The following is an overview of 1921 in film, including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths.

Top-grossing films (U.S.)

The top seven films released in 1921 by U.S. gross are as follows:

Events

*January 21 – The silent comedy drama ''

The Kid The Kid or The Kids may refer to: Fictional characters * The kid (''Blood Meridian''), a character in Cormac McCarthy's 1985 novel ''Blood Meridian'' * The Kid (''The Matrix''), a character in the ''Matrix'' film series * The Kid (''The Stand'' ...

'', written by, produced by, directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin (in his Tramp character) – his first full-length film as a director – and featuring Jackie Coogan, is released in the United States. It is the year's second-highest-grossing film. *March 6 – The silent epic

war film War film is a film genre concerned with warfare, typically about navy, naval, air force, air, or army, land battles, with combat scenes central to the drama. It has been strongly associated with the 20th century. The fateful nature of battle s ...

'' The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse'', adapted for the screen by

June Mathis June Mathis (born June Beulah Hughes, January 30, 1887 – July 26, 1927) was an American screenwriter. Mathis was the first female executive for Metro/MGM and at only 35, she was the highest paid executive in Hollywood. In 1926 she was voted ...

, is released in the United States. It is the year's highest-grossing film (and the sixth-best-grossing silent film of all time), propels Rudolph Valentino to stardom and inspires a

tango Tango is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay. The tango was born in the impoverished port areas of these countries as the result of a combina ...

craze and a fashion for

gaucho A gaucho () or gaúcho () is a skilled horseman, reputed to be brave and unruly. The figure of the gaucho is a folk symbol of Argentina, Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, and the south of Chilean Patagonia. Gauchos became greatly admired and ...

pants. *August 29 – Broadway's first $1 million theatre, Loew's State opens. *September 5 – Popular comedian

Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle Roscoe Conkling "Fatty" Arbuckle (; March 24, 1887 – June 29, 1933) was an American silent film actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He started at the Selig Polyscope Company and eventually moved to Keystone Studios, where he worked w ...

attends a party at the

St. Francis Hotel The Westin St. Francis, formerly known as St. Francis Hotel, is a hotel located on Powell and Geary Streets on Union Square, San Francisco, California. The two 12-story south wings of the hotel were built in 1904, and the double-width north wing ...

, San Francisco, during which actress

Virginia Rappe Virginia Caroline Rappe (; July 7, 1891 – September 9, 1921) was an American model and silent film actress. Working mostly in bit parts, Rappe died after attending a party with actor Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, who was accused of manslaughter a ...

is fatally injured; although he is eventually acquitted of rape and manslaughter, the scandal derails his career. *October 21 –

George Melford George H. Melford (born George Henry Knauff, February 19, 1877 – April 25, 1961) was an American stage and film actor and director. Often taken for granted as a director today, the stalwart Melford's name by the 1920s was, like Cecil B. DeMil ...

's silent film '' The Sheik'', which enhances leading actor Rudolph Valentino's international reputation as a

Latin lover Latin lover is a stereotypical stock character, part of the Hollywood star system. It appeared for the first time in Hollywood in the 1920s and, for the most part, lost popularity during World War II. In time, the type evolved, developing var ...

, is premiered in Los Angeles. Within the first year of its release, it exceeds $1 million in ticket sales. *October 26 – The

Chicago Theatre The Chicago Theatre, originally known as the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre, is a landmark theater located on North State Street in the Loop area of Chicago, Illinois. Built in 1921, the Chicago Theatre was the flagship for the Balaban a ...

, which will be the oldest surviving French-style

Baroque Revival The Baroque Revival, also known as Neo-Baroque (or Second Empire architecture in France and Wilhelminism in Germany), was an architectural style of the late 19th century. The term is used to describe architecture and architectural sculptu ...

grand movie palace, opens. *The

experimental An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when a ...

short

documentary film A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record". Bill Nichols has characterized the documentary in te ...

Manhatta ''Manhatta'' (1921) is a short documentary film directed by painter Charles Sheeler and photographer Paul Strand. Production background ''Manhatta'' documents the look of early 20th-century Manhattan. With the city as subject, the film consist ...

'' is shot by painter Charles Sheeler and photographer

Paul Strand Paul Strand (October 16, 1890 – March 31, 1976) was an American photographer and filmmaker who, along with fellow modernist photographers like Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Weston, helped establish photography as an art form in the 20th century. ...

in New York City.

Notable films released in 1921

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

unless stated.

A

*'' The Ace of Hearts'', directed by

Wallace Worsley Wallace A. Worsley, Sr. (December 8, 1878 – March 26, 1944) was an American stage actor who became a film director in the silent era. During his career, Worsley directed 29 films and acted in 7 films. He directed several motion pictures sta ...

, starring

Lon Chaney Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...

and

Leatrice Joy Leatrice Joy (born Leatrice Johanna Zeidler; November 7, 1893 – May 13, 1985) was an American actress most prolific during the silent film era. Early life Joy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to dentist Edward Joseph Zeidler, who was o ...

*''

Action Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fil ...

'' (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

Hoot Gibson Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson (August 6, 1892 – August 23, 1962) was an American rodeo champion, film actor, film director, and producer. While acting and stunt work began as a sideline to Gibson's focus on rodeo, he successfully transitioned ...

*''

The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick ''The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick'' is a 1921 British silent film, silent comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley based on the 1837 novel ''The Pickwick Papers'' by Charles Dickens. As of August 2010, the film is missing from the BFI National Arch ...

'' (lost), 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

Frederick Volpe Frederick Volpe (31 July 1865 – 7 March 1932), sometimes printed Volpé, was an English actor. He made his stage debut in his early twenties. From 1894 until his death he was a familiar figure on the West End stage, generally in undemanding co ...

– ( GB) *''

The Adventures of Tarzan ''The Adventures of Tarzan'' (1921) is a 15 chapter movie serial which features the third and final appearance of Elmo Lincoln as Tarzan. The serial was produced by Louis Weiss, written by Robert F. Hill and Lillian Valentine (partially b ...

'', 15-part serial directed by Robert F. Hill and

Scott Sidney Scott Sidney (1872 – 20 July 1928), born Harry Wilbur Siggins, was an American film director. He directed 117 films between 1913 and 1927. He died in London, England, United Kingdom. Selected filmography Director * ''The Adventures of ...

, starring

Elmo Lincoln Elmo Lincoln (born Otto Elmo Linkenhelt; February 6, 1889June 27, 1952) was an American stage and film actor whose career in motion pictures spanned the silent and sound eras. He performed in over 100 screen productions between 1913 and 1952 an ...

*''

The Affairs of Anatol ''The Affairs of Anatol'' is a 1921 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Wallace Reid and Gloria Swanson. The film is based on the 1893 play '' Anatol'' by Arthur Schnitzler. Plot Socialite Anatol Spencer ...

'', directed by

Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American film director, producer and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of the American cine ...

, starring Wallace Reid and

Gloria Swanson Gloria May Josephine Swanson (March 27, 1899April 4, 1983) was an American actress and producer. She first achieved fame acting in dozens of silent films in the 1920s and was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, most f ...

*'' After Midnight'', directed by

Ralph Ince Ralph Waldo Ince (January 16, 1887 – April 10, 1937) was an American pioneer film actor, director and screenwriter whose career began near the dawn of the silent film, silent film era. Ralph Ince was the brother of John Ince (actor), John E. I ...

*'' After Your Own Heart'', directed by

George Marshall George Catlett Marshall Jr. (December 31, 1880 – October 16, 1959) was an American army officer and statesman. He rose through the United States Army to become Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Chief of Staff of the US Army under Pre ...

, starring

Tom Mix Thomas Edwin Mix (born Thomas Hezikiah Mix; January 6, 1880 – October 12, 1940) was an American film actor and the star of many early Western films between 1909 and 1935. He appeared in 291 films, all but nine of which were silent films. He w ...

*''

All Soul's Eve ''All Souls' Eve'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Chester M. Franklin and starring Mary Miles Minter. The film is based on the mystical 1920 Broadway play of the same name by Anne Crawford Flexner, with a story by Elmer Blane ...

'' (lost), directed by Chester M. Franklin, starring

Mary Miles Minter Mary Miles Minter (born Juliet Reilly; April 25, 1902Louisiana Birth Certificate, Caddo Parish, No. 119, Book A, Page 97, Birth Date: April 25, 1902, Name: Mary M. Reilly ic – Original Caddo birth record was recorded as "J.H. Riley's Child" ...

and Jack Holt, based on the 1920 stage play by Anne Crawford Flexner *''

Among Those Present ''Among Those Present'' is a 1921 American "three-reeler" silent comedy film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis and Mary Pickford . Plot Mrs. O'Brien (Herring) is eager to be accepted as part of high societ ...

'', directed by Fred C. Newmeyer, 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 c ...

*'' L'Atlantide'', directed by

Jacques Feyder Jacques Feyder (; 21 July 1885 – 24 May 1948) was a Belgian actor, screenwriter and film director who worked principally in France, but also in the US, Britain and Germany. He was a director of silent films during the 1920s, and in the 1930 ...

, based on the 1919 novel by Pierre Benoit – (

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

)

B

*''

Die Bergkatze ''The Wild Cat'' (aka ''The Mountain Cat'', german: Die Bergkatze), subtitled ''A Grotesque in Four Acts'', is a 1921 German silent, farcical romantic comedy film directed by Ernst Lubitsch. It was shot at the Tempelhof Studios in Berlin. The ...

(The Wild Cat)'', 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 ...

, starring

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 ...

and

Paul Heidemann Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity * Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...

– (

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

) *'' The Bigamist'', starring and directed by

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 ...

with Ivy Duke – ( GB) *''

The Blot ''The Blot'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Lois Weber, who also co-wrote (with Marion Orth) and produced the film (with her then-husband, Phillips Smalley). The film tackles the social problem of genteel poverty, focusing on ...

'', directed by

Lois Weber Florence Lois Weber (June 13, 1879 – November 13, 1939) was an American silent film actress, screenwriter, producer and director. She is identified in some historical references as among "the most important and prolific film directors in the e ...

*'' The Boat'', directed by Edward F. Cline and Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton *''

The Bonnie Brier Bush ''The Bonnie Brier Bush'' is a 1921 British drama film directed by Donald Crisp. Alfred Hitchcock is credited as a title designer. The film is considered to be lost. Plot As described in a film magazine, dour Scottish shepherd Lachlan Campbell ...

'' (lost), starring and directed by

Donald Crisp Donald William Crisp (27 July 188225 May 1974) 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 ...

– ( GB) *'' Brewster's Millions'' (lost), directed by

Joseph Henabery Joseph Henabery (January 15, 1888 – February 18, 1976) of Omaha, Nebraska, was a film actor, screenplay writer, and director in the United States. He is best known for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln in D.W. Griffith's controversial 1915 sil ...

, starring

*''

Brownie's Little Venus ''Brownie's Little Venus'' is a 1921 American silent short film written and directed by Fred Fishback for Century Film Company and starring Baby Peggy and Brownie the Wonder Dog. It premiered at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City, New York, Un ...

'', directed by

Fred Fishback Fred C. Fishback (born Moscu Fischback; January 18, 1894January 6, 1925) was a film director, actor, screenwriter, and producer of the silent era. Following the 1921 scandal surrounding Roscoe Arbuckle, in which he was involved, Fishback worked ...

, starring Baby Peggy *''

Buried Treasure Buried treasure is a literary trope commonly associated with depictions of pirates, criminals, and Old West outlaws. According to popular conception, these people often buried their stolen fortunes in remote places, intending to return to them ...

'', directed by George D. Baker, 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

Norman Kerry Norman Kerry (born Norman Hussey Kaiser,"United States World War II Draft Registration Cards,registration for Norman Hussey Kaiser, Los Angeles, California, April 27, 1942 This document lists his full name as Norman Hussey Kaiser, noting the na ...

C

*'' The Call of Youth'' (lost), directed by Hugh Ford *'' Camille'', directed by Ray C. Smallwood, starring

Alla Nazimova Alla Nazimova (Russian: Алла Назимова; born Marem-Ides Leventon, Russian: Марем-Идес Левентон; June 3 Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates">O.S._May_22.html" ;"title="Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="nowiki/>O ...

and Rudolph Valentino *'' The Case of Becky'', directed by Chester M. Franklin, starring Constance Binney, based on the 1912 stage play by

David Belasco David Belasco (July 25, 1853 – May 14, 1931) was an American theatrical producer, impresario, director, and playwright. He was the first writer to adapt the short story ''Madame Butterfly'' for the stage. He launched the theatrical career of ...

and Edward Locke *''

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court ''A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'' is an 1889 novel by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. The book was originally titled ''A Yankee in King Arthur's Court''. Some early editions are titled ''A Yankee at the Court of King Arth ...

'' (lost), directed by Emmett J. Flynn *''

The Conquering Power ''The Conquering Power'' (1921) is an American silent romantic drama directed by Rex Ingram and starring Rudolph Valentino, Alice Terry, and Ralph Lewis. The film was based on the 1833 novel '' Eugénie Grandet'' by Honoré de Balzac. Its se ...

'', directed by Rex Ingram, starring Rudolph Valentino and

Alice Terry Alice Frances Taaffe (July 24, 1899 – December 22, 1987), known professionally as Alice Terry, was an American film actress and director. She began her career during the silent film era, appearing in thirty-nine films between 1916 and 1 ...

D

*'' Desire (Sehnsucht)'' (lost), 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 ...

, starring

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 ...

– (

) *''

Destiny Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate (from Latin ''fatum'' "decree, prediction, destiny, fate"), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. Fate Although often ...

(Der müde Tod)'', directed by

Fritz Lang Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), known as Fritz Lang, was an Austrian film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary ''Variety'', August 4, 1976, p. 6 ...

, starring Lil Dagover and

Rudolf Klein-Rogge Friedrich Rudolf Klein (24 November 1885 – 29 May 1955), better known as Rudolf Klein-Rogge, was a German film actor, best known for playing sinister figures in films in the 1920s and 1930s as well as being a mainstay in director Fritz Lang's ...

– (

) * ''

The Devil Satan,, ; grc, ὁ σατανᾶς or , ; ar, شيطانالخَنَّاس , also known as the Devil, and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is an entity in the Abrahamic religions that seduces humans into sin or falsehood ...

'', directed by James Young, starring

George Arliss George Arliss (born Augustus George Andrews; 10 April 1868 – 5 February 1946) was an English actor, author, playwright, and filmmaker who found success in the United States. He was the first British actor to win an Academy Award – which he ...

, based on the 1908 stage play by

Ferenc Molnár Ferenc Molnár ( , ; born Ferenc Neumann; 12 January 18781 April 1952), often anglicized as Franz Molnar, was a Hungarian-born author, stage-director, dramatist, and poet, widely regarded as Hungary’s most celebrated and controversial play ...

*''

Disraeli Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, (21 December 1804 – 19 April 1881) was a British statesman and Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He played a centr ...

'' (lost), directed by

Henry Kolker Joseph Henry Kolker (November 13, 1874 ome sources 1870– July 15, 1947) was an American stage and film actor and director. Early years Kolker was born in Quincy, Illinois. Career Kolker, like fellow actors Richard Bennett and Robert Wa ...

, starring

*'' The Dollar-a-Year Man'' (lost), directed by

James Cruze James Cruze (born James Cruze Bosen; March 27, 1884 – August 3, 1942) was a silent film actor and film director. Early years Cruze's middle name came from the battle of Vera Cruz. He was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

, starring

Kinnard,Roy (1995). "Horror in Silent Films". McFarland and Company Inc. . Page 124.

E

*''El Capullo Marchito'', directed by

José Nepomuceno José Zialcita Nepomuceno ( May 15, 1893 – December 1, 1959) was one of the pioneering directors and producers of Philippine cinema. He is also known as the ''"founder of Philippine movies"'', and he had his own production company Jose Nepomuc ...

– (

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

) *'' El Dorado'', directed by

Marcel L'Herbier Marcel L'Herbier (; 23 April 1888 – 26 November 1979) was a French filmmaker who achieved prominence as an avant-garde theorist and imaginative practitioner with a series of silent films in the 1920s. His career as a director continued unti ...

– (

) *'' Enchantment'', directed by

Robert G. Vignola Robert G. Vignola (born Rocco Giuseppe Vignola, August 7, 1882 – October 25, 1953) was an Italian-American actor, screenwriter, and film director. A former stage actor, he appeared in many motion pictures produced by Kalem Company and later mov ...

, starring

*''

Experience Experience refers to conscious events in general, more specifically to perceptions, or to the practical knowledge and familiarity that is produced by these conscious processes. Understood as a conscious event in the widest sense, experience involv ...

'' (lost), directed by

George Fitzmaurice George Fitzmaurice (13 February 1885 – 13 June 1940) was a French-born film director and producer. Career Fitzmaurice's career first started as a set designer on stage. Beginning in 1914, and continuing until his death in 1940, he directed ...

, starring

Richard Barthelmess Richard Semler Barthelmess (May 9, 1895 – August 17, 1963) was an American film actor, principally of the Hollywood silent era. He starred opposite Lillian Gish in D. W. Griffith's ''Broken Blossoms'' (1919) and ''Way Down East'' (1920) and w ...

F

*'' The Fire Eater'', directed by B. Reeves Eason, starring

*'' Fool's Paradise'', directed by

, starring

Conrad Nagel John Conrad Nagel (March 16, 1897 – February 24, 1970) was an American film, stage, television and radio actor. He was considered a famous matinée idol and leading man of the 1920s and 1930s. He was given an Academy Honorary Award in 1940 and ...

and

Mildred Harris Mildred Harris (April 18, 1901 – July 20, 1944) was an American stage, film, and vaudeville actress during the early part of the 20th century. Harris began her career in the film industry as a child actress when she was 10 years old. She was a ...

*''

Forever Forever or 4ever may refer to: Film and television Films * ''Forever'' (1921 film), an American silent film by George Fitzmaurice * ''Forever'' (1978 film), an American made-for-television romantic drama * ''Forever'' (1992 film), an American ...

'' (lost), directed by

, starring

Elsie Ferguson Elsie Louise Ferguson (August 19, 1883 – November 15, 1961) was an American stage and film actress. Early life Born in New York City, Elsie Ferguson was the only child of Hiram and Amelia Ferguson. Her father was a successful attorney. Raise ...

and Wallace Reid *''

The Four Feathers ''The Four Feathers'' is a 1902 adventure novel by British writer A. E. W. Mason that has inspired many films of the same title. In December 1901, ''Cornhill Magazine'' announced the title as one of two new serial stories to be published in th ...

'', directed by

René Plaissetty René Plaissetty (1889–1955) was an American film director. Son of Achille Plaissetty, chemist and businessman and Corinne Bonnecaze, professor of singing, René Plaissetty was born on March 7, 1889, in Chicago. In 1907 he came to live in F ...

– ( GB) *'' The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse'', directed by Rex Ingram, starring Rudolph Valentino

G

*'' The Goat'', directed by

Mal St. Clair Malcolm St. Clair (May 17, 1897 – June 1, 1952) was a Hollywood film director, writer, producer and actor. Biography A disciple of Mack Sennett, St. Clair was an actor in many films primarily comedies. At 6'7" he can be seen in such Sennett ...

and Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton *''

The Ghost in the Garret ''The Ghost in the Garret'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by F. Richard Jones and written by Fred Chaston and Wells Hastings. The film stars Dorothy Gish, Downing Clarke, Mrs. David Landau, William Parke Jr., Ray Grey, Walte ...

'' (lost), directed by F. Richard Jones, starring

Dorothy Gish Dorothy Elizabeth Gish (March 11, 1898June 4, 1968) was an American actress of the screen and stage, as well as a director and writer. Dorothy and her older sister Lillian Gish were major movie stars of the silent era. Dorothy also had great s ...

*''Godfather Death (Der Gevatter Tod)'', directed by Heinz Hanus, based on the 1884 short story ''Der Pate des Todes'' by

Rudolf Baumbach Rudolf Baumbach (28 September 1840 – 21 September 1905) was a German poet. Life Born in Kranichfeld in Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, the son of a local medical practitioner, he received his early schooling at the gymnasium of Meiningen, to which pl ...

– (

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

) * '' The Grinning Face (Das grinsende Gesicht)'', directed by Julius Herska, based on the 1869 novel ''

The Man Who Laughs ''The Man Who Laughs'' (also published under the title ''By Order of the King'' from its subtitle in French) is a novel by Victor Hugo, originally published in April 1869 under the French title ''L'Homme qui rit''. It takes place in England beg ...

'' by

Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romantic writer and politician. During a literary career that spanned more than sixty years, he wrote in a variety of genres and forms. He is considered to be one of the great ...

– (

) *''

The Gunsaulus Mystery ''The Gunsaulus Mystery'' is a 1921 American silent race film directed, produced, and written by Oscar Micheaux. The film was inspired by events and figures in the 1913-1915 trial of Leo Frank for the murder of Mary Phagan. The film is now beli ...

'' (lost), written and directed by

Oscar Micheaux Oscar Devereaux Micheaux (; January 2, 1884 – March 25, 1951) was an author, film director and independent producer of more than 44 films. Although the short-lived Lincoln Motion Picture Company was the first movie company owned and controlled ...

H

*''

Hail the Woman ''Hail the Woman'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by John Griffith Wray. Produced by Thomas Ince, it stars Florence Vidor as a woman who takes a stand against the hypocrisy of her father and brother, played by Theodore Roberts a ...

'', directed by

John Griffith Wray John Griffith Wray (August 30, 1881 – July 15, 1929) was an American stage actor and director who later became a noted Hollywood silent film director. He worked on 19 films between 1913 and 1929 that included ''Anna Christie'' (1923) and ''Hum ...

, starring

Florence Vidor Florence Vidor (née Cobb, later Arto; July 23, 1895 – November 3, 1977) was an American silent film actress. Early life Vidor was born in Houston on July 23, 1895, to John and Ida Cobb. Her parents had married in Houston on March 3, 1894, bu ...

*'' The Haunted Castle (Schloß Vogelöd)'', directed by

, based on the novel by Rudolf Stratz – (

) *'' The Haunted House'', directed by Edward F. Cline and Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton *''

The High Sign ''The High Sign'' is a 1921 two-reel silent comedy film starring Buster Keaton, and written and directed by Keaton and Edward F. Cline. Its runtime is 21 minutes. Although '' One Week'' (1920) was Keaton's first independent film short released ...

'', directed by Edward F. Cline and Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton *'' His Brother's Keeper'' (lost), directed by

Wilfrid North Wilfrid North (16 January 1863 – 3 June 1935), also spelled Wilfred North, was an Anglo-American film director, actor, and writer of the silent film era. He directed 102 films, including short films; acted in 43 films; and wrote the story for ...

*'' L'Homme qui vendit son âme au diable (The Man Who Sold His Soul to the Devil)'', directed by Pierre Caron – (

) *''

The Hound of the Baskervilles ''The Hound of the Baskervilles'' is the third of the four crime novels by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle featuring the detective Sherlock Holmes. Originally serialised in ''The Strand Magazine'' from August 1901 to April 1902, it is se ...

'', 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 ...

, starring

Eille Norwood Eille Norwood (born Anthony Edward Brett; 11 October 1861 – 24 December 1948) was an English stage actor, director, and playwright best known today for playing Sherlock Holmes in a series of silent films. Early life He was born 11 October 18 ...

– ( GB) *''

Humor Risk ''Humor Risk'', also known as ''Humorisk'', is a lost unreleased 1921 silent comedy short film that was the first film to star the Marx Brothers (Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx and Zeppo Marx). Production ''Humor Risk'' was directed b ...

'' (unreleased), directed by Dick Smith, starring the

Marx Brothers The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act that was successful in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in motion pictures from 1905 to 1949. Five of the Marx Brothers' thirteen feature films were selected by the American Film Institute (AFI) ...

I

*''The Idle Class'', a Charles Chaplin short *''The Indian Tomb (1921 film), The Indian Tomb (Das Indische Grabmal)'', directed by Joe May, starring

– (

) *''The Island of the Lost (Die Insel der Verschollenen)'', directed by Urban Gad, based on the 1896 novel ''The Island of Doctor Moreau'' by H. G. Wells without authorization – (

)

J

*''Jane Eyre (1921 film), Jane Eyre'', directed by Hugo Ballin, starring Norman Trevor and Mabel Ballin, based on the 1847 Jane Eyre, novel by Charlotte Brontë *''Jánošík (1921 film), Jánošík'', directed by Jaroslav Jerry Siakeľ – (List of Slovak films, Czechoslovakia) *''Jim the Penman (1921 film), Jim the Penman'', directed by Kenneth Webb (director), Kenneth Webb, starring Lionel Barrymore *''Journey into the Night (Der Gang in die Nacht)'', directed by

– (

)

K

*''

'', a Charlie Chaplin film, with Jackie Coogan *''Kipps (1921 film), Kipps'', directed by Harold M. Shaw, starring George K. Arthur, based on the 1905 Kipps, novel by H. G. Wells

L

*''Land of My Fathers (film), Land of My Fathers'' directed by Fred Rains, starring John Stuart (actor), John Stuart – ( GB) *''Leaves from Satan's Book (Blade af Satans Bog)'', directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer – (List of Danish films of the 1920s, Denmark) *''Little Lord Fauntleroy (1921 film), Little Lord Fauntleroy'', directed by Alfred E. Green and Jack Pickford, starring Mary Pickford *''The Lost Shadow (Der Verlorene Schatten)'' (lost), directed by Rochus Gliese, starring Paul WegenerKinnard,Roy (1995). "Horror in Silent Films". McFarland and Company Inc. . Page 126. – (

) *''The Lotus Eater (1921 film), The Lotus Eater'' (lost), directed by Marshall Neilan, starring John Barrymore and Colleen Moore *''The Love Light'', directed by Frances Marion, starring Mary Pickford * ''Lucky Carson'' (lost), directed by

, starring Earle Williams *''The Lucky Dog'', directed by Jess Robbins, starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy

M

*''Mathias Sandorf (1921 film), Mathias Sandorf'', directed by Henri Fescourt, starring Romuald Joubé – (

) *''The Mechanical Man (film), The Mechanical Man (L'uomo meccanico)'' (lost), starring and directed by André Deed – (Italian films of 1921, Italy) *''A Message from Mars (1921 film), A Message From Mars'', directed by Maxwell Karger, starring Bert Lytell *''A Midnight Bell'' (lost), starring and directed by Charles Ray (actor), Charles Ray, based on the 1889 A Midnight Bell (play), stage play by Charles H. Hoyt *''Miss Lulu Bett (film), Miss Lulu Bett'', directed by William C. deMille, starring Lois Wilson (actress), Lois Wilson and Milton Sills *''Il mostro di Frankenstein (The Monster of Frankenstein)'' (lost), directed by Eugenio Testa – (Italian films of 1921, Italy)

N

*''Never Weaken'', directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor (director), Sam Taylor, starring

*''The Nut (1921 film), The Nut'', directed by Theodore Reed, starring Douglas Fairbanks and Marguerite De La Motte

O

*''The Offenders (1921 film), The Offenders'' (lost), directed by Fenwicke Holmes *''Orphans of the Storm'', directed by D. W. Griffith, starring Lillian Gish and

*''The Other Person (Onder spiritistischen dwang)'', directed by Maurits Binger and B. E. Doxat-Pratt, based on the 1920 novel by Fergus Hume – (List of Dutch films of the 1920s, Netherlands/ GB)

P

*''The Painting of Osvaldo Mars (Il quadro di Osvaldo Mars)'', directed by Guido Brignone, starring Mercedes Brignone – (Italian films of 1921, Italy) *''Pan Twardowski (1921 film), Pan Twardowski'', directed by Wiktor Biegański – (List of Polish films before 1930, Poland) *''The Passion Flower'', directed by Herbert Brenon, starring Norma Talmadge *''Peck's Bad Boy (1921 film), Peck's Bad Boy'', directed by Sam Wood, starring Jackie Coogan *''The Phantom Carriage (Körkarlen)'', starring and directed by Victor Sjöström – (Swedish films before 1930, Sweden) *''The Playhouse (film), The Playhouse'', directed by Edward F. Cline and Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton

Q

*''The Queen of Sheba (1921 film), The Queen of Sheba'' (lost), directed by J. Gordon Edwards, starring Betty Blythe

S

*''A Sailor-Made Man'', directed by Fred C. Newmeyer, starring

*''School Days (1921 film), School Days'', directed by William Nigh, starring Wesley Barry *''Sentimental Tommy (1921 film), Sentimental Tommy'' (lost), directed by John S. Robertson, starring Gareth Hughes *''Seven Years Bad Luck'', a Max Linder film *'' The Sheik'', directed by

, starring Agnes Ayres and Rudolph Valentino *''The Silver Lining (1921 film), The Silver Lining'', directed by Roland West, starring Jewel Carmen *''The Sky Pilot'', directed by King Vidor, starring Colleen Moore *''Soul of the Cypress'', directed by Dudley Murphy *''Squibs (1921 film), Squibs'', directed by George Pearson (filmmaker), George Pearson, starring Betty Balfour – ( GB) *''Sybil (1921 film), Sybil'' (lost), directed by Jack Denton, starring Evelyn Brent – ( GB)

T

*''The Three Musketeers (1921 film), The Three Musketeers'', directed by Fred Niblo, starring Douglas Fairbanks *''Through the Back Door'', directed by Alfred E. Green and Jack Pickford, starring Mary Pickford *''Tol'able David'', directed by Henry King (director), Henry King, starring

*''Les Trois Mousquetaires (The Three Musketeers)'', directed by Henri Diamant-Berger – (

)

W

*''Whispering Shadows'', directed by Émile Chautard *''White and Unmarried'' (lost), directed by Tom Forman (actor), Tom Forman, starring Thomas Meighan *''Why Girls Leave Home (1921 film), Why Girls Leave Home'' (lost), directed by William Nigh, starring Anna Q. Nilsson *''The Witching Hour (1921 film), The Witching Hour'', directed by William Desmond Taylor, starring Elliott Dexter, adapted from the 1907 stage play by Augustus ThomasKinnard,Roy (1995). "Horror in Silent Films". McFarland and Company Inc. . Page 128. *''Woman's Place'', directed by Victor Fleming, starring Constance Talmadge *''The Wonderful Thing'', directed by Herbert Brenon, starring Norma Talmadge and Harrison Ford (silent film actor), Harrison Ford

Comedy film series

*''

'' (1913–1938) *'' Charlie Chaplin'' (1914–1940) *''Lupino Lane'' (1915–1939) *'' Buster Keaton'' (1917–1944) *''Laurel and Hardy'' (1921–1945)

Animated short film series

*''Aesop's Film Fables'' (1921–1934) *''Felix the Cat'' (1919–1936) *''Koko the Clown'' (1919–1963)

Births

*January 3 – John Russell (actor), John Russell, actor (died 1991) *January 10 - George Robotham, American stuntman and actor (died 2007) *January 11 - Kathleen Byron, English actress (died 2009) *January 26 – Elisabeth Kirkby, British-born Australian actress, producer and director *January 27 – Donna Reed, actress (died 1986) *January 31 **Carol Channing, musical actress (died 2019) **Mario Lanza, singer and actor (died 1959) *February 1 – Peter Sallis, actor (died 2017) *February 8 – Lana Turner, actress (died 1995) *February 16 – Vera-Ellen, actress, dancer (died 1981) *February 19 – Ann Savage, actress (died 2008 in film, 2008) *February 22 – Giulietta Masina, actress (died 1994) *February 24 – Abe Vigoda, actor (died 2016) *February 26 – Betty Hutton, actress (died 2007) *March 3 – Diana Barrymore, actress (died 1960) *March 4 – Joan Greenwood, actress (died 1987) *March 8 – Alan Hale Jr., actor, restaurateur (died 1990 in film, 1990) *March 10 – Charlotte Zucker, actress, mother of Jerry Zucker and David Zucker (director), David Zucker (died 2007) *March 12 – Gordon MacRae, actor, singer (died 1986) *March 23 – Geoffrey Chater, English actor (died 2021) *March 25 **Nancy Kelly, actress (died 1995) **Simone Signoret, actress (died 1985) *March 26 – Julie Harris (costume designer), Julie Harris, costume designer (died 2015) *March 28 – Dirk Bogarde, actor (died 1999) *April 1 – Arieh Elias, Israeli actor (died 2015) *April 3 – Jan Sterling, actress (died 2004) *April 10 – Chuck Connors, actor (died 1992) *April 16 – Peter Ustinov, actor (died 2004) *April 23 **Janet Blair, actress (died 2007) **Gerald Campion, English actor (died 2002) *April 29 – Tommy Noonan, actor, screenwriter, producer (died 1968 in film, 1968) *May 2 – Satyajit Ray, Indian filmmaker (died 1992) *May 16 - Harry Carey Jr., American actor (died 2012) *May 23 **Grigori Chukhrai, Ukrainian film director (died 2001) **Ray Lawler, Australian actor *May 30 - Jamie Uys, South African film director (died 1996) *May 31 – Alida Valli, actress (died 2006) *June 8 **Sheila Ryan, actress (died 1975 in film, 1975) **Alexis Smith, actress (died 1993) *June 18 – Wesley Lau, actor (died 1984) *June 19 – Louis Jourdan, actor (died 2015) *June 21 **Judy Holliday, born Judith Tuvim, actress (died 1965) **Jane Russell, actress (died 2011) *July 2 - Maria Britneva, Russian-British actress (died 1994) *July 3 – Susan Peters, actress (died 1952) *July 5 – Patricia Wright (actress), Patricia Wright, American former actress *July 6 – Nancy Reagan, born Anne Robbins, actress and First Lady of the United States (died 2016) *July 10 – Jeff Donnell, American actress (died 1988 in film, 1988) *July 17 – František Zvarík, Slovakian actor (died 2008) *July 23 – Robert Brown (British actor), Robert Brown, actor (died 2003) *August 3 – Marilyn Maxwell, actress (died 1972) *August 8 – Esther Williams, actress, swimmer (died 2013) *August 19 – Gene Roddenberry, screenwriter and producer (died 1991) *August 28 – Nancy Kulp, actress, comedienne (died 1991) *September 8 – Harry Secombe, actor, singer (died 2001) *September 27 – Miklós Jancsó, Hungarian director (died 2014) *September 30 – Deborah Kerr, actress (died 2007) *October 5 - Nikolay Dupak, Soviet-Russian actor *October 13 – Yves Montand, singer, actor (died 1991) *November 3 – Charles Bronson, actor (died 2003) *November 5 – Mormarevi Brothers, Moritz Yomtov, screenwriter (died 1992) *November 8 – Walter Mirisch, American film producer *November 14 - Brian Keith, American actor (died 1997) *November 21 – Vivian Blaine, actor, singer (died 1995 in film, 1995) *November 22 – Rodney Dangerfield, actor, comedian (died 2004) *November 23 – Fred Buscaglione, Italian actor and singer (died 1960) *December 4 – Deanna Durbin, actress (died 2013) *December 11 - Liz Smith (actress), Liz Smith, English character actress (died 2016) *December 15 - Nikolai Lebedev (actor), Soviet-Russian actor (died 2022) *December 24 - Mickey Knox, American actor (died 2013) *December 26 – Steve Allen, actor, composer, comedian, author (died 2000)

Deaths

* February 8 – George Formby Sr, 45, British music hall entertainer who appeared in one film (pulmonary tuberculosis) * May 17 – Karl Mantzius, 61, Danish actor, theatre director, writer * June 5 – Georges Feydeau, 58, French playwright, many of whose plays were adapted for the screen (syphilis) * June 11 - Frank R. Mills, 50, American stage and screen actor * June 20 – George Loane Tucker, 49, American actor, screenwriter and director * July 9 – Robert Broderick, 56, American stage and film actor * September 9 –

, 30,Illinois, Cook County Birth Registers, 1871-1915, Mabel Rapp in entry for Rapp, 07 Jul 1891; citing p.254 no.12677, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 1,287,737. American actress * September 17 – Van Dyke Brooke, 62, American actor, screenwriter and film director

Film debuts

*Richard Arlen *

*Billie Dove *Basil Rathbone *Carole Lombard in A Perfect Crime (1921) *Fredric March

References

{{Reflist 1921 in film, Film by year

Top-grossing films (U.S.)

Events

Notable films released in 1921

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

S

T

W

Comedy film series

Animated short film series

Births

Deaths

Film debuts

See also

References