This book contains profiles of the 50 best silent films by the author, and profiles on many great silent performers. The bulk of this book was actually written by film historian William K. Everson, with Joe Franklin contributing very little to it. In the 1960's, when there were few books about the silent era available, this book was the best to be found. Things have greatly changed since, with many more silent films being rediscovered, and much more scholarship being done on the period. If the authors re-wrote the book today, the list of best films and performers would be somewhat different. Regardless, this is the perfect book for someone who knows little about American silent films from 1900-1931 and needs an good introduction.