The Unwritten Law (1925 film)

The Unwritten Law is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Clarence Brown and starring Alma Rubens, Elliott Dexter, and Gareth Hughes. The film's plot revolves around a woman who shoots the man who seduced and ruined her sister.

The film's narrative explores themes of revenge, honor, and societal justice. It presents a moral quandary regarding the justification of murder when legal recourse is perceived as inadequate. The "unwritten law" refers to the concept of extrajudicial punishment motivated by perceived wrongs that the formal legal system is unable or unwilling to address.

The Unwritten Law was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). The film is considered lost, meaning no known copies are known to exist in archives or private collections. Its disappearance contributes to the challenges of fully understanding the nuances of the film's message and artistic presentation within the context of 1920s cinema. Despite its lost status, the film remains notable for its exploration of complex moral issues and its contribution to the social and legal discussions of the era.