Behind the Scenes of the Silent Screen: Tours of the Thomas H. Ince and MGM Studios in the 1920s – DVD

A Tour Of The Thomas H. Ince Studio (1920-1922): This fascinating documentary goes behind the scenes on the lot of the famed Thomas Ince Studio in its heyday. Scores of skilled draftsman, carpenters, and technicians are shown making their contributions to movie magic. Glimpses of Ince himself, sparring with a trainer on his lavish estate, seldom seen footage of the stars in their mansions are featured. The dress department turning out high couture gowns, rehearsing an explosion and the secrets behind filming a wild chase sequence are but a few of the other high points. With Louise Glaum, James Kirkwood, Lloyd Hughes, Enid Bennett; directed by Hunt Stromberg.

The Incendiary Foreman (1908, B&W, Silent): This well-produced French adventure from 1908 delivers plenty of action as railroad detectives pursue a mad arsonist.

MGM Studio Tour (1925, B&W, Silent): This rare short subject provides a backstage look at the thriving MGM lot. The studio was a state-of-the-art city unto itself boasting its own power plant, hospital, fire department, carpentry shops, art studio, dance school, film labs, publicity department and much more. Cameos include famed art director Cedric Gibbons, Tod Browning directing a complicated crowd shot, Conrad Nagel filming Sun Up, and Louis B. Mayer at his desk. This tour explores the vast warehouse of furniture of every period and style ready for set decoration and the studio restaurant serving up to 2,000 meals a day.

• silent