How did silent film stars commonly convey emotions before sound was introduced?

Silent film stars predominantly conveyed emotions through visual storytelling and gestures due to the absence of sound. Actors honed their craft to rely on facial expressions, body language, and carefully staged movements to communicate their characters' feelings and intentions. This method allowed them to express complex emotions without spoken words, drawing the audience into the narrative purely through visuals.

The art of miming actions or exaggerating expressions was essential, as filmmakers would often include intertitles for dialogue and exposition, but the real emotional weight came from the actors' performances. This visual mode of storytelling created a unique connection with the audience, fostering a deeper engagement with the characters’ experiences without the use of spoken dialogue or sound effects.

The other options do not accurately represent how silent film stars engaged audiences. While background music was indeed a significant aspect of silent films, it served to enhance the atmosphere and mood rather than convey the emotions of the characters directly. Voice modulation and extensive dialogue were impossible in silent films, as they did not incorporate sound, and thus were not tools available to the actors.