Anna Christie | 1923 | Drama

Title: Anna Christie | 1923 | Drama Director: John Griffith Wray Studio: Thomas H. Ince Inc. / First National Pictures Starring: Blanche Sweet, William Russell, George F. Marion, Eugénie Besserer, Ralph Yearsley, Chester Conklin, George Siegmann Based on: Play *Anna Christie* by Eugene O’Neill Release Date: 1923 Runtime: Approximately 96 minutes Format: Silent black and white Country: United States Language: Silent with English intertitles Genres: Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Anna’s troubled past and departure from home 00:15:00 Reunion with her father, Chris Christopherson 00:30:00 Life on the coal barge 00:45:00 Rescue of Matt Burke 01:00:00 Growing bond and romance 01:15:00 Confession and reconciliation --- Summary: Anna Christie is a 1923 American silent drama adapted from Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer Prize–winning play about a young woman who, after years of hardship and estrangement, seeks a new start with her long-absent father, a coal barge captain. Haunted by her past life and relationships, Anna must confront shame and find forgiveness as she falls in love with the sailor Matt Burke. The film explores themes of redemption, familial bonds, and the struggle for personal dignity against social stigma in a gritty waterfront setting. --- Background: Produced by Thomas H. Ince and directed by John Griffith Wray, this silent version was the first film adaptation of O’Neill’s play. The production was notable for its frank treatment of mature subject matter for the era and featured Blanche Sweet in the title role. Prints believed lost were later rediscovered and preserved in film archives, allowing modern audiences to view this once-rare film. --- Trivia: The film was long considered lost until a surviving print was discovered in Europe. George F. Marion reprised his stage role from the original Broadway production in this and later film adaptations. Anna Christie was later adapted into Greta Garbo’s first sound film in 1930. The screenplay was written by Bradley King, adapting O’Neill’s play directly for the screen. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: 1923 Original Studio / Distributor: Thomas H. Ince Inc. / First National Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: #AnnaChristie #BlancheSweet #SilentFilm #EugeneONeill #1923Film #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain