The Essential Watchlist that Capture the Essence of The Escape: Cul...

Dir: D.W. Griffith

Frank Andrews is a successful businessman. He has always found pride and joy in the company of his wife, son and daughter. He suddenly finds himself enthralled by the advances of a gay young woman siren, who lives in the same apartment house as he does. So marked an influence does she have over him as time progresses that at last he quite forgets his home ties, neglects his family, and goes the way of many other men who have forgotten the meaning of paternity and blood ties. The story is advanced through many scenes enacted with the accompanying notes of New York's night life, and the denouement comes when the faithful wife discovers her husband's infidelity. At this time the mother's mind nearly loses balance, while Jane, the beautiful daughter, crazed by the grief of her mother, determines to take part in the tragedy. With revolver in hand she steals up to the apartment of the woman, but her frail nature is overcome by the temperamental anger of the woman and her mission fails. However, the errand is not fraught with failure for the father, coming in at this moment, finds his daughter being made love to by the sweetheart of the young woman, and realizes the road upon which he has traveled. When he confronts his daughter and says, "You, my daughter, what are you doing here?" The daughter answers, "My father, what are you doing here?" The realization is brought home to the father's mind that the law of moral ethics that governs a woman's life necessarily governs that of wan as well. Reformation comes in his character. He takes his daughter away with him and together they go back to their home of happiness and content.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

An orphan girl is given shelter by a farm family, but soon finds herself in the clutches of a murderous farmer and his wife.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Greatest Question perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

Prevented from dating his sweetheart by his uncle, a young man turns his thoughts to murder.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

An idealistic young American during World War I, itching to fight the Germans and not wanting to wait until the U. S. joined the war, journeys to Canada and enlists in the British army. He is sent for training to England, and then to the front in France, where he is wounded. Returned back to England to recuperate from his wounds, he falls in love with the daughter of an Australian minister.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Avenging Conscience: or 'Thou Shalt Not Kill' perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

Four historical tales depict the ongoing human struggle against prejudice and inhumanity.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

Story of two brothers who go off to France to fight in World War I, the women who love them and an American expatriate living in France who rallies behind his former country.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The Great Love perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

Young lovers in a French village are torn apart with the coming of the Great War.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

John Howard Payne at his most miserable point in life, writes a song which becomes popular and inspires other people at some point in their lives.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Intolerance perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

A naive country girl is tricked into a sham marriage by a wealthy womanizer, then must rebuild her life despite the taint of having borne a child out of wedlock.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

Susie, a plain young country girl, secretly loves a neighbor boy, William. She believes in him and sacrifices much of her own happiness to promote his own ambitions, all without his knowledge. Eventually he rises to a position of success and sophistication, and Susie realizes that she has through her own efforts raised him to a level where he is inaccessible to her.