The year 1920 in film involved some significant events. __TOC__

Top-grossing films (U.S.)

The top three films released in 1920 by U.S. gross are as follows:

Events

* March 28 - "America's Sweetheart"

Mary Pickford Gladys Marie Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American stage and screen actress and producer with a career that spanned five decades. A pioneer in the US film industry, she co-founde ...

and "Everybody's Hero"

Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films including '' The Thi ...

marry, becoming the first supercouple of Hollywood. * August – Jack Cohn,

Joe Brandt Joe Brandt (born Joseph Brandenburg July 20, 1882 – February 22, 1939) was an American publicist, screenwriter, editor, film producer, and general manager. He co-founded Columbia Pictures with Harry and Jack Cohn. Biography Joe Brandt was bor ...

and Harry Cohn form C. B. C. Film Sales Corporation which would later become

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...

. * November 27 – '' The Mark of Zorro'', starring

opens.

Notable films released in 1920

Austria

:For a complete list see: ''

List of Austrian films of the 1920s A list of films produced in the Cinema of Austria in the 1920s ordered by year of release. For an alphabetical list of articles on Austrian films see :Austrian films. 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 Refere ...

'' * ''Anita'' (aka ''Trance''), directed by Luise Kolm and Jakob Fleck; an obscure adaptation of George Du Maurier's novel ''Trilby'' *''

Boccaccio Giovanni Boccaccio (, , ; 16 June 1313 – 21 December 1375) was an Italian writer, poet, correspondent of Petrarch, and an important Renaissance humanist. Born in the town of Certaldo, he became so well known as a writer that he was some ...

'', directed by

Michael Curtiz Michael Curtiz ( ; born Manó Kaminer; since 1905 Mihály Kertész; hu, Kertész Mihály; December 24, 1886 April 10, 1962) was a Hungarian-American film director, recognized as one of the most prolific directors in history. He directed cla ...

. *''

The Prince and the Pauper ''The Prince and the Pauper'' is a novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada, before its 1882 publication in the United States. The novel represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. Set in 1547 ...

'' directed by

Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; hu, Korda Sándor; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)The Scourge of God'' directed by Michael Curtiz. *''

The Star of Damascus ''The Star of Damascus'' (german: Der Stern von Damaskus) is a 1920 Austrian film directed by Michael Curtiz. It was followed by '' The Scourge of God''. Cast * Lucy Doraine * Iván Petrovich Iván Petrovich ( sr, Иван Петровић ...

'' directed by Michael Curtiz.

France

:For a complete list see: ''

French films of 1920 A list of films produced in France in 1920: See also * 1920 in France References External links French films of 1920at the Internet Movie Database IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of informa ...

'' *'' Barrabas'', a 12-chapter serial/ crime drama directed by

Louis Feuillade Louis Feuillade (; 19 February 1873 – 25 February 1925) was a French filmmaker of the silent era. Between 1906 and 1924, he directed over 630 films. He is primarily known for the crime serials '' Fantômas'', '' Les Vampires'' and '' Judex ...

*''The Man Who Sold His Soul to the Devil'', directed by Pierre Caron *''Les Morts qui parlent''/ ''The Dead Who Speak'', directed by Pierre Marodon *''Narayana'' (translates as ''Vishnu''), directed by Leon Poirier, starring Laurence Myrga and Edmon Van Daele; based on the 1831 novel "Le Peau de Chagrin" by Honore de Balzac, with some story elements lifted from Wilkie Collins' novel ''The Moonstone'' *''The Silence'', ghost film directed by Louis Delluc, starring Gabriel Signoret and Eve Francis (Delluc's wife)

Germany

:For a complete list see: ''

List of German films of 1920 References External links IMDB listing for German films made in 1920 Algol ALGOL (; short for "Algorithmic Language") is a family of imperative computer programming languages originally developed in 1958. ALGOL heavily influenced many other languages and was the standard method for algorithm description used by the ...

: Tragedy of Power'', science fiction film directed by Hans Werckmeister, starring

Emil Jannings Emil Jannings (born Theodor Friedrich Emil Janenz, 23 July 1884 – 2 January 1950) was a Swiss born German actor, popular in the 1920s in Hollywood. He was the first recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actor for his roles in '' The La ...

*''

Anna Boleyn ''Anna Boleyn,'' also known as ''Deception'', is a 1920 German historical film directed by Ernst Lubitsch. It stars Henny Porten as Anne Boleyn and Emil Jannings as King Henry VIII. The film was produced by Paul Davidson's Union Film, a ...

'' directed by

Ernst Lubitsch Ernst Lubitsch (; January 29, 1892November 30, 1947) was a German-born American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as ...

*'' The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'' directed by Robert Wiene; starring

Werner Krauss Werner Johannes Krauss (''Krauß'' in German; 23 June 1884 – 20 October 1959) was a German stage and film actor. Krauss dominated the German stage of the early 20th century. However, his participation in the antisemitic propaganda film ''Jud S ...

Conrad Veidt Hans Walter Conrad Veidt (; 22 January 1893 – 3 April 1943) was a German film actor who attracted early attention for his roles in the films ''Different from the Others'' (1919), '' The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'' (1920), and '' The Man Who Laug ...

and Lil Dagover * ''Cagliostro'', directed by Reinhold Schuenzel, starred Schuenzel and

(a lost film) *''The Devil Worshippers''/ ''Die Teufelsanbeter'', A 6-part serial directed by Marie Louise Droop, starring Carl de Vogt and Bela Lugosi, based on the novel by Carl May *'' Evening – Night – Morning'' (Abend – Nacht – Morgen) directed by

F. W. Murnau Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau (born Friedrich Wilhelm Plumpe; December 28, 1888March 11, 1931) was a German film director, producer and screenwriter. He was greatly influenced by Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Shakespeare and Ibsen plays he had seen at th ...

*'' Genuine: A Tale of a Vampire'', directed by Robert Wiene, starring

Fern Andra Fern Andra, Dowager Baroness von Weichs (born Vernal Edna Andrews, November 24, 1893 – February 8, 1974) was an American actress, film director, script writer, and producer. Next to Henny Porten and Asta Nielsen, she was one of the most po ...

; only a 43-minute condensation of the much longer original film exists *'' The Golem: How He Came into the World'' (''Der Golem, Wie Er in die Welt Kam''), directed by and starring

Paul Wegener Paul Wegener (11 December 1874 – 13 September 1948) was a German actor, writer, and film director known for his pioneering role in German expressionist cinema. Acting career At the age of 20, Wegener decided to end his law studies and conce ...

based on the old Jewish folktale, photographed by Karl Freund *''

The Head of Janus ''Der Januskopf'' () is a 1920 German silent film directed by F. W. Murnau. The film was an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella '' The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde''. Little is known about the production; it was shot ...

'' (''Der Januskopf''), directed by

, starring

and

Bela Lugosi Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó (; October 20, 1882 – August 16, 1956), known professionally as Bela Lugosi (; ), was a Hungarian and American actor best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the 1931 horror classic ''Dracula'', Ygor in ''S ...

, photographed by Karl Freund; based (without authorization) on the Robert Louis Stevenson novel ''Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' * ''Hound of the Baskervilles'', directed by Willy Zehn, released in two parts (''Dr. MacDonald's Sanitorium'' and ''The House Without Windows''); Willy Keyser-Heyl played Sherlock Holmes *''The House Without Windows'', directed by Friedrich Feher, not to be confused with the above ''Hound of the Baskervilles''Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 223. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2. *'' The Hunchback and the Dancer'' (''Der Bucklige und die Tänzerin''), directed by

, photographed by Karl Freund *'' Kohlhiesels Töchter'' (Kohlhiesel's Daughter) directed by

*''Kurfurstendamm'', a horror-comedy written and directed by Richard Oswald, starring Conrad Veidt as The Devil, photographed by Carl Hoffmann *''

The Last of the Mohicans ''The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757'' is a historical romance written by James Fenimore Cooper in 1826. It is the second book of the ''Leatherstocking Tales'' pentalogy and the best known to contemporary audiences. '' The Pathfinder ...

'' (Der Letzte der Mohikaner), starring

* ''Nachtgestalten'' (aka ''Eleagable Kuperus''), directed by Richard Oswald, starring

and

, photographed by Carl Hoffmann, based on the Karl Hans Strobl short story ''Eleagable Kuperus'' *''

Satan Satan,, ; grc, ὁ σατανᾶς or , ; ar, شيطانالخَنَّاس , also known as Devil in Christianity, the Devil, and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is an non-physical entity, entity in the Abrahamic religions ...

'' (Satanas) directed by

, starred

, filmed in 1919 *'' Sumurun'' (One Arabian Night) directed by

, starring

and

Pola Negri Pola Negri (; born Apolonia Chalupec ; 3 January 1897 – 1 August 1987) was a Polish stage and film actress and singer. She achieved worldwide fame during the silent and golden eras of Hollywood and European film for her tragedienne and femm ...

Kinnard,Roy (1995). "Horror in Silent Films". McFarland and Company Inc. . Page 123. *'' Die Todeskarawane'', starring

Dora Gerson Dora Gerson (born Dorothea Gerson; 23 March 1899 – 14 February 1943) was a German cabaret singer and stage and motion picture actress of the silent film era who was murdered with her family at Auschwitz concentration camp. Life and career Born ...

and

* ''Torgus, the Coffin Maker'', directed by Hans Kobe

Hungary

*''Lord Arthur Saville's Crime'' (aka ''The Mark of the Phantom''), written and directed by Paul Fejos, starring Margit Lux, based on the 1891 story by

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is ...

Italy

*''The Last of the Borgias'', directed by Armando Carbone *''The Power of the Borgias'', directed by Luigi Caramba for Medusa Film, starring Irene Saffo-Nomo and Enrico Piacentini * ''Spiritism'' (aka ''Spiritismo''), starring Francesca Bettina

Japan

*''Akakabe Myojin''/ ''The Red Wall God'', a ghost-cat film directed by Jiro Yoshino for Kokkatsu Films, starring Shirogoro Sawamura *''Arima no neko''/ ''The Cat in Arima'', a ghost-cat film directed by Shozo Makino for Nikkatsu Films, starring Matsumosuke Onoe and Sentaro Nakamura

Philippines

:For a complete list see: '' List of Philippine films before 1940'' *'' La Mariposa Negra'' directed by

Jose Nepomuceno Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods. *Jose ben Abin *Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galilean ...

Sweden

:For a complete list see: '' Swedish films before 1930'' *'' Erotikon'' directed by

Mauritz Stiller Mauritz Stiller (born Moshe Stiller, 17 July 1883 – 18 November 1928) was a Swedish film director of Finnish Jewish origin, best known for discovering Greta Garbo and bringing her to America. Stiller had been a pioneer of the Swedish film ...

*'' Herr och fru Stockholm'' (How Not to Dress), starring

Greta Garbo Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; 18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish-American actress. Regarded as one of the greatest screen actresses, she was known for her melancholic, somber persona, her film portrayals of tragedy, ...

*''

Karin Daughter of Ingmar ''Karin Daughter of Ingmar'' ( sv, Karin Ingmarsdotter) is a 1920 Swedish silent drama film directed by Victor Sjöström. It is the second part in Sjöström's large-scale adaption of Selma Lagerlöf's novel ''Jerusalem'', following '' Sons of ...

'' (Karin Ingmarsdotter) directed by & starring

Victor Sjöström Victor David Sjöström (; 20 September 1879 – 3 January 1960), also known in the United States as Victor Seastrom, was a pioneering Swedish film director, screenwriter, and actor. He began his career in Sweden, before moving to Hollywood in ...

*''

The Monastery of Sendomir ''The Monastery of Sendomir'' ( sv, Klostret i Sendomir) is a 1920 Swedish drama film directed by Victor Sjöström, based on an 1828 short story by Franz Grillparzer. It has also been released in the UK as ''The Secret of the Monastery''. A Ger ...

'' (Klostret i Sendomir) directed by

*'' The Parson's Widow'' (Prästänkan) directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer *''

The Phantom Carriage ''The Phantom Carriage'' ( sv, Körkarlen, literally "The Wagoner") is a 1921 Swedish silent film directed by and starring Victor Sjöström, based on the 1912 novel '' Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness!'' (''Körkarlen'') by Swedish author Selma Lag ...

'' (aka ''Korkarlen''/ ''The Wagoner''), directed by Victor Sjostrom, starring Sjostrom, Hilda Borgstrom and Tore Svennberg, based on the 1912 novel '' Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness!'' by Selma Lagerlof; this film influenced the later works of Ingmar BergmanWorkman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 229. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.

United Kingdom

:For a complete list see: ''

British films of 1920 A list of British films released in 1920. 1920 See also * 1920 in film * 1920 in the United Kingdom References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:British Films Of 1920 1920 Films British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and l ...

'' *''At the Villa Rose'', directed by Maurice Elvey, based on the 1910 novel by A.E.W. Mason * ''The Barton Mystery'', directed by Harry (Henry) Roberts, starred Lyn Harding; based on the 1917 stage play by Walter Hackett *''

Bleak House ''Bleak House'' is a novel by Charles Dickens, first published as a 20-episode serial between March 1852 and September 1853. The novel has many characters and several sub-plots, and is told partly by the novel's heroine, Esther Summerson, and ...

'' directed by

Maurice Elvey Maurice Elvey (11 November 1887 – 28 August 1967) was one of the most prolific film directors in British history. He directed nearly 200 films between 1913 and 1957. During the silent film era he directed as many as twenty films per year. He a ...

*''

Build Thy House ''Build Thy House'' is a 1920 British silent film directed by Fred Goodwins, and starring Henry Ainley, Ann Trevor, Reginald Bach and Claude Rains in his film debut. The screenplay was written by Eliot Stannard from the story by S. Trevor Jones. ...

'' directed by

Fred Goodwins Fred Goodwins (26 February 1891 – April 1923) was an English actor, film director and screenwriter of the silent era. He appeared in 24 films between 1915 and 1921.He most notably worked with Charlie Chaplin during Chaplin's mutual per ...

, starring Henry Ainley *'' Colonel Newcome'' directed by

' starring

Milton Rosmer Milton Rosmer (4 November 1881 – 7 December 1971) was a British actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern ...

Joyce Carey Joyce Carey, OBE (30 March 1898 – 28 February 1993) was an English actress, best known for her long professional and personal relationship with Noël Coward. Her stage career lasted from 1916 until 1987, and she was performing on television ...

*''Desire'' (aka ''The Magic Skin'') directed by George Edwardes-Hall, starring Dennis Neilson-Terry, based on the 1831 novel ''Le Peau de Chagrin'' by Honore de BalzacWorkman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 214. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2. *'' Ernest Maltravers'' directed by

Jack Denton John Fleming St. Andrew Denton (11 September 1872 – 19 April 1949) was a British actor and film director of the silent era. Denton was born in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire and died at age 76 in Redhill, Surrey. Selected filmograph ...

; starring

Lillian Hall-Davis Lillian Hall-Davis (23 June 1898 – 25 October 1933) was an English actress during the silent film era, featured in major roles in English film and a number of German, French and Italian films. Born Lilian Hall Davis, the daughter of a London ...

*''

The Ever Open Door ''The Ever Open Door'' is a 1920 British silent drama film directed by Fred Goodwins and starring Hayford Hobbs, Daphne Glenne and Margaret Hope. It was based on the play '' The Ever Open Door'' by George R. Sims, a leading Victorian writer ...

'' directed by

; starring

Hayford Hobbs Hayford Hobbs (25 August 1890 - 10 January 1957) was a leading British film actor of the silent era and later became a film director. He was born in London, England, in 1891. He made his first screen appearance in the 1915 film ''The Third Gener ...

*''The Face at the Window'', directed by Wilfred Noy, starring C. Aubrey Smith and Gladys Jennings, based on the stage play by F. Brooke Warren * ''

The Fordington Twins ''The Fordington Twins'' is a 1920 British silent drama film directed by W. P. Kellino and starring Dallas Anderson, Mary Brough and Nita Russell. It is based on a novel by Edgar Newton Bungay. Two young brothers who live over a fishmongers ...

'' directed by

W.P. Kellino William Philip Gislingham (c. 1874 in London, England – 31 December 1957, in London, Middlesex, England) was a British music hall musician and acrobat (part of the Famous Kellinos) and, using the name W. P. Kellino, film director. He founded ...

*''

General Post ''General Post'' is a 1920 British silent drama film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Douglas Munro, Lilian Braithwaite and Joyce Dearsley. It was based on the play ''General Post'' by J. E. Harold Terry in which Lillian Braithwaite ha ...

'' directed by

Thomas Bentley Thomas Bentley (23 February 1884 – 23 December 1966) was a British film director. He directed 68 films between 1912 and 1941. He directed three films in the early DeForest Phonofilm sound-on-film process, ''The Man in the Street'' (1926), '' ...

; starring Douglas Munro,

Lilian Braithwaite Dame Florence Lilian Braithwaite, (9 March 1873 – 17 September 1948), known professionally as Lilian Braithwaite, was an English actress, primarily of the stage, although she appeared in both silent and talkie films. Early life She was born ...

*''The Great London Mystery'', a 12-chapter serial directed by Charles Raymond for T&P Films, starring David Devant and Lady Doris Stapleton; features a Yellow Peril menace called Ching Ling Fu. *'' The Lure of Crooning Water'' directed by Arthur Rooke; starring

Guy Newall Guy Newall (25 May 1885 – 25 February 1937) was a British actor, screenwriter and film director. He was born on the Isle of Wight on 25 May 1885. He began his film career by acting in the 1915 film '' The Heart of Sister Ann''. In 1920 he dire ...

and

Ivy Duke Ivy Duke (9 June 1896, Kensington, London – 8 November 1937, London) was a British actress.Ivy Duke
. bfi.org.uk S ...

*''

Mr. Gilfil's Love Story ''Mr. Gilfil's Love Story'' is a 1920 British silent drama film directed by A. V. Bramble and starring Robert Henderson Bland, Mary Odette and Peter Upcher. It was based on the short story ''Mr. Gilfil's Love Story'' from George Eliot's 1857 ...

'' directed by A.V. Bramble; starring

Mary Odette Marie Odette Goimbault (10 August 1901 – 26 March 1987), known professionally as Mary Odette, was a French-born film actress. Odette starred in a number of films made by Astra Films. After the slump of 1924 dramatically reduced the number o ...

*''The Price of Silence'' (aka ''At the Mercy of Tiberius''), directed by Fred Leroy Granville, starring Peggy Hyland and Campbell Gullan Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 230. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2. *'' A Son of David'' directed by

Hay Plumb Edward Hay-Plumb (1883 in Norwich, Norfolk – 1960 in Uxbridge, Middlesex) was an English actor and film director. He served as a lieutenant in the West Yorkshire Regiment during World War I. Selected filmography Director * ''Hamlet'' (1913) * ...

; starring Ronald Colman *''

Trent's Last Case ''Trent's Last Case'' is a detective novel written by E. C. Bentley and first published in 1913. Its central character, the artist and amateur detective Philip Trent, reappeared subsequently in the novel '' Trent's Own Case'' (1936), and the s ...

'' directed by

Richard Garrick Richard Garrick (December 27, 1878 – August 21, 1962) was an Irish-born American actor and director. Life and career Garrick was born Richard Thomas O'Brien in the townland of Portlaw, County Waterford, Ireland. His father, James E. O'Brien ...

; starring

Gregory Scott Gregory Scott was a British film actor of the silent era. He was born Gregory Scott Frances on 15 December 1879 in Sandy, Bedfordshire, England. Selected filmography * ''Enoch Arden'' (1914) * '' The Harbour Lights'' (1914) * ''In the Ranks'' ...

, Pauline Peters and

Clive Brook Clifford Hardman "Clive" Brook (1 June 1887 – 17 November 1974) was an English film actor. After making his first screen appearance in 1920, Brook emerged as a leading British actor in the early 1920s. After moving to the United States ...

*'' The Twelve Pound Look'' directed by

; starring

*''The Yellow Claw'', directed by Rene Plaisetty, starring Arthur Cullin and Cyril Percival; based on the 1915 novel by Sax Rohmer featuring a criminal Asian menace named Mr. King.Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 231. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.

United States

:For a complete list see: ''

American films of 1920 This list of American films of 1920 is a compilation of American films that were released in the year 1920. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y ...

A

*''Along the Moonbeam Trail'', contained animated dinosaur sequences by

Willis O'Brien Willis Harold O'Brien (March 2, 1886 – November 8, 1962) was an American motion picture special effects and stop-motion animation pioneer, who according to ASIFA-Hollywood "was responsible for some of the best-known images in cinema history," ...

Kinnard,Roy (1995). "Horror in Silent Films". McFarland and Company Inc. . Page 108. *''

April Folly ''April Folly'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and written by Adrian Johnson and Cynthia Stockley. The film stars Marion Davies, Madeline Marshall, Hattie Delaro, Amelia Summerville, Conway Tearle, J. Herbe ...

'', directed by

Robert Z. Leonard Robert Zigler Leonard (October 7, 1889 – August 27, 1968) was an American film director, actor, producer, and screenwriter. Biography He was born in Chicago, Illinois. At one time, he was married to silent star Mae Murray with the two formin ...

, starring

Marion Davies Marion Davies (born Marion Cecilia Douras; January 3, 1897 – September 22, 1961) was an American actress, producer, screenwriter, and philanthropist. Educated in a religious convent, Davies fled the school to pursue a career as a chorus girl ...

and

Conway Tearle Conway Tearle (born Frederick Conway Levy, May 17, 1878 – October 1, 1938) was an American stage actor who went on to perform in silent and early sound films. Early life Tearle was born on May 17, 1878, in New York City, the son of the ...

B

* ''Black Shadows'', directed by Howard M. Mitchell

C

*'' The Copperhead'', directed by

Charles Maigne Charles Maigne (November 11, 1879 – November 28, 1929) was an American screenwriter and film director of the silent era. He wrote for 32 films between 1916 and 1928. He also directed 18 films between 1918 and 1923. He was born in Rich ...

, starring Lionel Barrymore

D

* '' The Dark Mirror'', directed by

Charles Giblyn Charles Giblyn (September 6, 1871 – March 14, 1934) was an American film director and actor of the silent era. He directed nearly 100 films between 1912 and 1927. He also appeared in 23 films between 1914 and 1934. He was one of the found ...

, starring

Dorothy Dalton Dorothy Dalton (September 22, 1893 – April 13, 1972) was an American silent film actress and stage personality who worked her way from a stock company to a movie career. Beginning in 1910, Dalton was a player in stock companies in Chicago; Te ...

, based on the story by

Louis Joseph Vance Louis Joseph Vance (September 19, 1879 – December 16, 1933) was an American novelist, screenwriter and film producer. He created the popular character Michael Lanyard, a criminal-turned-detective known as The Lone Wolf. Biography Louis J ...

Kinnard,Roy (1995). "Horror in Silent Films". McFarland and Company Inc. . Page 109. *''

The Devil's Pass Key ''The Devil's Pass Key'' (or ''The Devil's Passkey'') is a 1920 silent drama film directed by Erich von Stroheim. Considered a “lost film”, no print is officially known to exist. The film was produced by Universal Pictures and distributed ...

'' (lost), directed by Erich von Stroheim, starring

Mae Busch Mae Busch (born Annie May Busch; 18 June 1891 – 20 April 1946) was an Australian-born actress who worked in both silent and sound films in early Hollywood. In the latter part of her career she appeared in many Laurel and Hardy comedies, frequ ...

*'' The Devil to Pay'', directed by Ernest C. Warde, based on a 1917 novel by Frances Nimmo Greene *'' Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'', directed by John S. Robertson, starring

John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly att ...

*'' Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'', directed by J. Charles Haydon, starring

Sheldon Lewis Sheldon Lewis (April 20, 1868 – May 7, 1958) was an American actor of the silent era best known for his antagonistic roles. He appeared in more than 90 films between 1914 and 1936. Lewis was married to actress Virginia Pearson, and they were ...

*'' The Dream Cheater'', directed by Ernest C. Warde, starring J. Warren Kerrigan, based on the 1831 novel ''

La Peau de chagrin ''La Peau de chagrin'' (, ''The Skin of Shagreen''), known in English as ''The Magic Skin and The Wild Ass's Skin'', is an 1831 novel by French novelist and playwright Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850). Set in early 19th-century Paris, it tells t ...

'' by

Honoré de Balzac Honoré de Balzac ( , more commonly , ; born Honoré Balzac;Jean-Louis Dega, La vie prodigieuse de Bernard-François Balssa, père d'Honoré de Balzac : Aux sources historiques de La Comédie humaine, Rodez, Subervie, 1998, 665 p. 20 May 179 ...

F

* ''

The Flapper ''The Flapper'' is a 1920 American silent comedy film starring Olive Thomas. Directed by Alan Crosland, the film was the first in the United States to portray the "flapper" lifestyle, which became a cultural craze or fad in the 1920s. Plot Si ...

'', directed by

Alan Crosland Alan Crosland (August 10, 1894 – July 16, 1936) was an American stage actor and film director. He is noted for having directed the first feature film using spoken dialogue, '' The Jazz Singer'' (1927). Early life and career Born in New York C ...

, starring

Olive Thomas Olive Thomas (born Oliva R. Duffy; October 20, 1894 – September 10, 1920) was an American silent-film actress, art model, and photo model. Thomas began her career as an illustrator's model in 1914, and moved on to the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' th ...

G

*''

The Girl in Number 29 ''The Girl in Number 29'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by John Ford based on the novel ''The Girl in the Mirror'' (1919) by Elizabeth Jordan. The film is presumed to be lost. Plot As summarized in a film publication, Laurie D ...

'' (lost), directed by

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), known professionally as John Ford, was an American film director and naval officer. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. He ...

, starring Frank Mayo *''

Go and Get It ''Go and Get It'' is a 1920 American silent comedy-drama film, comedy-drama mystery film directed by Marshall Neilan and Henry Roberts Symonds and written by Marion Fairfax. The film stars Pat O'Malley, Wesley Barry, Noah Beery, Noah Beery Sr. a ...

'', directed by Marshall Neilan and Henry Roberts Symonds

H

*''

Haunted Spooks ''Haunted Spooks'' is a 1920 American silent Southern Gothic comedy film produced and co-directed by Hal Roach, starring Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davis. Plot The action in ''Haunted Spooks'' centres around Harold's romantic problems. It is se ...

'', directed by Alfred J. Goulding and

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr.Randy Skretvedt, Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, a ...

, starring

Harold Lloyd Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films.Obituary ''Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55. One of the most influential film co ...

*'' His Brother's Keeper'' (lost), directed by Wilfred NorthKinnard,Roy (1995). "Horror in Silent Films". McFarland and Company Inc. . Page 118. *''

The House of the Tolling Bell ''The House of the Tolling Bell'' is a 1920 American silent mystery film directed by J. Stuart Blackton and starring May McAvoy, Bruce Gordon, and Morgan Thorpe.Goble p. 467 It is based on a novel written by Edith Sessions Tupper. Cast * May ...

'', directed by

J. Stuart Blackton James Stuart Blackton (January 5, 1875 – August 13, 1941) was a British-American film producer and director of the silent era. One of the pioneers of motion pictures, he founded Vitagraph Studios in 1897. He was one of the first filmmakers to ...

, starring

May McAvoy May Irene McAvoy (September 8, 1899 – April 26, 1984) was an American actress who worked mainly during the silent-film era. Some of her major roles are Laura Pennington in '' The Enchanted Cottage'', Esther in '' Ben-Hur'', and Mary Dale ...

and Bruce Gordon, based on the novel by Edith Sessions Tupper *''

The House of Whispers ''The House of Whispers'' is a lost 1920 American silent mystery film directed by Ernest C. Warde and starring J. Warren Kerrigan, Joseph J. Dowling and Fritzi Brunette.Goble p.803 Cast * J. Warren Kerrigan as Spaulding Nelson * Joseph J. Do ...

'' (lost), directed by Ernest C. Warde, starring J. Warren Kerrigan, based on the 1918 novel by William Andrew Johnston *''Huckleberry Finn (1920 film), Huckleberry Finn'', directed by William Desmond Taylor, starring Lewis Sargent

I

*''If I Were King (1920 film), If I Were King'', directed by J. Gordon Edwards, starring William Farnum

J

*''The Jack-Knife Man'', directed by King Vidor *''Judy of Rogue's Harbor'' (lost), directed by William Desmond Taylor, starring Mary Miles Minter

L

*''Lady Rose's Daughter'' (lost), directed by Hugh Ford (director), Hugh Ford, starring Elsie Ferguson *''The Last of the Mohicans (1920 American film), The Last of the Mohicans'', directed by Maurice Tourneur and Clarence Brown, starring Wallace Beery and Barbara Bedford (actress), Barbara Bedford *''The Love Flower'', directed by D. W. Griffith, starring Richard Barthelmess and Carol Dempster *''Love Without Question'' (lost), directed by B. A. Rolfe, starring Olive tell, based on the 1917 novel ''The Abandoned Room'' by Charles Wadsworth Camp *''Luring Shadows (1920 film), Luring Shadows'', directed by Joseph Levering

M

*'' The Mark of Zorro'', directed by Fred Niblo, starring

, Marguerite De La Motte and Noah Beery Sr. *''The Master Mind (1920 film), The Master Mind'', directed by Kenneth Webb (director), Kenneth Webb, starring Lionel Barrymore *''The Mollycoddle'', directed by Victor Fleming, starring

and Wallace Beery *''The Mystery Mind'', a 15-chapter serial directed by William S. Davis and Fred Sittenham

N

*''Nomads of the North'', directed by David Hartford and James Oliver Curwood, starring Lon Chaney, Betty Blythe and Lewis Stone

O

*''Old Lady 31'', directed by John Ince (actor), John Ince, starring Emma Dunn *''One Hour Before Dawn'', directed by Henry King (director), Henry King, starring H. B. Warner and Anna Q. NilssonKinnard,Roy (1995). "Horror in Silent Films". McFarland and Company Inc. . Page 119. *''Outside the Law (1920 film), Outside the Law'', directed by Tod Browning, starring Priscilla Dean and Lon Chaney *''Over the Hill to the Poorhouse'', directed by Harry F. Millarde

P

*''The Penalty (1920 film), The Penalty'', directed by Wallace Worsley, starring Lon Chaney, based on the pulp novel by Gouverneur Morris (novelist), Gouverneur Morris *''The Phantom Foe'', a 15-chapter serial directed by Bertram Millhauser, starring Juanita Hansen and Warner Oland *''The Phantom Melody'' (lost), directed by Douglas Gerrard, starring Monroe SalisburyKinnard,Roy (1995). "Horror in Silent Films". McFarland and Company Inc. . Page 122. *''Pollyanna (1920 film), Pollyanna'', directed by Paul Powell (director), Paul Powell, starring

R

*''The Restless Sex'', directed by

, starring

*''Romance (1920 film), Romance'' (lost), directed by Chester Withey

S

*''The Screaming Shadow'' (lost), a 15-chapter serial directed by Ben F. Wilson and Duke Worne *''Sex (film), Sex'', directed by Fred Niblo, starring Louise Glaum *''Shipwrecked Among Cannibals'' (lost), documentary film directed by William F. Adler *''Something to Think About'', directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Gloria Swanson *''Stolen Moments (1920 film), Stolen Moments'', directed by James Vincent, starring Marguerite Namara and Rudolph Valentino *''Suds (film), Suds'', directed by John Francis Dillon (director), John Francis Dillon, starring

T

*''Treasure Island (1920 film), Treasure Island'' (lost), directed by Maurice Tourneur, starring Lon Chaney and Shirley Mason (actress), Shirley Mason

W

*''Way Down East'', directed by D. W. Griffith, starring Lillian Gish and Richard Barthelmess *''Within Our Gates'', directed by Oscar Micheaux, starring Evelyn Preer *''Why Change Your Wife?'', directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Gloria Swanson, Thomas Meighan and Bebe Daniels

Film serials

*''The Son of Tarzan (film), The Son of Tarzan'', a 15-chapter film series

Short film series

*''

'' (1913–1951) **''An Eastern Westerner'' **''Get Out and Get Under'' **''

'' **''High and Dizzy'' **''His Royal Slyness'' **''Number, Please? (1920 film), Number, Please?'' *''Buster Keaton'' (1917–1941) **''The Garage (1920 film), The Garage'' **''One Week (1920 film), One Week'' **''The Saphead'' **''Convict 13'' **''The Scarecrow (1920 film), The Scarecrow'' **''Neighbors (1920 film), Neighbors''

Animated short film series

The following is a list of animated shorts of the year 1920 that belong to series that lasted several years. *''Felix the Cat'' (1919–1936) **''A Frolic with Felix'' (January 25, 1920) **''Felix the Big Game Hunter'' (February 22, 1920) **''Wrecking a Romeo'' (March 7, 1920) **''Felix the Food Controller'' (April 11, 1920) **''Felix the Pinch Hitter'' (April 18, 1920) **''Foxy Felix'' (May 16, 1920) **''A Hungry Hoodoo'' (June 6, 1920) **''The Great Cheese Robbery'' (June 13, 1920) **''Felix and the Feed Bag'' (July 18, 1920) **''Nifty Nurse'' (August 22, 1920) **''The Circus'' (September 26, 1920) **''My Hero'' (October 24, 1920) **''Felix the Landlord'' (November 21, 1920) **''Felix's Fish Story'' (December 26, 1920) *''Out of the Inkwell'' (1918–1929) A major animated series of the silent era produced by Max Fleischer from 1918 to 1929 in which it appeared ''Koko the Clown'': *''The Boxing Kangaroo'' *''The Chinaman'' *''The Circus'' *''The Ouija Board'' *''The Clown's Little Brother'' *''Perpetual Motion'' *''Poker'' *''The Restaurant''

Births

*January 7 **Vincent Gardenia, actor (died 1992 in film, 1992) **Witold Sadowy, Polish actor died 2020 in film, 2020) *January 16 - Elliott Reid, American actor (died 2013 in film, 2013) *January 19 - Johnny Haymer, American actor (died 1989 in film, 1989) *January 20 **DeForest Kelley, actor (died 1999 in film, 1999) **Federico Fellini, film director (died 1993 in film, 1993) *January 24 - Jerry Maren, American actor (died 2018 in film, 2018) *January 27 – John Box, production designer, four-time Academy Awards, Oscar winner (died 2005 in film, 2005) *January 30 **Michael Anderson (director), Michael Anderson, director (died 2018 in film, 2018) **Delbert Mann, director (died 2007 in film, 2007) *February 8 – Bengt Ekerot, Swedish actor and director (died 1971 in film, 1971) *February 11 – Billy Halop, actor (died 1976 in film, 1976) *February 26 – Tony Randall, actor (died 2004 in film, 2004) *February 29 – Michèle Morgan, actress (died 2016 in film, 2016) *March 3 – James Doohan, actor (died 2005 in film, 2005) *March 6 – Lewis Gilbert, director (died 2018 in film, 2018) *March 16 – Leo McKern, actor (died 2002 in film, 2002) *March 19 – Paul Hagen, Danish actor (died 2003 in film, 2003) *March 22 ** Werner Klemperer, German actor (died 2000 in film, 2000) ** Ross Martin, Polish-American actor (died 1981 in film, 1981) *April 1 ** Toshiro Mifune, actor (died 1997 in film, 1997) ** Susanna Ramel, Swedish actress (died 2020 in film, 2020) *April 2 – Jack Webb, actor (died 1982 in film, 1982) *April 17 - Arnold Yarrow, retired English actor and screenwriter *April 20 – Gianrico Tedeschi, actor (died 2020 in film, 2020) *May 2 – Preben Neergaard, Danish actor (died 1990 in film, 1990) *May 7 – Rendra Karno, Indonesian actor (died 1985 in film, 1985) *May 11 – Denver Pyle, actor (died 1997 in film, 1997) *May 16 – Martine Carol, actress (died 1967 in film, 1967) *May 20 – Virginia Vale, actress (died 2006 in film, 2006) *May 26 ** John Dall, American actor (died 1971 in film, 1971) ** Peggy Lee, singer, songwriter, actress (died 2002 in film, 2002) *May 29 – Clifton James, actor (died 2017 in film, 2017) *June 1 - Alethea McGrath, Australian actress and comedian (died 2016 in film, 2016) *June 12 – Jim Siedow, American actor (died 2003 in film, 2003) *June 13 – Rex Everhart, American actor (died 2000 in film, 2000) *June 15 – Alberto Sordi, Italian actor (died 2003 in film, 2003) *June 17 – Setsuko Hara, Japanese film actress (died 2015 in film, 2015) *June 18 – Ian Carmichael, English stage, film and television actor (died 2010 in film, 2010) *June 29 – Ray Harryhausen, producer, visual effects artist (died 2013 in film, 2013) *July 1 – Harold Sakata, American film actor (died 1982 in film, 1982) *July 5 - Viola Harris, American actress (died 2017 in film, 2017) *July 11 – Yul Brynner, actor (died 1985 in film, 1985) *July 12 – Keith Andes, American actor (died 2005 in film, 2005) *July 16 – Phillip Pine, American actor (died 2006 in film, 2006) *July 28 – Andrew V. McLaglen, film & TV director, son of Victor McLaglen (died 2014) *July 29 – Rodolfo Acosta, actor (died 1974 in film, 1974) *July 31 – Franca Valeri, actress (died 2020 in film, 2020) *August 6 – Ella Raines, actress (died 1988 in film, 1988) *August 8 - Dominique Marcas, French actress (died 2022 in film, 2022) *August 13 – Neville Brand, actor (died 1992 in film, 1992) *August 17 – Maureen O'Hara, actress (died 2015 in film, 2015) *August 18 – Shelley Winters, actress (died 2006 in film, 2006) *August 22 – Ray Bradbury, writer (died 2012 in film, 2012) *August 30 - Leonid Shvartsman, Russian animator (died 2022 in film, 2022) *August 31 - G. D. Spradlin, American actor (died 2011 in film, 2011) *September 1 - Richard Farnsworth, American actor and stuntman (died 2000 in film, 2000) *September 9 - Ardeshir Kazemi, Iranian actor *September 18 – Jack Warden, actor (died 2006 in film, 2006) *September 23 – Mickey Rooney, actor (died 2014 in film, 2014) *September 26 – Barbara Britton, actress (died 1980 in film, 1980) *September 27 – William Conrad, actor (died 1994 in film, 1994) *October 1 – Walter Matthau, actor (died 2000 in film, 2000) *October 9 - Jason Wingreen, American actor (died 2015 in film, 2015) *October 10 - Noah Keen, actor (died 2019 in film, 2019) *October 13 – Laraine Day, actress (died 2007 in film, 2007) *October 15 - Mario Puzo, American author and screenwriter (died 1999 in film, 1999) *October 17 – Montgomery Clift, actor (died 1966 in film, 1966) *October 18 – Melina Mercouri, actress (died 1994 in film, 1994) *October 19 - LaWanda Page, American actress and comedian (died 2002 in film, 2002) *October 21 **Hy Averback, actor (died 1997 in film, 1997) **Ruth Terry, actress, singer (died 2016 in film, 2016) *October 22 – Mitzi Green, actress (died 1969 in film, 1969) *October 27 – Nanette Fabray, actress (died 2018 in film, 2018) *October 29 - Hilda Bernard, Argentine actress (died 2022 in film, 2022) *November 10 – Jennifer Holt, actress (died 1997 in film, 1997) *November 13 – Jack Elam, actor (died 2003 in film, 2003) *November 19 – Gene Tierney, actress (died 1991 in film, 1991) *November 21 – Ralph Meeker, actor (died 1988 in film, 1988) *November 25 **Shelagh Fraser, English actress (died 2000 in film, 2000) **Ricardo Montalbán, actor (died 2009 in film, 2009) **Noel Neill, actress (died 2016 in film, 2016) *November 30 – Virginia Mayo, actress (died 2005 in film, 2005) *December 7 – Frances Gifford, actress (died 1994 in film, 1994) *December 29 – Viveca Lindfors, actress (died 1995 in film, 1995) *December 30 – Jack Lord, actor (died 1998 in film, 1998) *December 31 – Rex Allen, American cowboy actor, singer (died 1999 in film, 1999)

Deaths

* January 31 – Gilda Langer, 23, German actress * February 11 – Gaby Deslys, 38, French actress, dancer, singer * February 17 – Thomas Commerford, 64, American veteran character actor * March 2 – Harry Solter, 46, American actor * April 12 – Walter Edwards (director), Walter Edwards, 50, American director * April 25 – Clarine Seymour, 21, American actress * May 22 – Hal Reid (actor), Hal Reid, 59, American actor & director (father of Wallace Reid) * June 14 – Gabrielle Réjane, 64, stage and film actress * August 1 – Eugene Gaudio, 33, Italian born cinematographer (brother of Tony Gaudio) * August 2 – Ormer Locklear, 29, American stunt flier * August 13 – Gladys Field, 31, actress (died in childbirth) * August 28 – Suzanne Grandais, 27, French actress * September 5 – Robert Harron, 27, American actor * September 10 –

, 25, American actress * November 19 – Will S. Davis, 38, American film director * December 9 – Mollie McConnell, 55, American actress

Film debuts

* Mary Astor * Madge Bellamy * Charles Boyer *

* Alfred Hitchcock – director * Barbara La Marr * Victor McLaglen * Nita Naldi * Claude Rains * Otis Skinner * Cornelia Otis Skinner

Films set in 1920

There are films released in later years whose plot is developed totally or partially in 1920: *''Manhattan Melodrama'' (1934) *''Winterset (film), Winterset'' (1936) *''The Road Back (film), The Road Back'' (1937) *''Clash of Loyalties'' (1938) *''Three Comrades (1938 film), Three Comrades'' (1938) *''Hostile Whirlwinds'' (1953): Film portrays the first years of Soviet government, biography of Felix Dzerzhinsky in 1918–1921. *''Kappalottiya Thamizhan'' (1961) *''The Ball of Count Orgel'' (1970): Set in 1920, the Comte hosts a soirée and dance for the upper echelons of Parisian society. *''Vengeance (1970 film), Vengeance'' (1970): The film is set in 1920 Peking, and centers on a revenge plight of Chiang. *''Reds (film), Reds'' (1981) *''Once Upon a Time in America'' (1984): David "Noodles" Aaronson struggles as a street kid in Manhattan's Lower East Side in 1920. *''The Man Who Planted Trees (film), The Man Who Planted Trees'' (1987) *''A Month in the Country (film), A Month in the Country'' (1987): Set in rural Yorkshire during the summer of 1920, the film follows a destitute World War I veteran employed to carry out restoration work on a Medieval mural discovered in a rural church while coming to terms with the after-effects of the war. *''Life and Nothing But'' (1989): Set in October 1920, it tells the story of Major Delaplane, a man whose job is to find the identities of unknown dead soldiers after World War I. *''The Treaty (film), The Treaty'' (1991): The film is about the Anglo-Irish Treaty that Michael Collins (Irish leader), Michael Collins bargained for with the British government in 1921. *''Michael Collins (film), Michael Collins'' (1996) *''The Image Makers'' (2000): The drama is set in the year 1920 at Filmstaden where the film director

is shooting the film ''

''. *''The Admiral (2008 film), The Admiral'' (2008) *''1920 (film series), 1920 film series'' (2008–2016) ::''1920 (film), 1920'' (2008) ::''1920: The Evil Returns'' (2012) ::''1920: London'' (2016) *''Battle of Warsaw 1920'' (2011) *''Sunstroke (2014 film), Sunstroke'' (2014)

References

{{1920 films 1920 in film, Film by year