They are still a wonderful source of entertainment. Many potential viewers dismiss silent features because they require more concentration than sound films. Silent films are a distinct art form, and when properly presented, they have their own qualities. When poor quality copies are presented with inappropriate music at the wrong speed, the results do not represent the original theatrical presentation. If you only knew silent films from excerpts in television commercials or documentaries, you might think that all silent films had jerky, contrasty images that stammer across the screen.
Silent films are in distribution on video in editions of varying quality.
Many seemingly adequate copies misrepresent the original film. Some of the music scores accompanying silent films greatly enhance the films, while others are detrimental. While many great films are not available, fortunately, several dozen of the finest silent features can be purchased on video in top quality copies that accurately represent the original films. Since films are best enjoyed projected on a screen before an audience, the listings include those films available in 16mm and 35mm. This site represents my own, admittedly prejudiced, look at the films that are currently available, with an emphasis on the best films and the best quality editions.