MoMAs Silent Film Week 2026 Is Major

Published: Monday, July 20, 2026 at 1:15 pm

MoMA's Silent Film Week 2026 Promises a Cinematic Feast

The Museum of Modern Art is set to host its fourth annual Silent Film Week from July 29 to August 4, 2026, offering a curated selection of seven programs featuring significant works by renowned filmmakers. This year's event is particularly noteworthy for showcasing MoMA's own restorations of two rarely seen gems: Raoul Walsh's *What Price Glory* (1926) and Ernst Lubitsch's *The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg* (1927). Attendees will experience these cinematic treasures accompanied by live musical scores, enhancing the immersive theatrical experience.

The festival opens with D.W. Griffith's epic *Way Down East* (1920), a dramatic tale based on a popular play. The film stars Lillian Gish, Lowell Sherman, and Richard Barthelmess in roles that became archetypes for their careers, brought to life with Griffith's signature use of close-ups. The film is celebrated for its thrilling climax, a perilous ice floe sequence inspired by *Uncle Tom's Cabin*, and is considered a prime example of Griffith's artistry at its peak, often noted for its absence of the racism and heavy-handed moralizing found in some of his other works. A ten-piece orchestra will perform a newly commissioned score for the premiere.

Buster Keaton's comedic adventure *The Navigator* (1924) will also be featured, presenting a pampered millionaire and his intended bride stranded on a drifting ocean liner. The film's premise, inspired by the purchase of an actual decommissioned ship, serves as the foundation for a series of ingenious visual gags and a testament to technical creativity. Ben Model will provide organ accompaniment.

John Ford's *3 Bad Men* (1926) delves into the 1877 Dakota land rush, depicting the displacement of the Sioux following the discovery of gold. The film focuses on three comedic horse thieves who find themselves at odds with a corrupt sheriff. The narrative also weaves in a romance between a cowboy and a spirited frontier woman, culminating in a climactic land rush sequence. The film is recognized for its rich character ensemble and atmospheric digressions, with cinematography by George Schneiderman.

F.W. Murnau's *Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans* (1927) is highlighted as an artistic triumph, utilizing a liberated camera and technical mastery to tell a story of temptation and marital strife. The film's artistic merit is further underscored by its historical significance; while William Wellman's *Wings* received the first "Outstanding Picture" award, *Sunrise* was honored with the first and only Academy Award for "Unique and Artistic Picture," a category later abolished. Makia Matsumura will accompany this screening on piano.

A special program will be dedicated to Charles Chaplin, featuring the first restorations of his 1918 films, *A Dog's Life* and *Shoulder Arms*, to their original theatrical form. *A Dog's Life* parallels the Tramp's experiences with a stray dog, while *Shoulder Arms* humorously tackles World War I trench warfare. Both films have been meticulously restored by MoMA using original prints. A bonus fundraising short, *The Bond* (1918), will also be screened.

The restored *What Price Glory* (1926) is a raucous comedy-drama centered on the rivalry between two U.S. Marines, Captain Flagg and Sergeant Quirt, stationed in France during World War I. The film, based on a popular Broadway play, explores their womanizing escapades and fierce competition, contrasting with spectacular battle sequences. The restoration highlights the film's visual inventiveness, including striking superimposition effects and hand-tinted flashes. The emotional core of the film lies in the poignant reaction to a soldier's death.

Ernst Lubitsch's *The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg* (1927) is a romantic drama adapted from Wilhelm Meyer-Frster's play. The film tells the story of Karl Heinrich, a sheltered prince who finds love with an innkeeper's daughter, Kathi, during his studies in Heidelberg. The film is celebrated for its idyllic romantic scenes and Lubitsch's subtle direction, exploring the bittersweet conflict between personal desire and the demands of royal duty. Ramon Novarro and Norma Shearer star in this visually rich production.

BNN's Perspective: MoMA's Silent Film Week 2026 presents a compelling opportunity to engage with cinematic history. The inclusion of MoMA's own restorations, particularly of films not readily available on home video, is a significant contribution to film preservation and accessibility. The diverse selection, spanning different genres and filmmakers, ensures a rich experience for both seasoned silent film enthusiasts and newcomers alike. The live musical accompaniment further elevates these screenings, reminding

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