Events

• Technicolor is introduced. The first film to use it was The Gulf Between.

Top grossing films

1. Cleopatra

Movies released

Movies released in 1917 include:

• The Adventurer, a Charlie Chaplin short.
• Bucking Broadway , directed by John Ford.
• The Butcher Boy , a 'Fatty' Arbuckle / Buster Keaton short.
• Camile , starring Theda Bara
• Cleopatra, starring Theda Bara
• Coney Island, a 'Fatty' Arbuckle / Buster Keaton short.
• The Cure, a Charlie Chaplin short.
• Easy Street , starring Charlie Chaplin
• Great Expectations, starring Jack Pickford
• His Wedding Night , a 'Fatty' Arbuckle / Buster Keaton short.
• The Immigrant, starring Charlie Chaplin
• Joan the Woman , starring Geraldine Farrar; directed by Cecil B. DeMille
• The Little American , starring Mary Pickford; directed by Cecil B. DeMille.
• Oh Doctor! , a 'Fatty' Arbuckle / Buster Keaton short.
• The Poor Little Rich Girl, starring Mary Pickford.
• A Reckless Romeo , a 'Fatty' Arbuckle short.
• The Rough House , a 'Fatty' Arbuckle / Buster Keaton short.
• Straight Shooting , directed by John Ford.
• Teddy at the Throttle , a Keystone comedy with Gloria Swanson.
• Tom Sawyer, starring Jack Pickford
• The Wild Girl , starring Eva Tanguay and Tom Moore

Births

• January 2 - Vera Zorina , dancer, actress (d. 2003)
• January 10 - Hilde Krahl , actress (d. 1999)
• January 24 - Ernest Borgnine, actor
• February 6 - Zsa Zsa Gabor, actress
• February 21 - Lucille Bremer, actress (d. 1996)
• March 12 - Googie Withers, actress
• March 22 - Virginia Grey, actress (d. 2004)
• April 14 - Valerie Hobson, actress (d. 1998)
• May 1 - Danielle Darrieux, actress
• May 10 - Margo , actress (d. 1985)
• May 21 - Raymond Burr, actor (d. 1993)
• May 25 - Steve Cochran , actor (d. 1965)
• June 6 - Maria Montez, actress (d. 1951)
• June 7 - Dean Martin, singer, actor (d. 1995)
• June 30 - Lena Horne, singer, actress
• July 17 - Phyllis Diller, comedienne, actress
• August 6 - Robert Mitchum, actor (d. 1997)
• August 25 - Mel Ferrer, actor
• September 11 - Herbert Lom, actor
• October 7 - June Allyson, actress
• October 7 - Helmut Dantine , actor (d. 1982)
• October 13 - Laraine Day , actress
• October 17 - Alice Pearce, actress (d. 1966)
• October 17 - Marsha Hunt, U.S. actress
• October 22 - Joan Fontaine, actress
• November 4 - Virginia Field , actress (d. 1992)
• December 7 - Hurd Hatfield, actor (d. 1998)
• December 22 - Frankie Darro , actor (d. 1976)

Deaths

• October 13 - Florence La Badie, pioneer actress