Deep Archive Finds in the Vein of Way Down East: Cult Guide

Dir: D.W. Griffith

In the last days of ancient Babylon, a tomboyish mountain girl fights for her king when the city is attacked.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

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

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

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

Dir: D.W. Griffith

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

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.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

A religious woman seeks to save her people from destruction by seducing and murdering the enemy leader, but her plans get complicated once she falls for him.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

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

The Biograph Company's reissue of D. W. Griffith's "Judith of Bethulia" (1914), misleadingly re-titled and expanded with previously deleted footage.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

A frail waif, abused by her brutal boxer father in London's seedy Limehouse District, is befriended by a sensitive Chinese immigrant with tragic consequences.

Dir: D.W. Griffith

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

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 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.

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.