D.W. Griffith

D.W. Griffith & the Blockbuster Film

The modern blockbuster (Crash Course #6) is not a new idea. In fact, as early as 1915, the Hollywood Blockbuster became a big deal and influenced many directors, writers, actors, and their audiences.

D.W. Griffith was called the "Father of film technique" & "the man who invented Hollywood"

Birth of a Nation 

With cinematographer G.W. Bitzer, (see student documentary: (Alexis: Billy Bitzer) he created and perfected the film devices:

• the iris shot
• the flashback
• crosscutting

D.W. Griffith directed the very controversial The Birth of a Nation (1915) Based on Thomas Dixon's stage play "The Clansman." Over 3 hours long, the racist epic included a cast of hundreds. The film contained many new film innovations:

• Special use of subtitles
• Its own musical score with orchestra
• Introduction of night photography
• Used a "still shot"
• Used an "Iris shot"
• Used parallel action
• Used panning and tracking shots
• Used close-ups to reveal intimate expressions of actors
• Used fade outs and cameo-profiles
• Used high-angles and panoramic (extreme) long shots
• Used cross cutting between two scenes to create excitement and suspense

Birth of a Nation (1915), cinematography by William "Billy" Bitzer.

After making the blockbuster American epic The Birth of a Nation (1915), shocked by the fact that people seemed to misunderstand the intent of that film, Griffith went on to make his true masterpiece:  Intolerance (1916). Here are a few clips from the film.

Trailer for the restored version of Intolerance (trailer)

Babylon Long Shot/Crane Sequence (tinted)

Entire Film: Intolerance.

In 1919 Griffith established the film company United Artists with Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and William S. Hart.

Overall, Griffith directed over 500 films. He retired in 1931 and died in Los Angeles in 1948. In 1975 his picture was on a postage stamp and all the world loved him. But by 1999, The Director's Guild of America's National Board renamed the prestigious D.W. Griffith Award (first given in 1953 to such directors as Woody Allen, Stanley Kubrick, John Huston, Alfred Hitchcock, Ingmar Bergman, John Ford, Akira Kurosawa, and Cecil B. DeMille to name but a few) because of Griffith's racism.

"We do not fear censorship, for we have no wish to offend with improprieties or obscenities, but we do demand, as a right, the liberty to show the dark side of wrong, that we may illuminate the bright side of virtue - the same liberty that is conceded to the art of the written word - that art to which we owe the Bible and the works of Shakespeare."
--D.W. Griffith (1915)

"If in this work we have conveyed to the mind the ravages of war to the end that war may be held in abhorrence, this effort will not have been in vain." - D. W. Griffith (1915)

Please take a look at these clips and films starring one of his leading actresses: Lilian Gish.

Judith of Bethulia (1914) (part of the film with Lilian Gish; one of the first Biblical epics)

Broken Blossoms (1919) Entire film (with Lilian Gish)

True Heart Susie (1919) Entire film (Lilian Gish)

Way Down East (1920) (scene with Lilian Gish) One of the most amazing stunts ever pulled in cinema history. Please realize that these actors really were doing their own stunts in most cases. That water is cold and, yes, those are ice floes. Way Down East (1920, full film)

Orphans of the Storm (1921) (Entire film, with sister Dorothy Gish)

The Scarlet Letter (1926)  (scene with Lilian Gish)
Birth of a Nation (1915) (full film, remastered)

Sign up for one of these actors/directors/producers and begin to research them:
Lon Chaney, Sr.; Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; Janet Gaynor; Lillian Gish; Clara Bow; Lois Weber, Claudette Colbert; Jean Harlow; Mary Pickford; Carole Lombard; Conrad Veidt; Harold Lloyd; Rudolph Valentino; John Barrymore; Gloria Swanson; Greta Garbo; Mae Marsh; Cecil B. DeMille; Carl Laemmle; Oscar Micheaux; Evelyn Preer; Thomas Ince; King Vidor; Erich Von Stroheim

Here is an example of what I might expect you to do with your short (1-3 minute) documentary:
Cameron: Nickelodeons
Frieda: Kinemacolor
Alannah: Goldwyn, Fox, Warner Bros.
Olivia: Alice Guy Blanche
Jocelyn: Anita Loos & Frances Marion 
Karina: Lois Weber
Deja: Gloria Swanson
Tamaron: Cecil B. DeMille 
Liana: Janet Gaynor & Charles Farrell 
Isabella John Barrymore 
Kyra: Thomas Ince 
Alexander: Buster Keaton 
Carina: Clara Bow & Rudolph Valentino

HOMEWORK: None. You are welcome to begin researching your chosen actor/director subject. See examples/model student films at the links above.