David Llewelyn Wark Griffith was a premier pioneering American film director. He is best known as the director of the controversial and groundbreaking 1915 film The Birth of a Nation and the subsequent film Intolerance (1916). Griffith's film The Birth of a Nation made pioneering use of advanced camera and narrative techniques, and its immense popularity set the stage for the dominance of the feature-length film. It also proved extremely controversial at the time and ever since for its negative depiction of Black Americans and their supporters, and its positive portrayal of slavery and the Ku Klux Klan. Griffith responded to his critics with his next film, Intolerance, intended to show the dangers of prejudiced thought and behavior. The film was not the financial success that its predecessor had been, but was received warmly by critics. Several of his later films were also successful, but high production, promotional, and roadshow costs often made his ventures commercial failures. Even so, he is generally considered one of the most important figures of early cinema.
Movie | Mary Pickford a Blessing and a Curse | Self | 2023-11-19 |
Movie | Flashback: The First World War | Self (archive footage) | 2014-01-01 |
Movie | Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies | Self (archive footage) | 2008-08-29 |
Movie | Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema | Self (archive footage) | 2007-05-23 |
Movie | The Tramp and the Dictator | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2002-02-14 |
Movie | Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists | Self (archive footage) | 1998-01-01 |
Series | American Experience | Self | 1988-10-04 |
Movie | The Legend of Rudolph Valentino | Self (archive footage) | 1961-05-24 |
Movie | San Francisco | Orchestra Conductor (uncredited) | 1936-06-26 |
Movie | Filmed Prologue to Birth of a Nation | 1930-10-24 | |
Movie | Screen Snapshots (Series 1, No. 20) | Himself | 1921-02-22 |
Movie | Enoch Arden | Mr. Ray | 1915-04-08 |
Movie | Two Daughters of Eve | At Stage Door | 1912-09-19 |
Movie | The Adventures of Billy | On Bench | 1911-10-18 |
Movie | The Girls and Daddy | At Black & Tan Ball | 1909-02-01 |
Movie | The Politician's Love Story | Man - First Couple | 1909-02-21 |
Movie | At the Altar | 1909-02-25 | |
Movie | 1776, or The Hessian Renegades | 1909-09-06 | |
Movie | Old Isaacs, the Pawnbroker | Doctor, Charity Worker | 1908-03-28 |
Movie | King of the Cannibal Islands | Cannibal in Top Hat | 1908-04-14 |
Movie | Hulda's Lovers | 1908-04-22 | |
Movie | The Music Master | 1908-05-05 | |
Movie | The King's Messenger | Messenger | 1908-04-29 |
Movie | Caught by Wireless | Paddy | 1908-03-21 |
Movie | Yellow Peril | Mr. Phlipp | 1908-03-07 |
Movie | Falsely Accused! | Cop in Court | 1908-01-18 |
Movie | Rescued from an Eagle's Nest | Father | 1908-01-16 |
Movie | Classmates | Extra | 1908-02-01 |
Movie | Cupid’s Pranks | 1908-02-19 | |
Movie | The Sculptor's Nightmare | 1908-05-06 | |
Movie | Her First Adventure | Father | 1908-03-18 |
Movie | A Calamitous Elopement | Policeman | 1908-08-06 |
Movie | The Fatal Hour | Policeman | 1908-08-18 |
Movie | Deceived Slumming Party | Reginald O.C. Wittington | 1908-07-31 |
Movie | Balked at the Altar | 1908-08-25 | |
Movie | The Red Girl | Man on Footpath | 1908-09-15 |
Movie | The Heart of O Yama | Footman | 1908-09-18 |
Movie | The Black Viper | Rescuer | 1908-07-21 |
Movie | The Stage Rustler | Phil Bowen | 1908-07-10 |
Movie | The Man in the Box | Station Agent | 1908-06-19 |
Movie | The Invisible Fluid | Mailman | 1908-06-16 |
Movie | At the French Ball | Husband | 1908-06-29 |
Movie | At the Crossroads of Life | Suitor | 1908-07-02 |
Movie | The Kentuckian | 1908-07-07 | |
Movie | When Knights Were Bold | 1908-05-20 |