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.
Filmography
Mary Pickford a Blessing and a Curse
as Self
Mary Pickford a Blessing and a Curse
as Self
Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty
as archive footage
Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty
as archive footage
Flashback: The First World War
as Self (archive footage)
Flashback: The First World War
as Self (archive footage)
Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies
as Self (archive footage)
Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies
as Self (archive footage)
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
as Self (archive footage)
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
as Self (archive footage)
The Tramp and the Dictator
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Tramp and the Dictator
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists
as Self (archive footage)
Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists
as Self (archive footage)
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
as Self (archive footage)
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
as Self (archive footage)
The Making of 'The Birth of a Nation'
as Self (Archive footage)
The Making of 'The Birth of a Nation'
as Self (Archive footage)
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
as Self (archive footage)
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
as Self (archive footage)
San Francisco
as Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
San Francisco
as Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
1930 Prelude to "The Birth of a Nation"
as Self
1930 Prelude to "The Birth of a Nation"
as Self
Screen Snapshots (Series 1, No. 20)
as Himself
Screen Snapshots (Series 1, No. 20)
as Himself
Enoch Arden
as Mr. Ray
Enoch Arden
as Mr. Ray
Two Daughters of Eve
as At Stage Door
Two Daughters of Eve
as At Stage Door
The Adventures of Billy
as On Bench
The Adventures of Billy
as On Bench
1776, or The Hessian Renegades
1776, or The Hessian Renegades
At the Altar
At the Altar
The Politician's Love Story
as Man - First Couple
The Politician's Love Story
as Man - First Couple
The Girls and Daddy
as At Black & Tan Ball
The Girls and Daddy
as At Black & Tan Ball
The Heart of O Yama
as Footman
The Heart of O Yama
as Footman
The Red Girl
as Man on Footpath
The Red Girl
as Man on Footpath
Balked at the Altar
Balked at the Altar
The Fatal Hour
as Policeman
The Fatal Hour
as Policeman
A Calamitous Elopement
as Policeman
A Calamitous Elopement
as Policeman
Deceived Slumming Party
as Reginald O.C. Wittington
Deceived Slumming Party
as Reginald O.C. Wittington
The Black Viper
as Rescuer
The Black Viper
as Rescuer
The Stage Rustler
as Phil Bowen
The Stage Rustler
as Phil Bowen
The Kentuckian
The Kentuckian
At the Crossroads of Life
as Suitor
At the Crossroads of Life
as Suitor
At the French Ball
as Husband
At the French Ball
as Husband
The Man in the Box
as Station Agent
The Man in the Box
as Station Agent
The Invisible Fluid
as Mailman
The Invisible Fluid
as Mailman
'Ostler Joe
as Lover
'Ostler Joe
as Lover
When Knights Were Bold
When Knights Were Bold
The Sculptor's Nightmare
The Sculptor's Nightmare
The Music Master
The Music Master
The King's Messenger
as Messenger
The King's Messenger
as Messenger
Hulda's Lovers
as Handy Hank
Hulda's Lovers
as Handy Hank
King of the Cannibal Islands
as Cannibal in top hat
King of the Cannibal Islands
as Cannibal in top hat
A Famous Escape
as Prisoner
A Famous Escape
as Prisoner
Old Isaacs, the Pawnbroker
as Doctor, Charity worker
Old Isaacs, the Pawnbroker
as Doctor, Charity worker
Caught by Wireless
as Policeman
Caught by Wireless
as Policeman
Her First Adventure
as Father
Her First Adventure
as Father
The Yellow Peril
as Mr. Phlipp
The Yellow Peril
as Mr. Phlipp
Cupid’s Pranks
as Extra at ball
Cupid’s Pranks
as Extra at ball
The Princess in the Vase
as Lover
The Princess in the Vase
as Lover
Classmates
as Extra
Classmates
as Extra
Falsely Accused!
as Cop in Court
Falsely Accused!
as Cop in Court
Professional Jealousy
as Extra on stage
Professional Jealousy
as Extra on stage