Movie reviews for movies released theatrically in 1922.

1. Haxan: Witchcraft through the Ages, directed by Benjamin Christensen (10/10)

The second feature-length documentary (that I am aware of) is one of the greatest films of the decade; stylistically audacious as well as telling an important message. An absolute must-see.

2. Nosferatu, directed by F.W. Murnau (10/10)

The most famous German silent film is almost one of the most significant. Review lost to time.

3. Nanook of the North, directed by Robert J. Flaherty (9/10)

As anthropology, this movie is pretty near worthless. The director admits that he lost most of his original footage and instead returned to the north to construct a fake narrative about the titular character. So this is hardly an accurate glimpse into Inuit life. But this is pretty much the first feature documentary ever (it beat Haxan by a few months), and as such it is an incredibly important film. It is well made and relatively educational and if it weren’t for the invented narrative it would be absolutely essential.

Shorts:

“Danse Macabre,” directed by Dudley Murphy (10*/10)

Seen as part of an anthology when I didn’t write individual reviews. Crucially, I saw this years before I saw any Georges Méliès films, so take it with a grain of salt.