I thought they mumbled too before I got hearing aids.
“I’ve come to view old silent movies as an art form.”
Me too. And even my wife who is a bit younger than me, started to be amazed with how crashes and action scenes were filmed as one take, one chance, one run and they pulled it off so well. The physical abilities and gymnastics Buster Keaton pulled off in real time with no stunt doubles was absolutely incredible yet to matched today.