All Films

The Man with a Punch

1920 • 21 min • United States of America

The inaptly named Peace City is held in a grip of fear by the corrupt Sheriff Sellers. The benevolent, black-hatted 'Stranger,' who unexpectedly arrives in town and agrees to do Sellers' bidding is in actuality an undercover Texas Ranger determined to restore law and order.

The Wall Street Mystery

1920 • 50 min • United States of America

When the body of Wall Street broker Norman Temple is found dead in his office, the police arrest contractor James Borden for the crime on the testimony of Temple's secretary that Borden had threatened her employer over an unpaid note. Also under suspicion is Temple's Japanese valet, who quarreled with his employer the day before the murder. Tex, a detective, enters the case, following his own leads which prove the valet innocent. Tex finally deduces that Minkin, one of Temple's clerks, shot his employer when he interrupted the clerk robbing his safe. With Tex's revelation, Minkin's room is searched, the stolen bonds found and Borden is freed.

Dutch Tulips and Clogs

1920 • 4 min

Hollandse Tulpen en Klompen – litterally Dutch Tulips and Clogs – consists of two short fragments each describing a traditional facet of post-war Netherlands. The first fragment shows men and women working on the tulip fields. The second fragment shows children playing at the Island of Marken, wearing the traditional costumes of their hometown.

Black Shadows

1920 • 50 min

A victim of hypnotism begins to have compulsions to steal.

Sanji Goto

1920 • 24 min • Japan

Japanese silent comedy drama starring Iwajiro Nakajima, the Japanese Chaplin

The Dead Line

1920 • 50 min • United States of America

Although a feud between the Harlan and Boone families has been raging for years, Mollie Powell, the Harlan's stepdaughter, is secretly in love with Clay Boone. When a young member of the Boone clan is killed during one of the battles, Clay vows that he will never touch a gun again. Branded a coward by the other mountaineers, Clay keeps his oath until Buck Gomery, one of the moonshiners, attacks Julia Weston, the daughter of another moonshiner.

Crooked Streets

1920 • 50 min • United States of America

Gail Ellis, a secretary, accompanies Professor Silas Griswold and his wife to China on an expedition to acquire antique vases. Curiosity draws her to the Shanghai slums where, unknown to Gail, her driver is participating in a scheme to abduct her. Gail escapes, but in the process is accosted by drunken sailors. Luckily, Rupert O'Dare, a young Englishman, is nearby and rescues Gail. He escorts her back to the hotel where he discloses his identity as a British secret service agent and proceeds to arrest the Griswolds for smuggling opium in antique vases. Gail then reveals herself as a member of the United States Secret Service and the two agents fall in love.

The Midnight Bride

1920 • 50 min • United States of America

While waiting on a New York park bench for the return of her friends, country girl Jeanne Sterling meets Forrest Chenoweth, a rich young wastrel who, while drunk, registered for a marriage license with fortune-hunting Helen Dorr. Enchanted with Jeanne's innocence, Forrest proposes to Jeanne, and they are married by an alderman friend of Forrest's with the license that Forrest had taken out with Helen. That night Forrest drinks too much, falls in his room and kills himself. The scandal appears in the papers, forcing Jeanne to confess the marriage to her sweetheart Robert Pitcairn. However, Helen, in an attempt to acquire the Chenoweth fortune, claims to be Forrest's widow, thus disgracing Jeanne.

The Vampire

1920 • 60 min • Germany

German vampire movie from 1920.

Seeds of Vengeance

1920 • 50 min • United States of America

In the mountains of West Virginia, Alderson Cree is mortally wounded in an ambush by Kip Ryerson, after Kip's wife, Martha, seeks refuge at the Crees's home for herself and her stepdaughter, Eileen. Cree makes his young son, David, promise to avenge his death once he has grown into manhood. As David Cree runs for help, Alderson recants and instructs Martha Ryerson to release his son from his promise. However, to eliminate her brutal spouse, Martha Ryerson remains silent, and George Hedrick, the local storekeeper, leads a crowd to drive Kip out of town. Hedrick later announces Kip's death, relieving David of his obligation to his father. Years pass, and David, now an adult, is engaged to Mary Reddin. When Kip Ryerson returns to town, David's mother demands that he keep his promise to avenge his father.

Reval and Dorpat

1920 • 6 min • Sweden

Views around the Estonian cities of Reval (today's Tallinn) and Dorpat (today's Tartu).

The Untamed

1920 • 50 min • United States of America

A cowpuncher by the name of Whistling Dan is adopted by a rancher, Joe Cumberland (James O. Barrows). His daughter, Kate is immediately attracted to Dan, but Cumberland discourages the union since he thinks the young man is too wild for her.

One Law for All

1920 • 20 min • United States of America

The making of an American out of a resident of some other country.

Stop Thief

1920 • 50 min • United States of America

When Jack Dougan and Snatcher Nell, partners in crime as well as love, decide to purloin the gifts at the wedding of Madge Carr to James Cluney, Nell poses as a maid to gain entrance to the household. Soon after, articles begin to disappear and Madge's father, a kleptomaniac, begins to feel guilty, while the groom almost suspects himself.

The Sacred Flame

1920 • 60 min • United States of America

Young high school teacher Rosalie Allen rejects the love of Dr. Paul Duncan to "save" Lionel Brooks, a man down on his luck.

Bonnie May

1920 • 52 min • United States of America

Young actress Bonnie May finds work in a private play given at Mrs. Baron’s mansion, where she endears herself to all, especially Victor Baron, the invalid son who has written the play. He begs her to stay on to help him write another play, despite the reluctance of his mother.

The Broken Brake

1920 • 20 min • United States of America

This short action drama is a compilation of at least two films with Helen Gibson.

The Flame of Hellgate

1920 • 50 min • United States of America

Homesteaders battle a cattle baron, who is trying to drive them off the lands they have settled on so his cattle will be able to graze on it.

Human Stuff

1920 • 50 min • United States of America

An Eastern boy is sent to the West to run the family's sheep ranch. The presence of sheep anger nearby cattlemen, who don't want to share their cattle's grazing lands with them, and their leader has no compunctions about resorting to drastic measures to protect his interests.

The Deceiver

1920 • 50 min • United States of America

The story of a man who seeks self-aggrandizement regardless of the sacrifice of friends, sweetheart and honor, but who is finally made to realize the futility of an ambition founded on false principles.

Young Mrs. Winthrop

1920 • 50 min • United States of America

The Winthrops have been drifting apart gradually, Douglas devoted to his business and Constance to her social life. For the sake of their small daughter Rosie, they decide to make reparations, with Douglas agreeing to spend more time at home and Constance giving up her socializing. Mrs. Dunbar, a widow with a grudge against Constance, decides to thwart the couple's reconciliation.

Occasionally Yours

1920 • 50 min • United States of America

When Bruce Sands, a dilettante artist with a history of amorous peccadilloes, discovers that his latest flame Bunny Winston wants to marry him, he seeks refuge at his friend John Woodward's country home, unaware that Woodward has asked Bunny to marry him. Bunny follows the artist to Woodward's estate, where Bruce begins a flirtation with Woodward's daughter Audrey. After Audrey is injured in a fall from a horse, Bruce promises to marry her, thinking that she is on her deathbed. Upon hearing the news, Bunny assumes that Bruce will now be a member of the family and so marries Woodward. When Audrey recovers, the engagement is broken, Bruce returns to town, and Bunny follows. Bruce rejects Bunny and begins his campaign for his next victim, leaving Audrey and her father to console each other.

Cupid the Cowpuncher

1920 • 50 min • United States of America

Alec Lloyd, the foreman of the Sewell ranch, is nicknamed "Cupid" because of his propensity for matchmaking. When Macie Sewell returns from boarding school, Cupid himself falls victim to love, but Macie has aspirations to go to New York and become an opera singer, and so ignores his advances. However, Leroy Simpson, a poor doctor who is enamored of Macie's father's money, encourages her ambitions....

The White Squaw

1920 • 20 min • United States of America

A stranger (Leo Willis) turns out to be a revenue agent and Texas' brother, Tom, turns him out. But when a gang of moonshiners captures the stranger, Texas takes matters into her own hands. There is a climactic shootout between the moonshiners and the "revenoo" agents, during which Texas is wounded. When the smoke settles, the agent proposes to his guardian angel and she accepts. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2011.