5 Memorable Movies from the 1920s

Do you enjoy watching old films? I do. I developed a passion for them in college when I took a literature through film class. Some of the films that I enjoyed watching were released in the 1920s. I found the movies from that decade interesting because some were silent and others had dialog. With that said, here are my picks for five of the decade’s most memorable films:

“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”

The 1920, silent version of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is one flick that I found memorable. It was directed by John S. Robertson and starred the venerable John Barrymore. In the film, Barrymore had the task of playing the good and not so good doctor. Personally, I thought that his depiction of the character was masterful, especially during the final death scene.

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame”

The 1923 version of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” was also a silent film. It was directed by Wallace Worsley and starred one of my favorite actors, Lon Chaney. The storyline focused on a disabled man and his involvement with the adopted daughter of a king. In my opinion, Chaney’s portrayal of Quasimodo was absolutely brilliant. I really appreciated his ability to adeptly convey the character’s emotions with his body language. I also thought that the final scene with the ringing bell was powerful.

“The 10 Commandments”

“The 10 Commandments” was also released in 1923. It was silent too. Part of the film focused on the story of Moses. The other portion of the film focused on the morality of two siblings. It was directed by the renowned Cecil B. De Mille and had a great cast. Theodore Roberts played Moses and Charles De Roche played the role of Ramses. I thought that both men gave riveting performances for their time. I liked Rod La Rocque and Richard Dix’s performances as the two siblings as well.

“The Jazz Singer”

For me, the 1927 release of the “The Jazz Singer” was particularly memorable for one main reason. It had sound. Thus, it marked the transition from silent films to “talkies.” I also found it noteworthy because of the storyline. It focused on a Jewish boy who decides to be a singer against his father’s wishes. The film was directed by Alan Crosland and starred such popular artists as Al Jolson and Eugenie Besserer.

“The Taming of the Shrew”

The 1929 version of “The Taming of the Shrew” was also a “talkie.” The film’s storyline focused on one man’s pursuit of a wealthy, strong-willed woman. It was directed by Sam Taylor and starred such notable artists as Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. Fairbanks portrayed the suitor and Pickford portrayed the strong-willed woman. Even though the film wasn’t necessarily well received at the time, I enjoyed watching it. I particularly liked Pickford’s final wink. I think that it was well done.

Source: Personal Experience

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