DW Griffith did a fair share of fine work, feature and short films. Has everything that he has done been great? No. Saw 'The Birth of a Nation' recently, and while appreciating its importance and finding it extremely well made and acted the second part is so massively flawed and one can see why it's always been deemed offensive. 'Orphans of the Storm' and the best of his 1910s short films (i.e. 'The Mothering Heart') are fine examples of how great he can be.
Likewise with one of his most ambitious films, 1916's 'Intolerance'. It is a long film and sprawling, but the very meaning of a truly epic achievement in pretty much every sense. One of his best and one of the best silent films ever in my view, and there are many brilliant ones out there. Don't let the massive length put you off from seeing 'Intolerance', it wasn't a problem for me being used to seeing films with long lengths and it left me utterly transfixed in a way that not many recently seen films have as much.
'Intolerance' looks incredible, widely considered a visual and technical achievement and no wonder. The cinematography is not only amazing but the techniques and how they're used were revolutionary at the time and still maintains that quality. Even more striking are the huge and expensive-looking sets, the Babylonian sets have a spectacular grandeur, haven't seen sets this jaw-dropping for any film in a long time.
Griffith's direction is masterly and some of his most ambitious without trying to do too much. Carl Davis' score is one of the finest examples of all the films seen recently to have music that gelled so seamlessly to the mood and enhanced it even, also a perfect marriage of visuals and music in a way not seen since my viewing of Abel Gance's 'Napoleon'. It is also a fine score in its own right.
The story structurally was unique back then and over a century on it's still a contender for the best use of the multiple story/timeline structure on film. A rare example of all the stories working to some degree and where sprawling is still hugely transfixing and always coherent, also found many scenes emotionally powerful. It is at its best in the poignant modern day story and especially the Babylonian one, still astounding and really stirs the soul and emotions. The film is at its weakest with the slightly underdeveloped final days of Jesus story, but that is my one small complaint and that still manages to be intriguing and incredibly well made, directed and acted.
All the acting is great, notably from Mae Marsh and Contance Talmadge.
Concluding, far from intolerable. Instead, it's incredible film-making and an incredible film overall. 10/10
Likewise with one of his most ambitious films, 1916's 'Intolerance'. It is a long film and sprawling, but the very meaning of a truly epic achievement in pretty much every sense. One of his best and one of the best silent films ever in my view, and there are many brilliant ones out there. Don't let the massive length put you off from seeing 'Intolerance', it wasn't a problem for me being used to seeing films with long lengths and it left me utterly transfixed in a way that not many recently seen films have as much.
'Intolerance' looks incredible, widely considered a visual and technical achievement and no wonder. The cinematography is not only amazing but the techniques and how they're used were revolutionary at the time and still maintains that quality. Even more striking are the huge and expensive-looking sets, the Babylonian sets have a spectacular grandeur, haven't seen sets this jaw-dropping for any film in a long time.
Griffith's direction is masterly and some of his most ambitious without trying to do too much. Carl Davis' score is one of the finest examples of all the films seen recently to have music that gelled so seamlessly to the mood and enhanced it even, also a perfect marriage of visuals and music in a way not seen since my viewing of Abel Gance's 'Napoleon'. It is also a fine score in its own right.
The story structurally was unique back then and over a century on it's still a contender for the best use of the multiple story/timeline structure on film. A rare example of all the stories working to some degree and where sprawling is still hugely transfixing and always coherent, also found many scenes emotionally powerful. It is at its best in the poignant modern day story and especially the Babylonian one, still astounding and really stirs the soul and emotions. The film is at its weakest with the slightly underdeveloped final days of Jesus story, but that is my one small complaint and that still manages to be intriguing and incredibly well made, directed and acted.
All the acting is great, notably from Mae Marsh and Contance Talmadge.
Concluding, far from intolerable. Instead, it's incredible film-making and an incredible film overall. 10/10