Image of D. W. Griffith

D. W. Griffith

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.


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Born:
Jan 22, 1875 In LaGrange, Kentucky, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
37
First Appeared:
In the movie Rescued from an Eagle's Nest 1908-01-16
Latest Project:
Movie Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies 2008-08-29
Known For
Poster of Hulda's Lovers
Poster of Cupid’s Pranks
Poster of Classmates
Poster of Rescued from an Eagle's Nest
Filmography
Movie Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies Himself (Archive Footage) 2008-08-29
Movie Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema 2007-05-23
Movie The Tramp and the Dictator Himself (archive footage) (uncredited) 2002-02-14
Movie Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists (archive footage) 1998-01-01
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 The Adventures of Billy On Bench 1911-10-18
Movie At the Altar 1909-02-25
Movie The Politician's Love Story Man - First Couple 1909-02-21
Movie 1776, or The Hessian Renegades 1909-09-06
Movie Caught by Wireless Paddy 1908-03-21
Movie Old Isaacs, the Pawnbroker Doctor, Charity Worker 1908-03-28
Movie Hulda's Lovers 1908-04-22
Movie The King's Messenger Messenger 1908-04-29
Movie King of the Cannibal Islands Cannibal in Top Hat 1908-04-14
Movie Her First Adventure Father 1908-03-18
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 Yellow Peril Mr. Phlipp 1908-03-07
Movie The Music Master Unknown 1908-05-05
Movie The Stage Rustler Phil Bowen 1908-07-10
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 Kentuckian 1908-07-07
Movie The Invisible Fluid Mailman 1908-06-16
Movie The Man in the Box Station Agent 1908-06-19
Movie At the French Ball Husband 1908-06-29
Movie At the Crossroads of Life Suitor 1908-07-02
Movie The Sculptor's Nightmare 1908-05-06