Public Domain Movies

The Golem - 1920 silent film 16th century Prague, Rabbi Loew creates a terrifying giant golem from clay to protect his people from their persecutors. Employing sorcery, he brings the artificial man to life, endowing him with human emotions. Famulus, Loew's evil assistant, manages to take control of the golem, commanding it to perform sordid criminal acts culminating in the kidnapping of the Rabbi's beautiful daughter, Miriam. The monster, outraged by his vile misuse, rebels and a deadly rampage ensues.

In "The Amazing Adventure", Ernest Bliss (Cary Grant) is the miserable heir to a huge fortune. Determined to prove his worth, Bliss makes a wager that he can earn his keep for a full year without touching the family millions. The bet becomes all the more difficult, however, when he falls in love with the poverty-stricken Frances (Mary Brian) and decides that he must rescue her from her unhappy marriage of convenience. Also known as "Romance and Riches" and "The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss", this fish-out-of-water, screwball comedy is packed full of charm, whit, heart and laugh-out-loud humor. It's a surefire crowd-pleaser for the whole family!

Lady Windermere's Fan (1925) starring Ronald Colman, May McAvoy Lady Windermere is appalled by the scandalous rumors surrounding Mrs. Erlynne, a beautiful widow who has suddenly turned up in London society. Dashing bachelor Lord Darlington has been making inappropriate amorous advances toward Lady Windermere. When she refuses him, he reveals that Lord Windermere has been writing large checks to finance Mrs. Erlynne's lavish lifestyle. Convinced that her husband is cheating, Lady Windermere steals off to Darlington's apartment for a secret rendezvous. But racing to intercept her is none other than Mrs. Erlynne, intent on stopping the foolish girl from throwing away her marriage and place in society.

Neath Brooklyn Bridge - In the film that many consider the best of the series, The East Side Kids find a young girl in the apartment of a murdered man. Believing her to be innocent, they hide her in their clubhouse while they try to find the real killer. But why is the murder weapon covered in the fingerprints of one of the gang? Huntz Hall, Leo Gorcey, Bobby Jordan, and "Sunshine" Sammy Morrison star as the screen's rowdiest rascals, taking on crime and terror in the seething shadows of New York's famous landmark!

Back Stage (1919) starring Fatty Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, Al St. John "Back Stage" is a silent short comedy film, where\ Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton have to put on the show when the actors strike! But the striking star's a jealous man …

The Nut (1921) starring Marguerite De La Motte, William Lowery, Gerald Pring, Morris Hughes, Barbara La Marr, Sydney dé Grey, Douglas Fairbanks Charlie (Fairbanks) loves a woman, Estrell (De La Motte), who has a theory that if rich people would take a number of poor children into their homes each day, the environment would cause the children to grow up properly and become good citizens. But the road to Hell is paved with good intentions …

The Sultan's Wife (1917) starring Gloria Swanson, Bobby Vernon This two reel comedy is not a great film but does feature a young Gloria Swanson, Teddy the Keystone Dog and historically significant "being the very last comedy produced under the Keystone banner." Starring Gloria Swanson, Bobby Vernon

The Flapper (1920) Genevieve is a mischievous young teen determined to seek romance and adventure, even after arriving at Miss Paddles' boarding school. She sets her sights on a dashing older man named Richard, whom all her classmates are secretly in love with. Intent on pursuing the flapper lifestyle, Genevieve encounters many adventures, including a jewel theft which causes her to reconsider the fantasy world she's gotten caught up in.

Beloved humorist and political commentator Will Rogers stars as down-to-earth Solomon like Judge Priest who presides over his post Civil War Kentucky courtroom with compassion and humor. His pride is wounded when a political rival forces him to remove himself from the bench in a controversial assault case. Nevertheless, "private citizen" Priest will take desperate measures to see that justice is served.

Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946) starring Mickey Rooney, Bonita Granville, Dorothy Ford, Lewis Stone In a bittersweet entry in the series, Love Laughs at Andy Hardy takes the title seriously. Andy returns home from World War II, and hopes to return to college. And, to reignite his romance with Kay. There are the normal shenanigans, such as locking himself out of the house, or the big dance with 6’2″ Coffy. She’s one of the nicest people in the movie, in fact. https://family-friendly-movies.com/comedy/love-laughs-at-andy-hardy/

Midnight Manhunt (1945) starring William Gargan, Ann Savage, George Zucco A dead body is discovered in a wax museum and two rival reporters compete to break the story in this fast-paced, tough-talking crime caper. Renowned criminal Joe Wells is shot in his hotel room and stumbles into a wax museum, where office boy Clutch (Leo Gorcey) sweeps the floor and butchers the English language ("I figured it out by the process of mental reduction"). Feisty reporter Sue Gallagher (Ann Savage) discovers Wells' body and rushes to file the scoop, but is interrupted when her part-time lover and news colleague Pete Willis (William Gargan) learns of the story. Tensions flare up even more when Wells' killer (George Zucco) corners Sue in search of the corpse, unaware that Clutch has found it and moved it out of the museum!

Borrowed Wives (1930) starring Rex Lease, Vera Reynolds Peter Foley has plans to marry Alice Blake and he needs to in a hurry because if he is not married by midnight he'll lose his inheritance! But when her plane is delayed one of his creditors, Mr. Parker, shows up to collect his debt. When learns of Foley's situation he decides that his flirty secretary will pretend to be his wife so they can both get their money. Will the ruse fool the uncle that is next in line for the inheritance or the family lawyer who is mysterious late and just as important will Alice forgive Peter's deception? Add into the mix the pugnacious traffic cop bull who is after Peter for traffic infractions who just so happens to be Julia's beau and you've got the receipt for laughs galore!

Pollyanna 1920 is the silent comedic drama that tells the story of an orphan sent to live with her uncaring Aunt Polly. Pollyanna's joyous love for life is deeply compelling and affects the embittered Polly after an act of sacrifice puts the young girl's life in danger. Pollyanna's optimism eventually spreads throughout the New England town where she now lives, changing it and the people for the better.

In The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, a man is reunited with his childhood friend and her husband. She believes he knows the truth about the death of her rich aunt years earlier.

In Captain January, Shirley Temple lives with a lighthouse keeper (Guy Kibble)who rescued her when her parents drowned. A truant officer decides she should go to boarding school, but she's rescued by relatives. Buddy Ebsen dances "At The Codfish Ball" with Shirley.

The East Side Kids throw Hank (Gabriel Dell) out of the gang when he starts working for crook Butch Brocalli. Danny earns a reward by being instrumental in Butch's arrest, and wants to surprise everyone by buying baseball uniforms for the boys. Muggs, however, mistakenly assumes that Danny is trying to keep the money - so he and other gang members force Danny to turn over the cash so they can buy an old car. Danny is seriously beaten when Brocalli escapes.The gang members offer to sell their newfound car to pay for Danny's much needed operation, but a kind-hearted brain surgeon, Dr. Ornsby, comes up with his own solution. One of the most serious of the Monogram comedies, Leo Gorcey's dramatic prayer for Danny's recovery is a rare and unforgettable moment in theEast Side Kidsseries.

Africa Screams (1949) starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Hillary Brooke, Joe Besser, Shemp Howard Abbott and Costello’s movie, Africa Screams, has Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, working as book sellers. They connive their way onto a trip to Africa, where Hillary Brooke is looking for diamonds …. And is willing to sell Lou to a hungry witchdoctor!

The Dentist (1932) starring W. C. Fields - a very funny comedy short, where W. C. Fields cares more about golf than his patients, his daughter wants to marry an ice man, and several hilarious scenes in the dentist's chair!

Father's Little Dividend (1951) starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor Academy Award winners Elizabeth Taylor and Spencer Tracy return in their starring roles from "Father of the Bride" in this delightful comedy of battling in-laws--Father's Little Dividend. Stanley and Ellie Banks (Tracy and Joan Bennett) have barely had time to recover from their daughter's (Taylor) wedding when they learn they are to be grandparents. Their dreams of peace and quiet are soon shattered by baby wails and dirty diapers!

In The Silent Command (1923) Capt. Decatur (Edmund Lowe) must stop a terrorist (Bela Lugosi in his first American film role) from destroying the Panama Canal and the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet

Girl Shy (1924) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston, Richard Daniels Girl Shy(1924), where Harold is a small-time tailor's apprentice who can't speak to women. But nevertheless has penned a how-to book entitled "The Secret of Making Love." And on a train, he manages to make the acquaintance of the lovely Jobyna Ralston, and help her out. Can love bloom from this?

The Electric House (1922) starring Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox First, The Electric House is a very different, but very funny, Buster Keaton silent short film. It deals with Buster, mistakenly hired after graduation by the Dean to rewire his house. Although he’s a botanist! But, with the aid of a book — Electricity Made Easy — he actually manages it. Much of the comedy comes from the automation in the house: https://famousclowns.org/buster-keaton/buster-keaton-movies/electric-house-1922/

Three Ages (1923) starring Buster Keaton, Margaret Leahy, Wallace Beery Buster Keaton's "Three Ages" (1923, 63 min.) is a silent comedy of truly epic proportions. This clever parody of D.W. Griffith's "Intolerance" follows Buster's hard-luck romantic misadventures throughout world history: from the dawn of man in the Stone Age through the gladiator arenas of Ancient Rome to the city streets of the American Jazz Era.

Battling Butler (1926) starring Buster Keaton, Sally O’Neil, Francis McDonald Buster Keaton remarked that Battling Butler was his favorite of all his films. Based on a Broadway play, the story revolves around a case of mistaken identity between two Alfred Butlers. One is an effete millionaire (Keaton), the other the heavyweight champion of the world (Francis McDonald). Coincidence brings them to the same backwoods Kentucky neighborhood, where Keaton finds love with a mountain girl. But not before antagonizing Butler-the-brute into a Madison Square Garden grudge match. https://famousclowns.org/buster-keaton/buster-keaton-movies/battling-butler/

The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1923 starring Lon Chaney, Patsy Ruth Miller In fifteenth century Paris, the brother of the archdeacon plots with the gypsy king to foment a peasant revolt. Meanwhile, a freakish hunchback falls in love with the gypsy queen.