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".
Donald William Crisp was an English film actor as well as an early producer, director and screenwriter. His career lasted from the early silent film era into the 1960s. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1942 for his performance in How Green Was My Valley.
The Buzzard's Shadow is a 1915 American silent military drama film directed by Thomas Ricketts starring Harold Lockwood and May Allison. U.S. troops appear in the film, which was shot in San Diego at the San Diego Military Reservation.
The Other Side of the Door is a 1916 American silent romantic drama film directed by Tom Ricketts. Based on the novel of the same name by Lucia Chamberlain, it stars Harold Lockwood and May Allison.
'The Virginian' is a 1914 American silent Western film based on the 1902 novel The Virginian by Owen Wister. The film was adapted from the successful 1903–04 theatre play The Virginian, on which Wister had collaborated with playwright Kirke La Shelle. The Virginian starred Dustin Farnum in the title role, a role he reprised from the original play. It was directed by Cecil B. DeMille.
Dick La Reno was an American film actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1914 and 1931. He was born in Ireland and died in Hollywood, California.
Rose of the Rancho is a 1914 American silent Western film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. It is based upon the play of the same name by David Belasco and Richard Walton Tully. The film cost $16,988 to make, and grossed $87,028. A 35mm print of this film exists in the George Eastman House film archive. The film was remade in 1936 by Paramount and starred John Boles and Gladys Swarthout.
The Inner Circle is a 1912 American silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith, starring Mary Pickford and Blanche Sweet. A print of the short survives in the film archive of the Library of Congress.
Hearts Adrift is a 1914 American silent short romance film directed by Edwin S. Porter. The film is now considered lost.
A Girl of Yesterday is a 1915 American silent comedy film directed by Allan Dwan, and distributed by Paramount Pictures and Famous Players–Lasky. The film starred Mary Pickford as an older woman. Before this film, Pickford was mainly cast in "little girl" roles which were popular with the public. A Girl of Yesterday costarred Pickford's younger brother Jack, Marshall Neilan, Donald Crisp and Frances Marion, who later became a prolific screenwriter. Real life aviation pioneer Glenn L. Martin also made a cameo in the film.
Winifred Kingston was a British-born American silent film actress.
The Conspiracy is a 1914 American drama silent film directed by Allan Dwan and adapted from the Robert M. Baker and John Emerson play of the same name. The film stars John Emerson, Lois Meredith, Harold Lockwood, Iva Shepard, Francis Byrne and Hal Clarendon. The film was released on December 10, 1914, by Paramount Pictures.
Cameo Kirby is a 1914 American drama silent film directed by Oscar Apfel and written by Clara Beranger and William C. deMille. The film stars Dustin Farnum, Fred Montague, James Neill, Jode Mullally, Winifred Kingston and Dick La Reno. It is based on the play Cameo Kirby by Booth Tarkington and Harry Leon Wilson. The film was released on December 24, 1914, by Paramount Pictures.
The Commanding Officer is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan that was based upon a play by Theodore Burt. The film stars Alice Dovey, Donald Crisp, Marshall Neilan, Douglas Gerrard, Ethel Phillips, Russell Bassett, and Bob Emmons. The film was released on March 25, 1915, by Paramount Pictures.
May Blossom is a 1915 American silent drama film directed by Allan Dwan and written by David Belasco based upon his 1884 play. The film stars Russell Bassett, Donald Crisp, Marshall Neilan, Gertrude Norman, and Gertrude Robinson. The film was released on April 15, 1915, by Paramount Pictures.
Captain Courtesy is a lost 1915 American silent drama film directed by Phillips Smalley and Lois Weber based upon a novel by Edward Childs Carpenter. The film stars Dustin Farnum, Courtenay Foote, Winifred Kingston, Herbert Standing, and Jack Hoxie. The film was released on April 19, 1915, by Paramount Pictures.
The Gentleman from Indiana is a surviving 1915 American silent drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and written by Julia Crawford Ivers and Frank Lloyd after the novel by Booth Tarkington. The film stars Dustin Farnum, Winifred Kingston, Herbert Standing, Page Peters, Howard Davies, and Juan de la Cruz. The film was released on November 28, 1915, by Paramount Pictures.
Seventeen is a lost 1916 American comedy silent film directed by Robert G. Vignola and written by Booth Tarkington and Harvey F. Thew. It is based on Tarkington's novel of the same name which was published earlier the same year. The film stars Louise Huff, Jack Pickford, Winifred Allen, Madge Evans, Walter Hiers, and Dick Lee. The film was released on November 2, 1916 by Paramount Pictures.
Winifred Dunn was an American screenwriter, editor, radio scenario writer, and art critic in the early 20th century. She was one of the youngest scenario editors of the silent era and was credited with writing over 40 productions.
Majestic Film Company, also known as Majestic Motion Pictures, was a film studio established in 1911. It became an affiliate of the Mutual Film Corporation and was combined with Reliance Film Company to form Reliance-Majestic Studios.
