When watching America (1924) once cannot help but remember DW Griffith's earlier The Birth of a Nation (1915). Both films are epics concerning families caught up in a war, lustful and power-hungry villains, and star cross'd romance. There is one major difference between them: Birth, for all its vile content, was a game-changer that strongly influenced the American film industry. America, released nearly a decade after, feels stale and old-fashioned even for 1924.
The American Revolution is the setting of the movie, but the central story is the romance between minute man Nathan Holden (Neil Hamilton) and the loyalist aristocrat Nancy Montague (Carol Dempster). More conflict arrives in the form of Captain Walter Butler (Lionel Barrymore), who seeks to betray his king and take over the colonies, as well as possess the lovely, virginal Nancy. The plot is very by-the-book Griffith. The love story is dull: outside of physical attraction, they've no real reason to like each other. Nathan and Nancy are dreadfully bland, not helped by Carol Dempster's limited performance. You can tell Neil Hamilton is trying, but there's little he can do to give such a flat character life, though I will admit he was at his most impressive when agonizing over whether he should warn the people of Valley Forge of a British ambush or rescue his lover from being raped by Captain Butler. Speaking of the villain, Lionel Barrymore steals the whole show as the wicked captain, delightfully chewing the scenery.
Unfortunately, the movie is more interested in the bloodless love story than it is with the revolution. The battle scenes and conversations about loyalty are the most interesting parts of the film, though even that's not saying much. The action sequences are certainly well shot, but they cannot support the whole production on their own.
If you're interested in seeing Griffith's full body of work, then by all means, buy the DVD or check this out on YouTube. I myself do not plan on revisiting.
The American Revolution is the setting of the movie, but the central story is the romance between minute man Nathan Holden (Neil Hamilton) and the loyalist aristocrat Nancy Montague (Carol Dempster). More conflict arrives in the form of Captain Walter Butler (Lionel Barrymore), who seeks to betray his king and take over the colonies, as well as possess the lovely, virginal Nancy. The plot is very by-the-book Griffith. The love story is dull: outside of physical attraction, they've no real reason to like each other. Nathan and Nancy are dreadfully bland, not helped by Carol Dempster's limited performance. You can tell Neil Hamilton is trying, but there's little he can do to give such a flat character life, though I will admit he was at his most impressive when agonizing over whether he should warn the people of Valley Forge of a British ambush or rescue his lover from being raped by Captain Butler. Speaking of the villain, Lionel Barrymore steals the whole show as the wicked captain, delightfully chewing the scenery.
Unfortunately, the movie is more interested in the bloodless love story than it is with the revolution. The battle scenes and conversations about loyalty are the most interesting parts of the film, though even that's not saying much. The action sequences are certainly well shot, but they cannot support the whole production on their own.
If you're interested in seeing Griffith's full body of work, then by all means, buy the DVD or check this out on YouTube. I myself do not plan on revisiting.