, it would be unthinkable to consider watching a movie that’s in black and white.

The problem with that line of thinking is the tremendous amount of great movies that are not being watched by large generations of people. Of course, watching something in black and white and older than 1970 seems counter-intuitive to modern home film watchers. The problem is that the modern home watchers all have these high-tech fancy crystal-clear DVD machines with state-of-the-art sound. The fact that older black and white movies are often a tad blurry or indistinct means that most don’t want to consider watching them. I think this is wrong.

So, get out that Netflix list and start jotting. I am going to shock and amaze you. Ok, really, I am just making another list, but it sounds so much better to suggest I am going to shock and amaze you. In fact, I am going to suggest that you go back further than the 1940s for movies. In fact, I am going to suggest you go back to the beginning of cinema. Yes, I am suggesting you find some titles that are so low-tech that they don’t even have sound.

The silent film era is really not understood by a lot of modern movie-watchers. The mere idea of reading anything is anathema to most of them. The fact that so many were willing to read subtitles about Jesus still amazes me. However it is amazing to look at film when it was still going through some growing pains. It is amazing to watch movies that use emotion and the lack of dialogue and still tell a story with mood and images. Movies should be about images anyway, really. It is a visual medium.

Some of the best uses of silent film fall into two genres: horror and comedy. When it comes to horror you can’t go wrong with mood and images. “Nosferatu” was directed by F.W. Murnau and released in 1922. It was a very loose adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. However, it was close enough that Broker’s relatives sued the filmmakers over it. Still, how effective is this movie? How scary is actor Max Schreck as the vampire? So scary that when they made Stephen King’s “Salems ‘Lot” into a television movie they made the chief vampire look like the vampire in this movie. The special effects are cheesy but they add something to the creepiness of the movie. The weirdness of the film run backward gives the whole movie a sense of unrealness.

“The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” is considered by many to be the first true horror film. It uses a term that became known as expressionism to great effect. Buildings branch off at crazy angles. The movie deals with madness. This movie uses darkness and shadow to tell the tale of a kidnapping, a sleep-walker and one of cinemas first mad scientists.

When it comes to silent film comedy a lot of people will steer you towards Charlie Chaplin. This is all right. I have seen a lot of Charlie’s work and he’s funny. However, if you want to see where Jackie Chan got his inspiration and you want to see some movie stunts that will make you gasp and some gags that will truly make you laugh until you hurt then you have to go with Buster Keaton. He is often referred to as “Old Stone Face” but that isn’t entirely true. He does show emotion but somehow he manages to keep that face pretty serene in even the most ridiculous situations. For my money you can’t got wrong with “Steamboat Bill, Jr.” and the tornado scene. You also should watch “The General” which many consider to be one of the greatest films of all time. Also, catch one of his later works “The Cameraman.” There are scenes in that movie that had me rolling in the theater I was watching it in.

Finally, when it comes to silent films I recommend a movie that will surprise many. It is called “Sunrise” and it is probably the finest silent movie that ever was, in my opinion. It’s, of all things, a love story. Yes, I know, I said it was a love story. It tells the tale of a marriage, temptation and redemption. When I was told what this movie was and what it was about I was not looking forward to it. I am not a love story guy. We were going to see a special showing of it at a theater on campus. As the movie started, complete with a live piano, I found myself completely taken up in it. I found myself edging forward on my seat. I was amazed. It touched me. It was moving.

When it comes to silent film you also can’t go wrong with Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis.” The movie took two years to film and was the most-expensive of its day. Sadly, it is also reported to be one of Hitler’s favorite films. Lang went on to make sound films and the movie that falls into the “must-see” category is his serial killer movie “M.” You must see this movie. Yes, it’s in German but you will never look at the actor Peter Lorre the same way again. You will also be shocked at a movie that old dealing with a child serial killer. There is no music in this movie save for the creepy whistling of the killer. Lorre’s tortured performance will do a truly remarkable thing – feel for the monster. Seeing him on his knees screaming “I can’t help myself!” is movie-making magic at its best.

Once you start getting into sound the usual suspects in black and white start to emerge. Too many critics have hyped “Citizen Kane” to the point where it cannot possibly live up to expectations. I happen to love the movie but, as I said, I am a movie snob. It should be seen for movie historical purposes. It is an amazing character study as well as a commentary on money, power and the media.

Finally, I am suggesting you get a health dose of Humphrey Bogart. For my tastes “The Maltese Falcon” may be the best black and white detective movie ever. “Casablanca” is another movie that suffers from too much hype but it’s a movie that is tense, funny, moving and strangely touching. It really should be seen if you haven’t.

There is much more I haven’t seen. That’s the great thing about movies. They have been in existence for a long time now. That means there are a lot of movies to watch. I hope you get a chance to see the ones I suggested. Happy viewing.

Bryan W. Alaspa’s latest novel Dust is available in print and eBook format at his website www.bryanalaspa.com and www.amazon.com.