One thing I always find fascinating is to study the best films according to silent era critics and audiences and then compare their choices to what we like today. Are you ready to see which ten pictures from 1922 were voted best by the critics? The Film Daily Year Book has the list so let’s dive in!
And in alphabetical order the films are:
Blood and Sand
Rudolph Valentino had already been setting hearts aflutter in films set in Argentina and Algiers and he did the same with this drama of sunny Spain. And for those looking for a female equivalent, utterly Nita Naldi smoldered.
Grandma’s Boy
The lone comedy in the bunch, Harold Lloyd stars as a timid lad who nonetheless aspires to win the hand of Mildred Davis.
Nanook of the North
The iconic documentary with more than its share of controversy. We are still feeling its influence in non-fiction (non-fictionish?) filmmaking.
Oliver Twist
Jackie Coogan and Lon Chaney in a Dickens adaptation? Yes, please!
Released on DVD. (This one is region 2 but the set is highly recommended, it’s all silent Dickens and a bargain.)
Orphans of the Storm
The Gish sisters being battered by the cruel winds of fate… in France! Again. Well, this time the French Revolution is on and they need to evade Madame Guillotine.
The Prisoner of Zenda
The original Ruritanian romance and Ramon Novarro’s breakout role, a rare villain part but his charm was unmistakable.
Robin Hood
Douglas Fairbanks took his athletic prowess to Sherwood Forest and swashbuckler epics were never the same.
Smilin’ Through
Norma Talmadge’s tearjerker of a love that would not die. It was remade several times in the sound era.
Tol’able David
My personal pick for the best of 1922, this is the story of a young man discovering himself, growing up and learning that Ernest Torrence throws a nasty punch. The climactic fight is famous for a reason.
When Knighthood Was in Flower
The Marion Davies super-epic tells the story of King Henry VIII’s feisty little sister and her fight to marry her love.
So, those are the films. Which pictures would you add? Which 1922 film is your favorite? Be sure to share!
P.S. Release dates in the silent era were a bit wonky so some of these titles may be generally considered 1921 or 1923 pictures.
Movies Silently 
My favorites from this wonderful list would be Robin Hood and Grandma’s Boy. The latter is among those lesser-known Lloyd gems that get overshadowed by Safety Last and the like.
I would definitely put another Lon Chaney title on the table: SHADOWS.
Tol’able David is certainly great! Another good one would be Nosferatu, but I guess my favourite is Dr Mabuse. If one allows taking some liberties, then my clear choice would be Phantom Carriage, which had its US release in 1922.
While I like several acting performances in Orphans of the Storm, it totally lacks the finesse which Rex Ingram achieved in Scaramouche. Both are Hollywood versions of the French revolution, so it’s natural to compare them.
Yes, the release dates were incredibly imprecise at this time so I am not particularly picky about them. The organizers of these lists had a problem with it themselves. I think Robin Hood ended up on the 1923 list as well because of oddities of release schedules. They had to write in a little explanation as to how the same movie could be in two years!
Beyond the Rocks 1922
Nosferatu!
My personal faves of 1922 aren’t on the critics list, but they are Häxen, Benjamin Christensen’s documentary about witches, and Nosferatu, FW Murnau’s classic unauthorized Dracula adaptation.
There are many good movies on the list, but I will let my bias towards silent comedy show and pick. Grandma’s Boy. The Prisoner of Zenda is second.
I also like Häxan and Nosferatu, and my favorite from 1922 is probably Dr. Mabuse the Gambler. An early great year for horror!
Haven’t seen all these, but from this list I have to pick Robin Hood. Looking forward to seeing Oliver Twist!
Horror is one of my niche interests, so I would probably pick Haxan & Nosferatu as equal favorites of 1922. But for years, when I would show films to friends who didn’t share my love of it, first place would almost always be given to Tol’able David. Few could resist its human warmth & appeal & few movies better show the power, depth, & universality of silent film.
Having long ago worn out my tape, some weeks ago I bought the Flicker Alley (Image) disc & have just watched it. It was like seeing this oft viewed favorite for the first time! Visual quality is excellent but the Robert Israel score is simply brilliant, worth listening to for its own sake. Thanks for recommending it.
So cool we are reviewing films from the silent era!! Only have a few in my collection from ’22 so I can’t say what is best..they are all excellent and bring something to the table. Salome was very good . What about One Exciting Night with a young Henry Hull?