Intolerance- A 1916 Silent Film Directed by D.W. Griffith- 2 hours 56 minutes

 

Available on YouTube 

""He achieved what no other known man has achieved. To watch his work is like being witness to the beginning of melody, or the first conscious use of the lever or the wheel; the emergence, coordination and first eloquence of language; the birth of an art: and to realize that this is all the work of one man." James Agee on D, W. Griffith 

Intolerance, a silent film released in 1916, is a complex and controversial work by D.W. Griffith, one of the most influential figures in early American cinema. It tells the story of intolerance through four separate narratives spanning different time periods and locations:

• The Fall of Babylon: Prince Belshazzar, a pacifist, is overthrown by warring religious factions.

• The Passion of Christ: The film depicts the last days of Jesus Christ in the style of a Passion play.

• The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre: The film portrays the brutal massacre of Huguenots in France by Catholics.

• Modern America: A woman fights to save her husband from execution for a murder he did not commit.

Griffith's purpose:

• Confronting criticism: The film was partly a response to the controversy surrounding his earlier film The Birth of a Nation (1915), which was widely criticized for its racist portrayal of African Americans and its glorification of the Ku Klux Klan.

• Exploring a universal theme: Griffith aimed to show the universality of intolerance and its destructive consequences throughout history.

Technical innovations:

• Cross-cutting: Griffith pioneered the use of parallel editing, interweaving the four stories to create a powerful and emotional impact.

• Massive sets and costumes: The film features elaborate sets and costumes, particularly for the Babylonian sequence, which was inspired by Italian historical epics.

• Use of allegory: The film uses several allegorical elements, such as the recurring image of a woman rocking a cradle, to symbolize the birth of hope and the possibility of overcoming intolerance.

Critical reception:

• Initial failure: Despite its innovative techniques, Intolerance was a commercial failure upon its release. Critics were divided, some praising its ambition and technical achievements, while others found it confusing and preachy.

• Legacy: Over time, the film's reputation has grown. It is now considered a landmark in film history, praised for its groundbreaking editing techniques and its powerful message of tolerance

• Technical influence: The film's innovative editing techniques have had a profound influence on subsequent generations of filmmakers.