Best 1920S
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Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans is a 1927 romantic drama directed by F.W. Murnau. The film depicts a farmer’s attraction to a city woman, complicated by her attempt to incite him to harm his wife. It utilized Movietone's synchronized sound-on-film process with a musical score and sound effects, based...
The Phantom Carriage is a 1921 Swedish silent horror film based on Selma Lagerlöf's novel. It tells the story of David Holm, who faces consequences after a night of heavy drinking following New Year’s Eve. Utilizing expressionist techniques and featuring performances by Victor Sjöström, the film exp...
The Circus, directed by Charlie Chaplin, portrays the circumstances surrounding a struggling circus ringmaster’s employment of the Little Tramp. Al Ernest Garcia plays the ringmaster who finds the silent film star's attempts at humor unsuccessful. The cast includes Merna Kennedy and Henry Bergman al...
The Passion of Joan of Arc portrays the historical trial and execution of Joan of Arc, filmed by Carl Theodor Dreyer in 1928. Renée Jeanne Falconetti delivers a central performance as Joan, captured during her captivity with England. The film’s production is considered a significant achievement with...
Sherlock Jr. is a 1924 American Buster Keaton feature about a projectionist entering a film, noted for its dream logic and landmark cinema-within-cinema gags.
Released in 1957, *Hot Five and Seven* is a significant collection of recordings by Louis Armstrong featuring his most influential early small ensemble works, showcasing innovative arrangements and complex harmonies that helped shape the development of swing music.
Nosferatu is a seminal 1922 German silent horror film. Directed by F.W. Murnau, it presents a chilling portrayal of Count Orlok, a vampire terrorizing a small village. Its innovative expressionist style and Max Schreck’s iconic performance established key elements of the vampire genre. The film rema...
Jay Gatsby is a central figure in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s *The Great Gatsby*, representing the allure and ultimate disillusionment of the American Dream. He meticulously constructs a lavish persona and extravagant parties to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby's story explores themes of wea...
The Man with the Movie Camera is Dziga Vertov's 1929 Soviet documentary, famous for rapid montage, no intertitles, and reflexive city filming.
The Gold Rush is a 1925 silent comedy directed by Charlie Chaplin and featuring the Little Tramp character. It stars Chaplin alongside Georgia Hale and other cast members including Mack Swain and Tom Murray. The film was produced by Chaplin himself and explores comedic situations within a gold rush...
The General is a 1926 silent film starring Buster Keaton. Based on a true Civil War incident, it portrays an audacious attempt to sabotage the Confederate railway. Keaton’s dual role as actor and director creates a unique blend of comedy and drama. The movie offers a fascinating glimpse into 1920s f...
The Golem: How He Came into the World is a 1920 German Expressionist silent film exploring Jewish folklore. Paul Wegener stars as a clay being brought to life, directed by Wegener alongside Carl Boese and based on Gustav Meyrink’s novel. Karl Freund later contributed to Hollywood horror productions.
Battleship Potemkin is a 1925 Soviet silent film directed by Sergei Eisenstein. The narrative depicts the events surrounding a mutiny among the crew of the Russian battleship Potemkin in 1905, as dramatized by Mosfilm. It portrays a specific historical incident involving rebellion against naval offi...
The Docks of New York is a 1928 silent drama directed by Josef von Sternberg. Featuring George Bancroft, Betty Compson, and Olga Baclanova, it’s based on John Monk Saunders' short story, “The Dock Walloper,” and adapted for the screen by Jules Furthman. The film explores themes within the setting of...
Pandora’s Box, directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst, portrays Lulu, a captivating woman whose actions lead to destruction for herself and her associates. The film adapts Frank Wedekind’s stage works, exploring themes of temptation and its consequences through the narrative of a seductive young woman. It...
Boardwalk Empire is a television drama set in Atlantic City during the 1920s. It explores the complex world of organized crime and Prohibition through the story of Nucky Thompson, a powerful mobster. The series draws on historical accounts of criminal activity within the United States, primarily foc...
Charlie Chaplin’s *The Kid* (1921) is a landmark silent film exploring themes of poverty and compassion through Chaplin's iconic character. The movie’s enduring legacy stems from its innovative storytelling and emotional impact within the early era of cinema. It remains notable for its preservation...
Speedy is a 1928 silent comedy starring Harold Lloyd, marking his final work in that film format before transitioning to sound production. A subsequent sound version of the movie was created and distributed during 1928 due to declining interest in silent films.
The Big Parade is a 1925 silent war drama focusing on an affluent young man’s experiences during World War I. He joins the U.S. Army, encounters hardship in trench warfare, and develops relationships with working-class soldiers and a French woman. A subsequent sound version incorporated a musical sc...
David Grann's 'Killers of the Flower Moon' meticulously unravels the shocking story of the Osage Nation murders in 1920s Oklahoma. When oil was discovered on Osage land, the tribe became incredibly wealthy, making them targets for greedy outsiders. Grann's investigative reporting exposes a conspirac...
Greed is a 1924 silent drama adapted from Frank Norris’ novel, McTeague. It depicts the life of Dr. John McTeague, a San Francisco dentist, and his tumultuous relationship with his wife, Trina Sieppe, and friend Marcus Schouler. The narrative explores themes of obsession and destructive behavior wit...
*The Thief of Bagdad* is a 1924 American silent film adapting stories from *One Thousand and One Nights*. The movie’s elaborate sets and costumes, particularly its depiction of Baghdad, are notable for their ambition within the early fantasy genre. It was created by Douglas Fairbanks and remains sig...
Steamboat Bill Jr. is a 1928 silent drama-movie starring Buster Keaton. It’s notable as the last film created by Keaton's independent production company and showcases his signature physical comedy skills. The movie appeals to audiences interested in early cinema, particularly those appreciating fami...
The Kid Brother is a 1927 silent comedy film directed by Harold Lloyd. It draws inspiration from earlier works like *Tol'able David* and *The White Sheep*, presenting a narrative involving comedy, romance, and character development. The film achieved popularity upon its initial release and remains a...
The Freshman is a 1925 silent comedy featuring Harold Lloyd as a college student seeking social acceptance through football. It premiered at the B.S. Moss Colony Theater and ran alongside Broderick & Felsen’s *Campus Capers* for ten weeks. The film remains one of Lloyd's most commercially successful...
Steamboat Bill, Jr. is a 1928 American Buster Keaton feature, famous for the falling house-front stunt and its Mississippi riverboat setting.
The Navigator is a 1924 comedy directed by and starring Buster Keaton. Co-written by Clyde Bruckman and with Donald Crisp as a co-director, the film received preservation status from the Library of Congress in 2018 due to its cultural and historical importance. It was recognized for its significance...
Safety Last! is a 1923 American silent film starring Harold Lloyd. The movie’s most famous scene involves Lloyd performing elaborate physical stunts, specifically his precarious hanging from a skyscraper clock to meet a romantic deadline. This iconic image cemented its place in cinematic history and...
Faust is a 1926 silent fantasy film directed by F.W. Murnau, based on both older folklore traditions and Goethe’s “Faust.” The production, overseen by Ufa, featured Gösta Ekman as Faust alongside Emil Jannings as Mephisto and Camilla Horn in multiple roles. It represents an adaptation of the classic...
The Crowd, directed by King Vidor, premiered in 1928 with James Murray, Eleanor Boardman, and Bert Roach. Nominated for multiple Academy Awards including Best Director, the film is considered a significant work within silent-era cinema. It received widespread critical acclaim from historians and rem...
