Black Oxen
A silent film about rejuvenation and love, based on a controversial novel.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Black Oxen is a 1923 American silent fantasy/romantic drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Corinne Griffith, Conway Tearle, and Clara Bow. Based on the controversial best-selling 1923 novel of the same name by Gertrude Atherton, the film is described as "subtle science fiction" and takes its title from a couplet by William Butler Yeats. It was produced by Frank Lloyd Productions and distributed by First National Pictures.
- Release Year
- 1923
- Director
- Frank Lloyd
- Starring
- Corinne Griffith, Conway Tearle, Clara Bow
- Genre
- Silent fantasy/romantic drama, subtle science fiction
- Based On
- Novel by Gertrude Atherton
- Production Company
- Frank Lloyd Productions
- Distributor
- First National Pictures
Lore & Background
The film's title and opening quote come from William Butler Yeats: "The years like great Black Oxen tread the world // And God the herdsman goads them on behind." A special Photoplay Edition of the novel was published by A. L. Burt Company, New York, illustrated with four stills from the film. In 1923 promotions, Corinne Griffith was used to advertise the movie because she was a known star and considered one of the most beautiful actresses in cinema.
Reader's Guide
Black Oxen is significant as a surviving example of early 1920s silent cinema and as an adaptation of a controversial best-selling novel. The film is notable for its "subtle science fiction" theme of rejuvenation through glandular treatment and X-ray surgery, reflecting contemporary fascination with medical and scientific advances. Its preservation status is incomplete: the George Eastman Museum holds a print missing the eighth reel, the Gosfilmofond Russian State Archive holds a copy missing Reel 2, and the New York Public Library has a 16mm print in three reels. A 60-minute DVD version is available from an eBay retailer, but no complete version is commercially available. Out of 58 films starring Corinne Griffith, Black Oxen is one of approximately ten that are viewable today, making it a rare artifact of her filmography and of silent-era filmmaking.
Did You Know?
- The film is based on the controversial best-selling 1923 novel of the same name by Gertrude Atherton.
- The title comes from a William Butler Yeats couplet: 'The years like great Black Oxen tread the world.'
- The George Eastman Museum holds an incomplete print missing the eighth reel; the Gosfilmofond Russian State Archive holds a copy missing Reel 2.
- Out of 58 films starring Corinne Griffith, Black Oxen is one of approximately ten that are available for viewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Black Oxen?
Black Oxen is a 1923 American silent film that blends fantasy, romance, and what critics have called "subtle science fiction." It was directed by Frank Lloyd, produced under his own banner, Frank Lloyd Productions, and distributed by First National Pictures.
Who stars in Black Oxen?
The lead roles are played by Corinne Griffith and Conway Tearle, with the then-young Clara Bow appearing in a supporting part. Frank Lloyd directed the project through his personal production company.
What novel is Black Oxen based on?
The film adapts Gertrude Atherton's controversial 1923 best-selling novel of the same name. Atherton's book was notably contentious when it hit shelves, and that reputation followed the screen version into theaters.
Why is Black Oxen labeled as science fiction?
Beneath its romantic-drama surface, the story centers on a theme of rejuvenation, giving it a speculative, science-fiction undercurrent. That is why it is often catalogued as "subtle science fiction" rather than a straightforward period romance.
Where does the title "Black Oxen" come from?
The phrase is lifted from a couplet by Irish poet William Butler Yeats. Atherton adopted it as the title for her novel, and the filmmakers carried the name over to the screen adaptation.
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