Movies Set In The 1920s

From Orson Welles, starring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead
Rated PG

Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film directed, co-written, produced and starring Orson Welles. Considered by many critics, filmmakers and fans to be the greatest film ever made, it is an epic tale of a newspaper magnate's life and legacy. The story follows the life of Charles Foster Kane (Welles), a wealthy newspaper tycoon and former US Senator, from his childhood to his deathbed, revealing the many facets of his character along the way. Through flashbacks, the film reveals Kane's rise and fall from power, his failed political aspirations, his failed marriages, and ultimately his death. Despite its classic status, Citizen Kane remains a controversial classic, with its depiction of the wealthy and powerful and its exploration of themes such as truth, power, and mortality often cited as its most enduring qualities.

From Billy Wilder, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft
Rated Passed

Some Like It Hot is a 1959 romantic comedy directed by Billy Wilder and starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and George Raft. Two struggling musicians, Joe and Jerry, accidentally witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929. To escape the mob, they disguise themselves as female musicians and join an all-female band headed to Florida. Joe falls in love with the singer Sugar Kane, while Jerry is pursued by a millionaire who believes Jerry is a woman. With the mafia in hot pursuit, the guys' only hope is to keep up the charade until the heat dies down. Through a series of misunderstandings and luck, the two men eventually find freedom, love, and wealth.

From Tom Hooper, starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Derek Jacobi
Rated R

The King's Speech is a 2010 British historical drama directed by Tom Hooper. It stars Colin Firth as King George VI of the United Kingdom, who suffers from a debilitating stammer and must overcome his speech impediment in order to rally his country during World War II. With the support of his wife Queen Elizabeth, played by Helena Bonham Carter, and the assistance of an unorthodox speech therapist, Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush, the King finds the strength to overcome his insecurities and deliver a powerful speech to the nation. The film explores themes of courage and family as the King works to overcome his speech impediment and lead a successful speech to the nation.

From Michel Hazanavicius, starring Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell
Rated PG-13

The Artist is a 2011 French film directed by Michel Hazanavicius. The movie follows the story of George Valentin, an established silent film star in the late 1920s, as his career falls victim to the arrival of sound in motion pictures. His relationship with a young dancer, Peppy Miller, is also explored as she rises to fame in the transition to sound pictures. The film is a love letter to the classic Hollywood silent film genre and features a unique style of visual storytelling. The movie was the first silent film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture since the original Academy Awards in 1929. It also won five additional Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Score.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Angelina Jolie, Colm Feore, Amy Ryan, Gattlin Griffith
Rated R

Changeling is a 2008 American mystery drama film directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Angelina Jolie. Set in the 1920s, the film follows the story of single mother Christine Collins (Jolie) after the disappearance of her nine-year-old son. After the Los Angeles Police Department claims to have found her son, Collins is reunited with a boy they claim to be her son, but she believes the child they have found is not her son. In order to prove her case, Collins embarks on a lengthy battle with the police and the city of Los Angeles, only to discover a much darker truth about the Los Angeles Police Department and its ties to corruption and the city's elite. With her reputation and career on the line, Collins fights to uncover the truth and reunite with her son.

From Olivier Dahan, starring Marion Cotillard, Sylvie Testud, Pascal Greggory, Emmanuelle Seigner
Rated PG-13

La Vie en Rose is a 2007 French biographical musical drama film that tells the story of legendary French singer Édith Piaf. The film follows Piaf's life from her difficult childhood in Paris to her death in 1963, using flashbacks and musical numbers to highlight the major moments in her life. Despite her troubled upbringing, Piaf's charismatic and powerful voice launch her to international fame. The film stars Marion Cotillard as Piaf, along with Gérard Depardieu, Clotilde Courau, and Jean-Paul Rouve. La Vie en Rose is directed by Olivier Dahan and was nominated for two Academy Awards in 2008, winning one for Best Actress.

From Richard Attenborough, starring Robert Downey Jr., Geraldine Chaplin, Paul Rhys, John Thaw
Rated PG-13

Chaplin is a 1992 biographical comedy-drama about the life of legendary actor and filmmaker Charlie Chaplin. Directed by Richard Attenborough, the film stars Robert Downey Jr. as Chaplin, the iconic British comic actor, producer, and director of silent film era classics such as The Kid, The Gold Rush, and The Great Dictator. The film follows Chaplin's career from his early days in the English music hall circuit, to his rise to international stardom, and through his difficult personal life. Along the way, Chaplin must confront the obstacles of a tumultuous time, while navigating the complex relationships he has with the people who have the greatest influence on his life, including his mother, his first wife, and his lovers. The film was highly acclaimed, receiving seven Academy Award nominations and winning three: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Makeup.

From John Curran, starring Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber, Catherine An
Rated PG-13

From Lasse Hallström, starring Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron, Michael Caine, Delroy Lindo
Rated PG-13

From Rob Marshall, starring Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Taye Diggs
Rated PG-13

From Baz Luhrmann, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Tobey Maguire
Rated PG-13

From George Roy Hill, starring Julie Andrews, James Fox, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Channing
Rated G

From Peter Bogdanovich, starring Kirsten Dunst, Cary Elwes, Edward Herrmann, Eddie Izzard
Rated PG-13

From George Melford, starring Rudolph Valentino, Agnes Ayres, Ruth Miller, George Waggner
Rated Passed