1917 in film was a particularly fruitful year for the art form, and is often cited as one of the years in the decade which contributed to the medium the most, along with 1913. Secondarily the year saw a limited global embrace of narrative film-making and featured innovative techniques such as continuity cutting. Primarily, the year is an American landmark, as 1917 is the first year where the narrative and visual style is typified as "Classical Hollywood".
Camille is a 1917 American silent film based on the play adaptation of La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils, first published in French as a novel in 1848 and as a play in 1852. Adapted for the screen by Adrian Johnson, Camille was directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starred Theda Bara as Camille and Albert Roscoe as her lover, Armand.
The Golden Web is a lost 1926 American silent mystery film directed by Walter Lang and starring Lillian Rich, Huntley Gordon and Lawford Davidson. The cast also features Boris Karloff before he established himself as a horror star. It is based on the 1910 novel The Golden Web by the British writer E. Phillips Oppenheim. A previous British film adaptation of the novel was produced in 1920.
Romeo and Juliet is a 1916 American silent romantic drama film directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starring Theda Bara. The film was based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and was produced by the Fox Film Corporation. The film was shot at the Fox Studio in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and is now considered to be lost.
Robert Bruce Mantell was a noted Shakespearean stage actor who made several silent films. His mother was Elizabeth Bruce Mantell who objected to her son becoming an actor so he used the name Robert Hudson early in his career.
(For the 1929 talkie see The Isle of Lost Ships )
The Woman in White is a 1929 British silent mystery film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Blanche Sweet, Haddon Mason and Cecil Humphreys. It was written by Robert Cullen and Herbert Wilcox, based on the 1859 mystery novel The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.
Under the Red Robe is a 1923 American silent historical drama film directed by Alan Crosland based upon the Stanley Weyman novel Under the Red Robe. The film marks the last motion picture appearance by stage actor Robert B. Mantell who plays Cardinal Richelieu and the only silent screen performance of opera singer John Charles Thomas.
Treasure Island is a 1918 American silent adventure film based on the 1883 novel of the same name by Robert Louis Stevenson. This is one of many silent versions of the story and is noteworthy because it is almost entirely acted by child or teenage actors. The film was co-directed by brothers Sidney and Chester Franklin. The film is one of Fox's Sunset Kiddies productions following in the wake of previous Kiddie productions like Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp. This is a lost film.
The City is a 1926 American silent romantic drama film produced and released by the Fox Film Corporation. It was directed by Roy William Neill and is based on Clyde Fitch's 1909 Broadway play. A previous film on Fitch's play appeared in 1916. This version updated the story to contemporary 1926.
Contraband is a lost 1925 silent film produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Alan Crosland directed and Lois Wilson stars. The film is taken from a novel, Contraband, by Charles Buddington Kelland. It was the last film directed by Alan Crosland in co-operation with the distributor, Paramount Pictures.
A Wife's Sacrifice is a lost 1916 American silent drama film directed by J. Gordon Edwards and produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation.
The Heart of a Lion is a lost 1917 silent film drama directed by Frank Lloyd and starring William Farnum. Fox Film Corporation produced and distributed the movie. It is based on a novel by Ralph Connor.
The Last of the Duanes is a lost 1919 silent film western directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starring William Farnum. It is based on the 1914 novel Last of the Duanes by author Zane Grey. The Fox Film Corporation produced and distributed the film.
Oliver Twist is a 1912 silent feature film drama based on Charles Dickens' classic 1838 novel Oliver Twist. This film is the first feature version of the story followed by a later British film released in October 1912. Nat C. Goodwin, a distinguished comedian from the Broadway stage, stars. The General Film Company, usually a distributor, produced this film and it was released on State Rights basis.
The Green-Eyed Monster is a lost 1916 silent film drama directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starring Robert B. Mantell.
Genevieve Hamper was an American stage and screen actress.
Louise Rial was an American stage and film actress.
The Blindness of Devotion is a lost 1915 silent film drama directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starring Robert B. Mantell and Genevieve Hamper. It was produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation.
Big Timber is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by George Melford and starring William Desmond, Olive Hasbrouck and Betty Francisco. It is adapted from a 1913 novel The Heart of the Night Wind by Vingie E. Roe. It is not a remake of the 1917 film of the same title, itself based on a novel by Bertrand William Sinclair.
