Best films of 1926: Titles feature romance, adventure, first-rate acting, and some remarkable social commentary
Among the best films released in 1926 are Herbert Brenon’s family drama Dancing Mothers, Alan Crosland’s period romantic adventure Don Juan, Victor Sjöström’s socially conscious period drama The Scarlet Letter, and Tod Browning’s crime drama The Show.
In disparate ways, both Dancing Mothers and The Scarlet Letter have something to say about women’s roles in society: In the former, a sensational Alice Joyce realizes that she’s better off without having around her stiff husband (Conway Tearle) and jazzy daughter (Clara Bow); in the latter, Lillian Gish – creating one of her finest characterizations – discovers that nothing can be more cruelly destructive than the righteous power of ideologues, especially those of the god-fearing variety.
Don Juan is the perfect star vehicle for John Barrymore (as the titular character), while The Show demonstrates that silent era superstar John Gilbert, as a no-good but oh-so-seductive Budapest carnival worker ultimately redeemed by lovely Renée Adorée, could be a stellar performer.
As for the box office hit Mare Nostrum, it may not be necessarily be Rex Ingram’s greatest effort, but it does feature Alice Terry at her very best – as an alluring Mata Hari-like spy – and a memorable, deeply moving final scene.
Best Film
Dancing Mothers – Dir.: Herbert Brenon; Scr.: Forrest Halsey
Don Juan – Dir.: Alan Crosland; Scr.: Bess Meredyth; titles: Walter Anthony & Maude Fulton
Kid Boots – Dir.: Frank Tuttle; Scr.: Luther Reed, Tom Gibson; titles: George Marion Jr.
Mare Nostrum – Dir.: Rex Ingram; Scr.: Willis Goldbeck
The Scarlet Letter – Dir.: Victor Sjöström; Scr.: Frances Marion
The Show – Dir.: Tod Browning; Scr.: Waldemar Young; titles: Joseph W. Farnham
Sparrows – Dir.: William Beaudine; Scr.: C. Gardner Sullivan; titles: George Marion Jr.
Tell It to the Marines – Dir.: George Hill; Scr.: Richard Schayer; titles: Joseph W. Farnham
The Volga Boatman – Dir.: Cecil B. DeMille; Scr.: Lenore J. Coffee
You Never Know Women – Dir.: William A. Wellman; Scr.: Benjamin Glazer
Best Actor
John Barrymore – Don Juan
Eddie Cantor – Kid Boots
John Gilbert – The Show
William Haines – Tell It to the Marines
Werner Krauss – Nana
Best Actress
Renée Adorée – The Show
Lillian Gish – The Scarlet Letter
Alice Joyce – Dancing Mothers
Beatrice Lillie – Exit Smiling
Colleen Moore – Ella Cinders
Colleen Moore – Irene
Mary Pickford – Sparrows
Florence Vidor – You Never Know Women
Best Supporting Actress
Gertrude Astor – The Show
Gertrude Astor – The Strong Man
Alice Terry – Mare Nostrum
Best Supporting Actor
Noah Beery – Beau Geste
Owen Moore – The Blackbird
William Powell – Beau Geste
Gustav von Seyffertitz – Sparrows
Best Cinematography
The Bat – Arthur Edeson
Beau Geste – J. Roy Hunt
La Bohème – Hendrik Sartov
Don Juan – Byron Haskins
Flesh and the Devil – William H. Daniels
Mare Nostrum – John F. Seitz
Nell Gwynne – Roy Overbaugh
Old Ironsides – Alfred Gilks
The Scarlet Letter – Hendrik Sartov