Glossary of slang used in reviewing silent movie melodrama

Melodrama films captivate the audience by weaving narratives that evoke intense emotions. These films primarily focus on family dynamics, centering around characters who face adversity and exploring themes of duty and love. The melodramatic format portrays characters navigating their challenges with unwavering determination, selfless acts, and bravery. Movie critics and theater owners often use the certain expressions to describe the movies they are reviewing or showing.

In crafting an article for a particular silent film WP:MOSFILM recommends a section titled Critical reception. That section consists of movie critiques by professional critics and direct quotes from audience members.

This listing is a general glossary of slang terms commonly used by silent movie movie critics, theater owners, and film fans to describe the melodramatic films they are reviewing or screening. This glossary offers a fast reference to the slang used in 1920s movie reviews, as they are quoted verbatim. The definitions were all sourced from the online Wiktionary - a free standard dictionary.

C
come to time:

crack wise:

F
flapper (plural flappers):

— 1922 Exhibitors Herald Movie Review

G
gandy dancer:

grindhouse (plural grindhouses):

— 1926 Variety Movie Review

H
Heart-Tugging:

Heart-Wrenching:

Highbrow:

Histrionics:

Hokum:

— 1924 Wid's Movie Review

Hoaky (comparative hoakier, superlative hoakiest, hoak):

— 1926 Variety Movie Review

hoity-toity:

hotsy-totsy:

I
idler (plural idlers):

— 1920 Wid's Daily Movie Review

M
Mawkish:

Meller:

Mellerdrammer:

Melodrama:

N
wallop (plural wallops):

— 1924 Wid's Movie Review

P
Pathos:

Pretentious:

S
Sappy:

screaming meemies:

scofflaw:

Sentiment or Sentimental:

T
Tearjerker:

W
Waster:

— 1920 Wid's Daily Movie Review

Weepie: