List of 10 Box Office Films of the 1920s

 In the early 1920s, many independent directors moved to Hollywood, which brought remarkable developments to the Hollywood film industry. Several genres and stars began to emerge, especially in Western and comedy genres, such as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton.

Here is a list of films included in the Top 10 Box Office Films of the 1920s:

 

(Source: Bergan, Ronald. (2011). The Film Book: A Complete Guide to the World of Film. New York. DK Publishing.)

1. The Big Parade (King Vidor, US, 1925)

This film is a silent war-themed movie written by a former World War II soldier, Laurence Stalling. The sound version was produced in 1930. However, this sound version still had no dialogue, only added background music and sound effects. Unfortunately, the silent film version disappeared after the sound version was released.

The film tells the story of Jim Apperson, a wealthy young man who joins the army during World War II. While serving in France, Jim falls in love with a local woman named Melisande. However, peace does not last long.

The war intensifies, forcing Jim to fight on the front lines. Both of his friends die, and Jim returns home with wounds and trauma left on him. Jim must return to the US, but his experience changes everything.

Jim can no longer return to his life before the war, and his relationship with his fiancée is no longer the same. He cannot forget Melisande and finally decides to return to France. Their reunion gives new hope to their lives.

 

2. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Rex Ingram, US, 1921)

This film is a silent war-themed movie adapted from the 1916 Spanish novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez. The film made a significant impact and successfully surpassed Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid. It was remade in 1962, with the setting changed to World War II.

The story revolves around the Madariaga family in Argentina, which has in-laws from German and French families. During World War I, Julio, who previously lived freely in France, decides to fight against Germany and defend France. This causes the family to lose both sides. Julio’s sacrifice on the battlefield brings sorrow as well as spiritual awakening, symbolized by the Four Horsemen—representing war, conquest, famine, and death—riding across the shattered world as a warning of human destruction.

 

3. Ben-Hur (Fred Niblo, US, 1925)

This film is a silent epic adventure drama. It is adapted from the 1880 novel titled Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by General Lew Wallace. The story was previously adapted into a short film in 1907.

The film tells the story of Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jew in Jerusalem. However, his childhood friend, Messala, betrays him. This causes Judah to become a slave, and his mother and sister are imprisoned. Yet, Judah vows to survive and return.

Judah, who endures the harshness of life, is adopted by a Roman commander after saving him during a sea battle. Having trained, Judah is able to take revenge on Messala.

Judah learns that his mother and sister are still alive but suffer from leprosy. Witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus, he experiences a spiritual awakening. His family is healed, and Judah finds peace through forgiveness.

 

4. The Ten Commandments (Cecil B. DeMille, US, 1923)

This film is a silent religious movie. It is divided into two parts: a prologue that retells the Biblical story of the Exodus and a modern story about two brothers and their respective views on the Ten Commandments. This film is part of the Biblical Trilogy, followed by The King of Kings (1927) and The Sign of the Cross (1932).

The scene opens with the Exodus story from the Bible. It depicts Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt and receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. These commandments emphasize divine law as the foundation for a moral life.

In the modern story, there are two brothers, John and Dan McTavish, who live opposite lives. John obeys God’s commandments, while Dan does the opposite. Dan pursues wealth and pleasure through dishonest means, including stealing from their mother and committing adultery.

Dan’s way of life leads him to destruction, including crime, death, and personal tragedy. Conversely, John’s faith and moral integrity result in a better life. The film serves as a moral warning and demonstrates the consequences of breaking God’s law and the redeeming power of following it.

 

5. What Price Glory (Raoul Walsh, US, 1926)

This film is the last silent film released as sound film technology began to emerge. However, it did not use dialogue sound, only music or sound effects as additions. The film is based on a 1924 play by Maxwell Anderson and Laurence Stallings. A remake was released in 1952.

Set during World War I, U.S. Marine officers Captain Flagg and Sergeant Quirt are stationed in a village in France. They do not have a good relationship and often quarrel, mostly over women. However, they still try to maintain order among their troops.

Both men fall in love with the same woman, Charmaine, the innkeeper’s daughter. The tension between them parallels the escalating war, putting their unit’s cohesion and friendship at risk.

The battle forces Flagg and Quirt to put aside their personal issues. Gradually, their relationship improves through the sacrifices they make together, although the love issue remains unresolved.

 

6. The Covered Wagon (James Cruze, US, 1923)

This film is a silent Western. It is adapted from the 1922 novel of the same name by Emerson Hough. The film required many actors and extras, and filming took place in several different locations. Additionally, seven bison were sacrificed during filming.

In 1848, two large covered wagons set out from Missouri to Oregon. One of them is led by Will Banion, a mysterious and brave former soldier who is part of a group led by Sam Woodhull. Will’s leadership skills impress many, including Molly Wingate. However, this causes Woodhull to become jealous.

As the journey becomes more dangerous, Will faces false accusations from Woodhull that shake the trust of the group. Molly faces an internal conflict between her feelings for Will and her loyalty to her family. Meanwhile, conditions worsen.

Will proves himself by helping to save the group from an attack. His past is revealed, clearing his name. Molly finally chooses her feelings for Will. They arrive safely in Oregon.

 

7. Way Down East (D. W. Griffith, US, 1920)

This film is a silent melodrama. It is one of the adaptations made from the play of the same name by Lottie Blair Parker. Previously, two silent films and a sound version in 1935 were also adapted from this play. The film received many censorship cuts from the American censorship board, which may have made the story flow somewhat unevenly.

Anna Moore, a village girl, goes to visit her wealthy relatives in the city at her mother’s urging. They hope this will help her financially. However, Anna falls victim to a wealthy playboy named Lennox Sanderson, who tricks her into a fake marriage. Anna is unaware of this and eventually becomes pregnant, leading to Sanderson’s departure. After losing her baby, Anna leaves the city and tries to start a new life.

Anna then works on the Bartlett farm in rural England, hiding her past. The Bartlett family accepts her kindly, and Anna falls in love with their son, David. However, Sanderson suddenly appears and threatens to reveal Anna’s past. This causes the Bartlett family to expel Anna in the middle of a snowstorm.

Anna loses consciousness and drifts down a river, nearly going over a waterfall before being rescued by David. Realizing Anna’s suffering, the Bartlett family finally accepts her back into their family. Anna and David are united in the end.

 

8. The Singing Fool (Lloyd Bacon, US, 1928)

This film is one of the early movies to use sound. Al Jolson stars in this film following his role in another sound film, The Jazz Singer (1927). The film combines dialogue, music, and singing, making it a milestone in the history of sound films.

Al Stone, a singer-songwriter working in a nightclub, has a big dream of becoming a successful singer. He falls in love and marries a dancer, Grace, sharing his dreams with her. Gradually, the path to success opens as he gets to perform on stage, and happiness grows when they have a son, Sonny Boy.

However, this happiness does not last long. Despite Al’s rising fame, Grace chooses to leave him and takes their son. Al continues to pursue his dreams, though his longing for his child haunts him. He eventually reunites with Sonny, but shortly after, Sonny falls seriously ill and dies.

Sonny’s death deeply affects Al, who chooses to pour out his heart in a song titled "Sonny Boy." The song becomes a hit and a source of healing for him. Through music, Al transforms his personal sorrow into artistic triumph.

 

9. Wings (William A. Wellman, US, 1927)

Wings is the first sound film without dialogue to win the Best Picture award at the Academy Awards (the first Oscars in 1929). The film also used innovative aerial cinematography with real airplanes in flight. Even the actors, including Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Richard Arlen, had to fly real planes, act, and film close-up shots themselves, which was certainly very dangerous.

During World War I, Jack and David, who come from different family backgrounds, both dream of becoming fighter pilots. They also fall in love with the same woman, Sylvia Lewis, who loves David. Meanwhile, Jack is unaware that Mary, a woman he considers a friend, secretly likes him.

Their experiences during training and war make Jack and David close friends. Mary joins the war as an ambulance driver and accidentally meets Jack. Mary tries to express her feelings, but Jack is too drunk to notice. Mary is sent home after being found in Jack’s room. Jack and David continue fighting as respected fighter pilots.

In the midst of an intense aerial battle, Jack accidentally shoots down David’s plane. David was flying a stolen enemy plane, which Jack did not know. Jack brings David’s body home and tells his family everything. Jack realizes Mary’s feelings, and they try to start a new life together.

 

10. The Gold Rush (Charlie Chaplin, US, 1925)

This film is a silent movie with intertitles and live or recorded background music. It was re-released in 1942 with added background music and a new recorded narration sung by Chaplin himself. One of the most famous scenes in The Gold Rush is the "dance of the rolls," where Chaplin performs a unique ballet using two dinner rolls on forks. Interestingly, Chaplin had to do more than 60 takes to get the "roll dance" just right.

The Little Tramp goes to the frozen Alaskan wilderness to seek fortune but gets trapped in a snowstorm. He finds shelter in a small cabin with two others: Big Jim, who has found gold, and Black Larsen, a dangerous fugitive. To stave off hunger, the Little Tramp boils and eats his shoe.

The Tramp goes to a mining town and falls in love with a dancer named Georgia. However, misunderstandings arise between them, leaving the Tramp disappointed and heartbroken. The Tramp meets Big Jim, who has lost his memory after being robbed by Larsen. With partial memories of the gold mine’s location, the Tramp helps Big Jim find it again.

They return to the mountain, find the lost cabin, and become wealthy. The Tramp is now on a luxury ship. However, for an interview, he must wear his old clothes. In a touching final moment, Georgia, who had thought the Tramp was poor, learns the truth—they embrace and are finally united in love and success.

 

Yup. Those are the ten films on the 1920s box office list. Although most are silent films, the stories are quite interesting with diverse themes. So, are you interested in watching them?

 

(Aluna)