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.

Cast

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

Crew

The Birth of a Nation
Writer, Producer, Original Music Composer, Editor, Presenter, Director
Bill Sharkey's Last Game
Director
Brutality
Writer, Director
Just Gold
Writer, Director
Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl
Director, Producer, Writer
Heredity
Director
My Hero
Director, Writer
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Scenario Writer, Director, Editor, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup Artist, Presenter
An Adventure in the Autumn Woods
Director
A Misappropriated Turkey
Director
Brothers
Director
A Chance Deception
Director
Love in an Apartment Hotel
Director
The Hero of Little Italy
Director
If We Only Knew
Director
Near To Earth
Director
The Stolen Loaf
Director
The Ranchero's Revenge
Director
The Sorrowful Shore
Director
The Enemy's Baby
Director
The Sealed Room
Director
Waifs
Director
Way Down East
Director, Producer, Writer
An Awful Moment
Writer, Director
Confidence
Writer, Director
The Politician's Love Story
Writer, Director
The Lure of the Gown
Writer, Director
A Drunkard's Reformation
Writer, Director
What Drink Did
Writer, Director
One Exciting Night
Director, Producer, Story
The Avenging Conscience
Director, Writer, Producer
The Marriage of Molly-O
Writer
True Heart Susie
Director, Producer
Orphans of the Storm
Director, Screenplay, Producer
The Musketeers of Pig Alley
Director, Writer
The Escape
Director
The Fight for Freedom
Director
For Love of Gold
Director
For a Wife's Honor
Director
His Mother's Son
Director
The Man and the Woman
Director
Mrs. Jones Entertains
Director
A Corner in Wheat
Director, Producer, Writer
A Sweet Revenge
Writer, Director
The Chief's Blanket
Director
The Tender Hearted Boy
Director
The Perfidy of Mary
Director
America
Director, Producer
An Unseen Enemy
Director
The Mothering Heart
Director, Producer
Judith of Bethulia
Director
Lady of the Pavements
Director
I Did It
Director
The Battle of the Sexes
Director, Producer
The Battle at Elderbush Gulch
Director, Writer
The Lonedale Operator
Director, Producer
The Old Actor
Director
Abraham Lincoln
Director
The Curtain Pole
Director, Writer
The New York Hat
Director
The Struggle
Director, Original Music Composer, Producer, Screenplay
The Lonely Villa
Director
The Female of the Species
Director
The Girl and Her Trust
Director
His Trust
Director
The Adventures of Dollie
Director
Death's Marathon
Director
Those Awful Hats
Director, Writer
The Mended Lute
Director
The House with Closed Shutters
Director
A Trap for Santa Claus
Director
The Fugitive
Director
The Golden Louis
Director, Writer
The Little Darling
Director, Writer
The White Rose
Director, Writer, Producer
The Yaqui Cur
Director
The Wanderer
Director, Writer
The Telephone Girl and the Lady
Director
Enoch Arden: Part I
Director
Enoch Arden: Part II
Director
The Miser's Heart
Director
Hearts of the World
Director, Writer, Producer
The Greatest Question
Director, Producer
Scarlet Days
Director, Producer
So Near, Yet So Far
Director
Blind Love
Director
The Transformation of Mike
Director
The Mender of Nets
Director, Writer
The Painted Lady
Director, Writer
What Shall We Do with Our Old?
Director
The Battle
Director
The Unchanging Sea
Director
In the Border States
Director
Dream Street
Director, Writer, Producer
The Sorrows of Satan
Director, Producer
Lady Helen's Escapade
Director
The Redman's View
Director
The House of Darkness
Director
Ramona
Director, Writer
A Romance of Happy Valley
Director, Story, Producer
An Arcadian Maid
Director
Isn't Life Wonderful
Director, Writer, Producer
As It Is in Life
Director
The Love Flower
Director, Writer, Producer
Sally of the Sawdust
Director
Winning Back His Love
Director
A Country Cupid
Director
The Revenue Man and His Girl
Director
Fate's Turning
Director
The Eternal Mother
Director
The School Teacher and the Waif
Director
The Black Viper
Director
A Calamitous Elopement
Director, Writer
Romance of a Jewess
Director, Writer
Father Gets in the Game
Director
His Trust Fulfilled
Director
A Beast at Bay
Director
The Gibson Goddess
Director, Writer
Friends
Director, Writer
Under Burning Skies
Director
The Lesser Evil
Director
One Is Business, the Other Crime
Director
The Narrow Road
Director
The Sunbeam
Director
The Sands of Dee
Director
For His Son
Director
The Burglar’s Dilemma
Director
The Massacre
Director, Writer
Saved from Himself
Director
Through Darkening Vales
Director
The Squaw's Love
Director
The Indian Brothers
Director
Swords and Hearts
Director
The Adventures of Billy
Director
The Last Drop of Water
Director
Fighting Blood
Director
The Usurer
Director
Wilful Peggy
Director
The Oath and the Man
Director
Faithful
Director
Rose o' Salem Town
Director
Lucky Jim
Director
The Renunciation
Director, Writer
1776, or The Hessian Renegades
Director, Writer
Nursing a Viper
Director, Writer
Edgar Allan Poe
Director, Writer
The Voice of the Violin
Director, Writer
Brute Force
Director
A Child of the Ghetto
Director
Home, Sweet Home
Director, Writer
Money Mad
Director, Writer
The Fatal Hour
Director
The Mountaineer's Honor
Director, Writer
Balked at the Altar
Director, Writer
The Joneses Have Amateur Theatricals
Director, Writer
The Violin Maker of Cremona
Director
The Country Doctor
Director, Writer
The Cricket on the Hearth
Director
The Lily and the Rose
Writer, Producer
Betrayed by a Handprint
Director, Writer
The Song of the Shirt
Director, Writer
Resurrection
Director
A Terrible Discovery
Director
The Baby and the Stork
Director
After Many Years
Director
Her First Biscuits
Director
Remodeling Her Husband
Director
The Hun Within
Writer
The Taming of the Shrew
Director, Writer
What the Daisy Said
Director
Her Mother's Oath
Director, Writer
His Mother's Son
Director
The Redman and the Child
Director, Writer
The Fall of Babylon
Director, Writer, Producer
The Mother and the Law
Director, Screenplay, Story, Producer
Daphne and the Pirate
Writer
At the Altar
Director, Writer
The Cord of Life
Director, Writer
Man's Genesis
Director, Writer
A Flash of Light
Director
The Adopted Brother
Director
Getting Even
Director, Writer
Pippa Passes
Director, Writer
Drums of Love
Director
Twin Brothers
Director
The Girl Who Stayed at Home
Director, Writer, Producer
The Son's Return
Director, Screenplay
The Light That Came
Director, Writer
The Primal Call
Director
The Lady and the Mouse
Writer, Director
Lines of White on a Sullen Sea
Writer, Director
The Broken Locket
Writer, Director
Her Terrible Ordeal
Director, Writer
The King of Kings
Assistant Director
The Lesson
Director
In Old Kentucky
Director
Three Friends
Director
A Pueblo Legend
Director, Writer
Over Silent Paths
Director
The Idol Dancer
Director
Ghosts
Producer
The Half-Breed
Producer
Deceived Slumming Party
Director
Monday Morning in a Coney Island Police Court
Director
The Girl and the Outlaw
Director
Behind the Scenes: Where All Is Not Gold That Glitters
Director
The Red Girl
Director
The Heart of O Yama
Director
Where the Breakers Roar
Director, Writer
The Message of the Violin
Director, Writer
A Smoked Husband
Director
The Devil
Director
Ingomar, the Barbarian
Director
The Vaquero's Vow
Director
The Call of the Wild
Director, Writer
Concealing a Burglar
Director
The Pirate's Gold
Director
The Guerrilla
Director
The Clubman and the Tramp
Director
The Valet's Wife
Director
The Feud and the Turkey
Director, Writer
The Reckoning
Director
The Test of Friendship
Director
The Sheriff's Baby
Director
An Innocent Magdalene
Story
Diane of the Follies
Writer
The Great Love
Director, Writer, Producer
The Greatest Thing in Life
Writer, Director, Producer
Over the Hills to the Poor House
Writer
A Strange Meeting
Director, Writer
The Suicide Club
Director
The Indian Runner's Romance
Director
The Modern Prodigal
Director
Love Among the Roses
Director
The Italian Barber
Director
The Way of Man
Director, Writer
The Awakening
Director
Billy's Stratagem
Director
Old Heidelberg
Supervising Producer
Double Trouble
Production Supervisor
The Rose of Kentucky
Director
The Christmas Burglars
Director, Writer
Mr. Jones at the Ball
Director, Writer
The Helping Hand
Director, Writer
One Touch of Nature
Director
The Maniac Cook
Director, Writer
The Honor of Thieves
Director, Writer
Love Finds a Way
Director, Writer
A Rural Elopement
Director, Writer
The Sacrifice
Director, Writer
The Criminal Hypnotist
Director, Writer
Mr. Jones Has a Card Party
Director, Writer
The Fascinating Mrs. Francis
Director, Writer
The Welcome Burglar
Director, Writer
The Salvation Army Lass
Director, Writer
The Lamb
Story
Fools of Fate
Director
Heart Beats of Long Ago
Director
His Daughter
Director
The Cardinal's Conspiracy
Director
The Golden Supper
Director
The Two Brothers
Director
Footlight Varieties
Director, Writer
The Music Master
Writer
Two Memories
Director, Writer
The Rocky Road
Director, Writer
Sweet and Twenty
Director
Trying to Get Arrested
Director
Fifty-Fifty
Producer
The Social Secretary
Producer
The Missing Links
Writer, Production Supervisor
Betsy's Burglar
Supervising Producer
A Girl of the Timber Claims
Supervising Producer
Teaching Dad to Like Her
Director
The Honor of His Family
Director
The Life of General Villa
Supervising Producer
In Old California
Director
The Thread of Destiny
Director, Story
The Little Teacher
Director
A Romance of the Western Hills
Director
The Day After
Director, Producer
The Making of a Man
Director
Broken Ways
Director
In Life's Cycle
Director
The Wood Nymph
Story
A Plain Song
Director
Hoodoo Ann
Writer
Enoch Arden: Part I
Director
When a Man Loves
Director
Three Sisters
Director
His Wife's Visitor
Director
Madame Rex
Director
A Decree of Destiny
Director
His Duty
Director
The Faded Lilies
Director, Writer
The Peachbasket Hat
Director, Writer
The Mexican Sweethearts
Director
The Necklace
Director
Tender Hearts
Director, Writer
The Slave
Director, Writer
They Would Elope
Director
Oh, Uncle!
Director, Writer
The Seventh Day
Director
His Lost Love
Director, Writer
In the Watches of the Night
Director
What's Your Hurry?
Director, Writer
The Restoration
Director, Writer
A Midnight Adventure
Director
The Trick that Failed
Director
Through the Breakers
Director
The Test
Director
To Save Her Soul
Director, Writer
The Heart of an Outlaw
Director
The Woman from Mellon's
Director
The Englishman and the Girl
Director
The Newlyweds
Director, Writer
The Twisted Trail
Director
A Rich Revenge
Director
In the Season of Buds
Director
Lillian Gish in a Liberty Loan Appeal
Director, Writer, Producer
A Victim of Jealousy
Director
Muggsy's First Sweetheart
Director
A Child's Impulse
Director
The Call to Arms
Director
The Sorrows of the Unfaithful
Director
Waiter No. 5
Director
Simple Charity
Director
The Song of the Wildwood Flute
Director
Fate
Director
The Informer
Director
My Baby
Director
The One She Loved
Director
A Feud in the Kentucky Hills
Director, Writer
A Lodging for the Night
Director
The Unwelcome Guest
Director
The Inner Circle
Director
An Indian Summer
Director
Lena and the Geese
Director, Producer
Home Folks
Director
Just Like a Woman
Director
Iola's Promise
Director
Fate's Interception
Director
San Francisco
Second Assistant Director
The Coming of Angelo
Director
The Long Road
Director
Sunshine Sue
Director
The Zulu's Heart
Director, Writer
A Temporary Truce
Director
Fisher Folks
Director
D.W. Griffith - Years of Discovery 1909-1913
Writer
His Lesson
Director
The Girls and Daddy
Director, Writer
The Odalisque
Supervising Producer
The Little Tease
Director, Writer
Two Men of the Desert
Director, Screenplay
Mixed Babies
Writer
Unexpected Help
Director
Comata, the Sioux
Director
Enoch Arden
Writer
The Battle of the Sexes
Director
The Reformers
Director
The Greaser's Gauntlet
Director, Writer
Oil and Water
Director
Betty of Greystone
Story, Supervisor of Production Resources
His Last Burglary
Director
The Final Settlement
Director
Taming a Husband
Director
The Man
Director
The Converts
Director
Gold Is Not All
Director
Thou Shalt Not
Director
The Way of the World
Director
The Gold Seekers
Director
The Impalement
Director
The Face at the Window
Director
The Marked Time-Table
Director
The Purgation
Director
A Midnight Cupid
Director
A Child's Faith
Director
Serious Sixteen
Director
As the Bells Rang Out!
Director
The Lily of the Tenements
Director
The Diamond Star
Director
The Two Paths
Director
A Wreath of Orange Blossoms
Director
His Sister-In-Law
Director
A Child's Stratagem
Director
The Banker's Daughters
Director
Two Little Waifs
Director
Her Father's Pride
Director
A Salutary Lesson
Director
A Summer Idyll
Director
Little Angels of Luck
Director
A Mohawk's Way
Director
The Iconoclast
Director
Examination Day at School
Director
That Chink at Golden Gulch
Director
The Broken Doll
Director
A Timely Interception
Director
Bobby the Coward
Director
The God Within
Director
Love in the Hills
Director
The Failure
Director
A Woman Scorned
Director
The Last Deal
Director, Writer
Two Daughters of Eve
Director
In the Aisles of the Wild
Director
Gold and Glitter
Director
A Cry for Help
Director
A Misunderstood Boy
Director
The Left-Handed Man
Director
Madonna of the Storm
Director
The Conscience of Hassan Bey
Director
The Children's Friend
Director
Wanted, a Child
Director
His Last Dollar
Director
Conscience
Director
A Siren of Impulse
Director
Pranks
Director
Her Awakening
Director
That Royle Girl
Director
The Goddess of Sagebrush Gulch
Director, Producer
The Bandit's Waterloo: The Outwitting of an Andalusian Brigand by a Pretty Senora
Director, Writer
The Ingrate
Director, Writer
The Planter's Wife
Director, Writer
The Jilt
Director, Writer
Jones and His New Neighbors
Director, Writer
Jones and the Lady Book Agent
Director, Writer
Mr. Jones’ Burglar
Director, Writer
The Medicine Bottle
Director, Writer
Mrs. Jones' Lover or, I Want My Hat
Director, Writer
The Note in the Shoe
Director, Writer
The Prussian Spy
Director, Writer
The Road to the Heart
Director, Writer
The Roue’s Heart
Director, Writer
Schneider’s Anti-Noise Crusade
Director, Writer
Those Boys!
Director, Writer
Tis an Ill Wind That Blows No Good
Director, Writer
A Troublesome Satchel
Director
The Winning Coat
Director, Writer
The Wooden Leg
Director, Writer
A Wreath in Time
Director, Writer
The Stolen Jewels
Director, Writer
A Woman's Way
Director, Writer
A Baby's Shoe
Director, Writer
The Brahma Diamond
Director, Writer
The Deception
Director
Drive for a Life
Director, Writer
Eloping with Auntie
Director, Writer
Eradicating Aunty
Director, Writer
His Ward's Love
Director, Writer
His Wife's Mother
Director, Writer
Jealousy and the Man
Director, Writer
The Mills of the Gods
Director, Writer
A New Trick
Director, Writer
A Rude Hostess
Director, Writer
Tragic Love
Director, Writer
The Call
Director, Writer
The Tavern Keeper’s Daughter
Director
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them
Director, Writer
A Burglar’s Mistake
Director, Writer
The Death Disc: A Story of the Cromwellian Period
Director
The Eavesdropper
Director, Writer
The Expiation
Director, Writer
A Fool's Revenge
Director, Writer
The Hindoo Dagger
Director, Writer
In Little Italy
Director
In the Window Recess
Director
Leather Stocking
Director, Producer
When Knights Were Bold
Writer
The Cloister’s Touch
Director
The Duke’s Plan
Director, Writer
On the Reef
Director, Writer
Italian Blood
Director
The Unveiling
Director
When Kings Were the Law
Director
Biograph Shorts Special Edition: 1909-1913
Director
A Griffith Biograph Collection Featuring Mary Pickford: Volume One
Director
1930 Prelude to "The Birth of a Nation"
Director
At the Crossroads of Life
Writer
The Root of Evil
Director
A String of Pearls
Director
The Voice of the Child
Director
The Trail of Books
Director
The French Duel
Director
'Ostler Joe
Author
The Outlaw
Author
Old Isaacs, the Pawnbroker
Writer
All on Account of the Milk
Producer
Macbeth
Producer
Let Katie Do it
Story
Don Quixote
Supervisor of Production Resources
May and December
Producer
A Gold Necklace
Producer
A Change of Heart
Director
The Tenderfoot's Triumph
Producer
The Children of the Feud
Producer
Susan Rocks the Boat
Producer