The Channel Islands once hosted over 250 silent films with stars like Swanson, Valentino, and Fairbanks—epic backdrops for pirates, shipwrecks, mermaids, and high-seas adventure.

The Channel Islands, with their natural beauty and dramatic shorelines, once served as the backdrop for more than 250 silent films. These early cinematic adventures featured legendary stars like Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Buster Keaton, and Laurel & Hardy. From five-minute beachside reels to million-dollar epics with casts of thousands, the islands offered the perfect setting for tales of pirates, shipwrecks, mermaids, and high-seas adventure.