By Vlad Zakh · May 12, 2026
Jean Hersholt brought a warm, versatile character presence to Hollywood across the silent and sound eras and was so respected for his humanitarian work that the Academy named an award in his honour. Greed disintegrates a dentist’s marriage after a lottery win, Tess of the Storm Country sets a fisherman’s daughter against a wealthy landowner, Torment tests a disgraced man’s redemption, and Souls for Sale finds a runaway bride a new life in Hollywood. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and Hell’s Hinges round out the list.
01 A dentist's marriage disintegrates into obsession and violence after his wife wins a small fortune.
Directed by Erich von Stroheim · 2h 20m · Rated NR
Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
02 Jean Hersholt features in this silent drama about a wrongly disgraced man whose path to redemption is complicated by a scheming rival determined to destroy him.
Directed by Maurice Tourneur · 1h 00m
03 A runaway bride abandoned in the desert stumbles into a career as a Hollywood actress.
Directed by Rupert Hughes · 1h 30m · Rated NR
Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store
04 Jean Hersholt is in this Mary Pickford silent about a fisherman's daughter whose fierce loyalty to her community puts her at odds with a wealthy landowner's family.
Directed by John S. Robertson · 1h 58m · Rated NR
05 Alice Terry is in this Valentino silent about a wealthy Argentine family torn apart when its members fight on opposing sides of the First World War.
Directed by Rex Ingram · 2h 36m
Stream: Artiflix · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Artiflix · Rent or buy: Amazon Video
Stream: Artiflix · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
Stream: Artiflix · Rent or buy: Amazon Video
Stream: Artiflix
06 Jean Hersholt is in this silent western about a corrupt gunslinger whose life is transformed by his growing affection for a minister's devoted sister.
Directed by Charles Swickard · 1h 04m
Stream: Best Westerns Ever Amazon Channel
Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.
