1920 Movies
Browse 345 titles in our 1920 Movies Database
- The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
- One Week
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
- Way Down East
- The Scarecrow
- Neighbors
- Within Our Gates
- Convict 13
- The Mark of Zorro
- The Penalty
- The Doll
- An Eastern Westerner
- Manhatta
- The Garage
- The Parson's Widow
- Rhythmus 21
- High and Dizzy
- The Last of the Mohicans
- The Spiders - Episode 1: The Golden Sea
- Haunted Spooks
- Seven Years Bad Luck
- Leaves From Satan's Book
- Number, Please?
- The Spiders - Episode 2: The Diamond Ship
- Get Out and Get Under
- Erotikon
- Harakiri
- Sumurun
- His Royal Slyness
- Something to Think About
- South
- The Symbol of the Unconquered
- Pollyanna
- Just Pals
- The Daughter of Dawn
- Klostret i Sendomir
- The Flapper
- Mysteries of India, Part II: Above All Law
- Kohlhiesel's Daughters
- Something New
- Sex
- Headin' Home
- Nomads of the North
- Suds
- Man of the Sea
- The Toll Gate
- Terror Island
- Romeo and Juliet in the Snow
- Stolen Moments
- Humoresque
- The Mollycoddle
- The Round-up
- Karin Ingmarsdotter
- The Restless Sex
- The Jack-Knife Man
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
- The Love Flower
- The Love Expert
- Gypsy Anne
- April Folly
- The Head of Janus
- Opium
- The Soul of Youth
- Down on the Farm
- The Idol Dancer
- The Son of Tarzan
- Mästerman
- What Happened to Rosa
- The Life of the Party
- The Monastery's Hunter
- Huckleberry Finn
- Barrabas
- Leather Stocking: The Deerslayer and Chingachgook
- Dinty
- Helen of Four Gates
- The Cradle of Courage
- Olli's Apprenticeship
- Nurse Marjorie
- A Narrow Escape
- The Virgin of Stamboul
- Daughter of the Night
- The County Fair
- The Great Cattle War
- Sand
- Excuse My Dust
- Remodeling Her Husband
- Pink Tights
- Evening - Night - Morning
- Conrad in Quest of His Youth
- Dla ciebie, Polsko
- The Wonderful Chance
- Hitchin' Posts
- Below the Surface
- A Woman in Grey
- The Girl in Number 29
- The Prince of Avenue A
- Treasure Island
- The Leopard Woman
- The Tiger's Coat
- Kismet
- The Fortune Teller
- An Adventuress
- The Great Day
- Karl Valentin and Liesl Karlstadt at the Oktoberfest
- Nude Woman by Waterfall
- The Call of Youth
- Hobson's Choice
- Jes' Call Me Jim
- Bodakungen
- The Breaking of the Drought
- Das Wunder des Schneeschuhs
- Thora van Deken
- A Home Spun Hero
- Build Thy House
- In the Days of Saint Patrick
- General Post
- All Jazzed Up
- Borgslægtens historie
- Arme Violetta
- Drag Harlan
- Hypnose
- Har jeg Ret til at tage mit eget Liv?
- Das große Licht
- Der Würger der Welt
- The Bottom of the World
- Ylioppilas Pöllövaaran kihlaus
- The Twelve Pound Look
- Der Schrecken im Hause Ardon
- Carolina Rediviva
- The Great Gay Road
- The Kiljunen Brothers at School
- Glanz und Elend der Kurtisanen
- Der Fluch der Menschheit - 2. Im Rausche der Milliarden
- Die Tänzerin Barberina
- The Slim Princess
- Fate's Plaything
- Aunt Rachel
- Aylwin
- The Fordington Twins
- The White Hen
- Fiskebyn
- The Snob
- Testimony
- Nance
- Um den Bruchteil einer Sekunde
- Torn Sails
- Civilian Clothes
- Judy of Rogues' Harbor
- Zwei Welten
- The Tidal Wave
- Satan Diktator
- The Last Rose of Summer
- Pillars of Society
- Nothing Else Matters
- Die Söhne des Grafen Dossy
- The Mirage
- Die Dame in Schwarz
- By Berwin Banks
- La poupée
- Kärlek och hypnotism
- The Flame
- The Mutiny of the Elsinore
- Haunting Shadows
- Die Frau im Delphin, oder 30 Tage auf dem Meeresgrund
- Family Traditions
- The Channings
- Ferréol
- The Holiday Husband
- Près des cimes
- Herrin ihrer Tat
- Three Men in a Boat
- The Winning Goal
- De heldendaad van Peter Wells
- Paris Green
- A Double-Dyed Deceiver
- A Full House
- Der Mann mit der Puppe
- The Rank Outsider
- The One-Way Trail
- Mr. Gilfil's Love Story
- Uncle Dick's Darling
- Kissing Cup's Race
- Die Tophar-Mumie
- Durch Schiffbruch zum Strande
- Spuk auf Schloß Kitay
- The Prince Chap
- Brenda of the Barge
- A Dead Certainty
- Colonel Newcombe, the Perfect Gentleman
- Nur ein Filmstern
- Seelen im Sumpf
- Die Verflixten Küsse
- Der König der Nacht
- Die entfesselte Menschheit
- Cotton
- S. M., der Reisende
- Das Haus der Lüge
- Quand on aime
- Sotagulashi Kaiun häiritty kesäloma
- Behold the Man
- Das Milliardentestament
- Die Stunde nach Mitternacht
- En hustru till låns
- Wenn Colombine winkt
- Der Todfeind
- Föhn
- Hundemamachen
- Das Recht der freien Liebe
- Der Sprung ins Dunkle
- Menschen
- Little Dorrit
- Kärlek och björnjakt
- Flickorna i Åre
- Ett ödesdigert inkognito
- The Edge of Youth
- A Temporary Gentleman
- The Worldlings
- The Beggar Prince
- Laddie
- Fakir der Liebe
- Girl of the Sea
- A Gamble in Lives
- The English Rose
- Two Little Wooden Shoes
- Kilu-Kallen ja Mouku-Franssin kosioretki
- The Boy Messenger
- Mrs. Erricker's Reputation
- Der gelbe Gaukler
- Die Nacht der Entscheidung
- Le Dieu du hasard
- Narrentanz der Liebe
- Seelam Aleikum
- Panzerschrank Nr. 13
- Der Amönenhof
- Seines Bruders Leibeigener
- Das Auge des Götzen
- Bergblumen
- Dem Glück entgegen
- Das Grauen
- Der Passagier von Nr. 7
- Kaliber fünf Komma zwei
- Komtesse Doddy
- Der Hirt von Maria Schnee
- Tamburin und Castagnetten
- Eine tolle Kiste
- Karlchen, das verliebte Schneiderlein
- Rolf inkognito
- Der Komplize von Cincinnati
- Das schwarze Boot
- Büßer der Leidenschaft
- Der Todesbote
- Karlchen ist zerstreut
- Lebenshunger (Russalka)
- Karlchen als Detektiv Falkenauge
- Gegen den Strom
- Dämon der Welt. 2. Wirbel des Verderbens
- Dämon der Welt. 3. Das goldene Gift
- Karlchens Vaterfreuden
- Der Prinz von Montecuculi
- Karlchens Geburtstagsfeier
- Karlchen hypnotisiert
- Abenteurerblut
- Das ganze Sein ist flammend Leid
- Der bayerische Hiasel
- Wie das Schicksal spielt
- Der ewige Mönch im Banne der Musik
- Olaf Bernadotte
- Opfer seines Leichtsinns
- Hexengold
- Richtet nicht
- The Birth of the Earth
- Der Börsenkönig
- Ducks
- Film Pie, No. 9
- Film Pie, No. 11
- Film Pie, No. 8
- Film Pie, No. 12
- Er, sie und der Dackel
- Die Geisterbraut
- Nihil Nemo Kakadu
- Der indische Todesring oder Sieben Worte
- Das gut gewürzte Hochzeitsmahl
- Zopf und Turban
- Pension Lautenschlag
- Der indische Tod
- Die weiße Rose
- Die graue Elster
- Manus Immaculata. Die Unbefleckte Hand
- Die Frau ohne Dienstag
- Mein Leben
- Der Traum der Herzogin
- Piraten der Schönheit
- Der Lawinen-Löwe
- Hyänen auf dem Schlachtfelde des Lebens. 2. Die Apachen von Paris
- Die Mali
- Der Letzte Hohenhaus
- Der Storch im Salat
- Das Gift der Eifersucht
- Nachtbetrieb
- Der Doppelmord von Sarajewo
- Ein Abenteuer
- Geheimbund der Falken
- Die Höllenmaschine
- Wally, die Stütze
- Bar el Manach
- Arnold auf der Brautschau
- Versiegelte Lippen
- Die Welt ohne Hunger
- Er selbst sein Gott
- Die Einsame Insel
- Gräfin Vera
- Die Seele des Bettes
- Der Mann mit dem Affenkopf
- Lotte kuppelt
- In den Krallen der Geier
- Flimmerherzen
- Der Liebesschüler
- Eva kann nicht küssen
- Der dritte Schlüssel
- Die Welt des Scheines
- Rolfs Manuskripte. 1. Rolfs Wette
- Rolfs Manuskripte: 2. Flimmer-Rolf
- Mysterien des Lebens
- Mann, Weib und Energie
- Das Sahnenbaiser
- Die Lackstiefel
- Getäuscht
- Die tanzenden Kinder (Mary Zimmermann, Kinderballett)
- Verklebte Liebe
- Am Spieltisch des Lebens
- Das Testament des Grafen Hammerstein
- Spitzweg, der ewige Hochzeiter
- Bloody Fox, der weisse Häuptling
- Die Tochter des Organisten
- Spiegel der Zeiten
- Das Ski-Girl
- Die Lissy vom Tietz
- Erlebnisse einer Sekretärin
- Knoppchen, der Flimmer-Jüngling
- Der Raub der Dollarprinzessin
- Der unsichtbare Dieb
- The First Century of the Season
- Vorzeitgespenster
- St. Andrew's Wells
- Colchester: 900 Years Old Ceremony
The Best Movies in 1920
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Directed by Robert Wiene, "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" is a testament to German Expressionism's impact on cinema. This film stands out due to its dark, twisted visual style and engaging tale of a hypnotist who commands a somnambulist to perform murders. Its unique approach to set design, featuring distorted perspectives and sharp, jagged landscapes, played an influential role in setting the tone for psychological thrillers and horror films in the years that followed. This film is not only a cornerstone of silent cinema but also a study in how visual aesthetics can drive narrative depth.
One Week
Buster Keaton, known for his deadpan expression and impeccable comedic timing, directs and stars in "One Week." This short film centers on a newlywed couple navigating the chaos of assembling a do-it-yourself house—a gift that promises simplicity but delivers an uproar of comedic mishaps. Keaton's innovative use of physical comedy and visual gags in "One Week" underscored his talent in eliciting laughter without a single spoken word, marking it as a noteworthy contribution to the genre of silent comedy.
The Golem
In "The Golem," directors Carl Boese and Paul Wegener transport viewers to medieval Prague, where a rabbi creates a colossal creature out of clay to protect the Jewish community. This silent horror film intertwines folklore with a palpable sense of dread, pioneering many elements that would become staples in the horror genre. The creation of the Golem, a figure drawn from Jewish mythology, explores themes of creation, power, and consequence, making it a compelling narrative deeply rooted in cultural stories.
The Scarecrow
Buster Keaton's "The Scarecrow" follows the antics of two farmhands vying for the affection of a farmer's daughter. Similar to "One Week," this comedic short shows Keaton's masterful control over his physicality and timing, delivering a series of hilarious yet intricate situations. The film's inventive use of props and settings exemplifies how silent comedies could effectively communicate humor and story without dialogue, showcasing Keaton's genius in the silent era.
Way Down East
D.W. Griffith's "Way Down East" stars Lillian Gish in a heart-wrenching narrative of a young woman deceived into a sham marriage and her struggle for redemption. Unlike other films from 1920, this romantic drama touches on social issues with a level of realism and emotional depth rare for its time. Gish's performance, particularly in the film's harrowing climax on an ice floe, demonstrates the power of silent film to convey complex emotions and social commentary through expressive acting and meticulous direction.
Film & Industry Highlights of 1920
Silent Movies and the Rise of Movie Stars
The 1920s marked a period of transformation in the American film industry, with silent movies at the forefront. These films were pivotal in shaping the first generation of movie stars, a phenomenon that played a critical role in the development of a national media culture in the United States. The allure and appeal of these early film stars transcended the cinema, embedding them into the fabric of society. Their fame was not just confined to their performance on screen but extended beyond, making them household names across the country.
The Dawn of the Hollywood Studio System
At the inception of the 1920s, most US film production was concentrated in or around Hollywood on the West Coast. This period witnessed the birth of the Hollywood studio system, characterized by long-term contracts for stars, high production values, and the studios' tight control over directors and stars through their production chiefs and in-house systems. The studio system was comprehensive, encompassing production, distribution, marketing, and more. The inception of this system dictated the operations of the industry, setting a precedent for the decades that followed.
Business Expansion and Cultural Influence
Filmmaking during this era transitioned into a business venture. The public might have been unfamiliar with their elected officials, but they knew the names of the leading actors and actresses. This shift illustrates the immense cultural impact the film industry had during the 1920s. By the decade's end, there were 20 Hollywood studios, indicating the booming demand for films. This demand was not just a testament to the industry's economic growth but also its cultural resonance.
An Era of Freedom and Experimentation
The 1920s were also emblematic of freedom and experimentation within the movie industry, leading to decadence, debauchery, and excess in Hollywood. This era preceded the establishment of the production code, granting filmmakers a more liberated approach to exploring themes and narratives. Such freedom allowed for a broad range of storytelling, reflecting the social and cultural dynamism of the time.
Technological Advances: Sound and Color
A major turning point in the film industry was the introduction of sound and Technicolor. These technological advancements transformed the cinematic experience, marking the end of the silent film era and the beginning of a new chapter in filmmaking. The transition to sound films revolutionized the industry, altering not only production processes but also audience expectations. Similarly, Technicolor brought a new dimension to films, enriching visual storytelling with the vibrancy of color.
The Role of Motion Picture News
During the 1920s, "Motion Picture News" emerged as a leading film industry trade journal. It provided objective film reviews and program summaries, offering insights into the theaters' offerings across the nation. The publication played a pivotal role in shaping public opinion and taste, contributing to the dissemination of film culture.