1923 Movies
Browse 301 titles in our 1923 Movies Database
- Safety Last!
- Our Hospitality
- Die Nibelungen: Siegfried
- A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- The Pilgrim
- Three Ages
- Die Nibelungen: Kriemhild's Revenge
- The Balloonatic
- The Smiling Madame Beudet
- The Ten Commandments
- The Love Nest
- The Wheel
- Return to Reason
- Why Worry?
- The Faithful Heart
- The Ace of Hearts
- The Extra Girl
- Salomé
- Souls for Sale
- Little Old New York
- Felix in Hollywood
- Zaza
- Glumov's Diary
- The Toll of the Sea
- Alice's Wonderland
- The Covered Wagon
- Scaramouche
- The Epic of Everest
- The Shock
- The Street
- Rosita
- Merry-Go-Round
- Crainquebille
- Down to the Sea in Ships
- Cameo Kirby
- Le brasier ardent
- The Treasure
- Lorna Doone
- The Soilers
- This Ancient Law
- White Tiger
- Black Oxen
- The White Rose
- The Blizzard
- The Nurtull Gang
- Haldane of the Secret Service
- Nathan der Weise
- The Hell Ship
- The Red Inn
- Within the Law
- Where the North Begins
- North of Hudson Bay
- Krasnye dyavolyata
- Adam's Rib
- The Village Blacksmith
- La maison du mystère
- Derby Day
- Anna Christie
- Drifting
- A Christmas Carol
- The Spanish Dancer
- The Silent Command
- Der steinerne Reiter
- Flaming Youth
- Quo Vadis?
- The First Degree
- Crown of Thorns
- Collars and Cuffs
- The Village Shoemakers
- Earth Spirit
- Os Lobos
- Regeneration
- Hollywood
- The Sign of Four
- Die Lawine
- Broken Hearts of Broadway
- The Grub Stake
- Back Pay
- Der junge Medardus
- Malar Pirates
- Penrod and Sam
- Friedrich Schiller - Eine Dichterjugend
- Ashes of Vengeance
- The Green Goddess
- The Virginian
- Soul of the Beast
- Nedbrudte nerver
- The Net
- The Bright Shawl
- Sawdust
- A Clouded Name
- Tiger Rose
- Maytime
- Adam and Eva
- The Face on the Bar-Room Floor
- Save the Ship
- Hoodman Blind
- Koskenlaskijan morsian
- Der verlorene Schuh
- Hoffmanns Erzählungen
- A Chapter in Her Life
- Pasteur
- Three Jumps Ahead
- To the Last Man
- Mist in the Valley
- Stage Fright
- The Call of the Canyon
- The Darling of New York
- Slow as Lightning
- Pioneer Trails
- Johan Ulfstjerna
- The Witch's Fiddle
- Great Explorers
- Arsena Kachagi
- Wonderful London: Cosmopolitan London
- Human Wreckage
- Love, Life and Laughter
- Richard the Lion-Hearted
- Swords and the Woman
- The Final Problem
- Wonderful London: Barging Through London
- Curro Vargas
- Shifting Sands
- Plunder
- Iron Wills
- The Man Without Desire
- To the Ladies
- Guy Fawkes
- The Fiery Hand
- The Taming of the Shrew
- Don Quickshot of the Rio Grande
- Wonderful London: Dickens' London
- M'Lord of the White Road
- Rautakylän vanha parooni
- The Fungi Cellars
- Wonderful London: London's Sunday
- Wonderful London: London Off the Track
- Woman-Proof
- Opfer des Hasses
- Wonderful London: London's Contrasts
- Anderssonskans Kalle på nya upptåg
- Fires of Fate
- Karusellen
- The Clue of the Pigtail
- The Cry of the Nighthawk
- The Mystery of the Dancing Men
- No Loafing
- The Fair Maid of Perth
- Daarskab, dyd og driverter
- The Romany
- The Call of Siva
- The Knocking on the Door
- The Man with the Limp
- The Boatswain's Mate
- The Queen of Hearts
- Nora
- The Cardboard Box
- The Sacred Order
- The West Case
- The Silver Buddha
- The Shrine of the Seven Lamps
- The Stone of Mazarin
- Judith
- Fog Bound
- Nobody's Money
- Lily of the Alley
- The Money Habit
- Tänze des Grauens, des Lasters und der Ekstase
- Friaren från landsvägen
- Anna-Clara och hennes bröder
- A Gamble with Hearts
- The Purple Highway
- Grumpy
- Fröken Fob
- Hemslavinnor
- The Ne'er-Do-Well
- The Uninvited Guest
- The Lady Owner
- Gamla gatans karneval
- Die Welt in Flammen. 1. Haß und Liebe
- Hutch Stirs 'em Up
- The Lion's Mouse
- Andersson, Pettersson och Lundström
- The Go-Getter
- The Knockout
- The Light That Failed
- The Heart Raider
- The Royal Oak
- The Virgin Queen
- Her Fatal Millions
- His Children's Children
- St. Elmo
- Crossed Wires
- Janne Modig
- Strangling Threads
- A Gentleman of Leisure
- The Audacious Mr. Squire
- The Silent Partner
- Bohème - Künstlerliebe
- Racing Hearts
- Making a Man
- If Winter Comes
- The Loves of Colleen Bawn
- The Harbour Lights
- Samudra Manthan
- Hallig Hooge
- Boden's Boy
- Die Welt in Flammen. 2. Teil
- Der Vagabund
- All Change
- National Bicycle Week Begins
- Cage of Death
- Die Taifunhexe
- The Midnight Guest
- Hälsingar
- Närkingarna
- Tut-ankh Amen's Tomb (Daily Sketch Topical Budget 600-1)
- Jim Bougne, boxeur
- The Tiger's Claw
- The Indian Love Lyrics
- En rackarunge
- Heartstrings
- Salomy Jane
- The Cat That Failed
- His Last Bow
- Falstaff the Tavern Knight
- Horace of Putney
- Dickens Up-to-Date
- The Cat's Whiskers
- Im Rausch der Leidenschaft
- The Speckled Band
- The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax
- The Gloria Scott
- Walrus Hunters
- Marathon Dancers
- Silver Blaze
- Dixon's Return
- Juliet and Her Romeo
- Lawyer Quince
- One Excited Orphan
- The Cat's Revenge
- The School for Scandal
- Tut-Tut and His Terrible Tomb
- The Five Fifteen
- The Pipes of Pan
- The Test
- The Sins of a Father
- The Mystery of Thor Bridge
- The Three Students
- The Missing Three Quarter
- The Crooked Man
- Hornet's Nest
- Stung by a Woman
- The Dream of Eugene Aram
- Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight
- Love in an Attic
- Mumming Birds
- The Blue Carbuncle
- The Convert
- Finished
- Two-Chinned Chow
- The Constable's Move
- She Stoops to Conquer
- Jail Birds
- Beautiful Kitty
- Three to One Against
- A Barnyard Rodeo
- An Odd Freak
- Constant Hot Water
- The Man Who Liked Lemons
- The Bad Bandit
- The High Flyers
- The Reverse of the Medal
- Der Liebe Pilgerfahrt
- The Circus
- Love in a Cottage
- Harry Hill, der Herr der Welt
- Polly Wolly Doodle
- Derby Day
- Max und Moritz
- Im letzten Augenblick
- Maciste und der Sträfling Nr. 51
- Sagan om de sista örnarna
- Die Stimme des Blutes
- In der Nacht - in der Nacht
- Raffinierte Frauen. 1. Die Sektmieze
- Wenn Männer richten
- Ein Traum ein Leben
- Kinder von heute
- Said: Ein Volk in Ketten
- Die Welt will betrogen sein
- Umî no higeki
- Zenkamono
- Die Bestien des alten Rom
- Nur auf den Bergen wohnt das Glück
- Gerettet durch Funkspruch
- Die Affäre der Baronesse Orlowska
- Les gorges du Tarn
- Marriage of Miss Rossalyn Weinbaum to Mr A. Goide
- Government House Garden Party
The Best Movies in 1923
Safety Last!
Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor's "Safety Last!" emerged as a standout action-comedy, making Harold Lloyd an icon of silent film comedy. In this entertaining venture, Lloyd portrays a small-town boy who relocates to the city with big dreams of success to marry his sweetheart. The film culminates in a heart-stopping climax featuring Lloyd's perilous climb up a twelve-story building. This scene has since become one of the most enduring images in film history, showcasing remarkable physical comedy and stunt work that remains impressive by today's standards.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Directed by Wallace Worsley, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" provided audiences with a stirring drama/horror adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel. The film features Lon Chaney in a transformative role as Quasimodo, the titular hunchback who harbors feelings for a gypsy dancer in 15th-century Paris. Chaney's performance, coupled with the film's atmospheric setting and poignant storytelling, has cemented this adaptation as a timeless piece of cinema history.
The Ten Commandments
Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments" stood out as one of the highest-grossing films of 1923, known for its grand narrative and epic scope. This drama retells the biblical story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. DeMille's ambitious direction and the film's large-scale production values were groundbreaking, showcasing pioneering special effects and set designs that brought the ancient world to life with unprecedented grandeur.
Our Hospitality
In "Our Hospitality," directors John G. Blystone and Buster Keaton crafted a unique blend of comedy, romance, and thriller. Buster Keaton stars as a young man who returns to his Appalachian roots, only to fall for a woman from a family sworn to eliminate his lineage. The film stands out for its inventive comedic sequences, executed with Keaton's trademark stoic demeanor and physical agility. Beyond its humor, the film incorporates elements of suspense and romance, making it a multifarious cinematic experience.
The Covered Wagon
James Cruze's "The Covered Wagon" played a pivotal role in defining the Western genre. This adventure/romance film details the perilous journey of pioneers venturing West in search of new beginnings. With its authentic portrayal of the pioneer life of the American frontier, "The Covered Wagon" offered audiences a glimpse into the nation's past. The film's commitment to realism—through the use of actual wagon trains and expansive outdoor scenes—set new standards for cinematic storytelling within its genre.
Film & Industry Highlights of 1923
The Debut of Marlene Dietrich and Significant Losses
This year witnessed the debut of Marlene Dietrich in "Der Mensche am Wege," an influential event that would lead to her becoming one of cinema's most iconic figures. However, this period was also marked by the loss of notable personalities such as Wallace Reid and Sarah Bernhardt. Reid's death particularly underscored the pressing issues surrounding the pressures and lifestyle in the film industry, while Bernhardt's passing represented the end of an era for theatrical pioneers transitioning into film.
Technological Innovations: Phonofilm
A technological leap occurred with the development of Phonofilm by Lee de Forest and Theodore Case. This optical sound-on-film system allowed for sound to be recorded directly onto the film strip, a critical step towards the creation of "talkies." Motion Picture News, the film industry's trade journal, provided in-depth coverage of these advancements, highlighting the transition towards sound in cinema. This innovation opened new avenues for storytelling and performance, gradually transforming audience expectations and experiences.
The Construction of the Hollywood Sign
In the same year, the construction of the iconic Hollywood sign symbolized the burgeoning influence of the film industry. Initially erected as an advertisement for a local real estate development, the sign quickly became an emblem of the emerging entertainment capital of the world. The establishment of major studios, including Warner Bros., further cemented Hollywood's status as the hub of film production. These studios played a critical role in the industry's expansion, introducing a new era of filmmaking characterized by increased scale and ambition.
Pioneering Films and the Rise of Silent Comedians
1923 was a banner year for film releases, with notable outputs such as Harold Lloyd's "Safety Last!" and Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments." These films showcased remarkable technical and narrative creativity, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in cinema. "Safety Last!", with its famous clock tower stunt, became a defining moment for silent film comedy, demonstrating the genre's potential for both humor and high stakes. Meanwhile, "The Ten Commandments" illustrated the epic scope and spectacle that filmmakers could achieve, setting a precedent for future productions.
The era also celebrated the contributions of silent film comedians, as evidenced by the dedication of the Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd Alley in Hollywood. This tribute to Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd highlighted the critical role these artists played in the development of cinematic comedy. Their innovative work laid the groundwork for future generations of comedians and filmmakers, proving that silent films could convey complex emotions and narratives without the need for spoken dialogue.
The Foundation of Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio
Another monumental event was the foundation of the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio by Walt and Roy Disney. While still in its early stages, the establishment of this studio signified a turning point in the animation industry. The Disney's vision and creativity would eventually revolutionize animated films, introducing a new form of storytelling that captivated audiences worldwide.