Person
D.W. Griffith
LaGrange, Kentucky, USA
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 Nat…
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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
Movies and shows, newest first
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2024
Hollywood Black
TV show Self (archive footage)
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2023
Mary Pickford a Blessing and a Curse
Movie Self
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2020
Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty
Movie archive footage
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2014
Flashback: The First World War
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2008
Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2007
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2002
D.W. Griffith - Years of Discovery 1909-1913
Movie Writer
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2002
The Tramp and the Dictator
Movie Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
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1998
Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1995
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1993
The Making of 'The Birth of a Nation'
Movie Self (Archive footage)
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1988
American Experience
TV show Self
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1975
D.W. Griffith: An American Genius
Movie Self (archive)
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1973
General Massacre
Movie Novel
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1961
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1951
Footlight Varieties
Movie Writer
More credits
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1936
San Francisco
Movie Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
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1931
The Struggle
Movie Director
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1930
Abraham Lincoln
Movie Director
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1930
1930 Prelude to "The Birth of a Nation"
Movie Self
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1929
Lady of the Pavements
Movie Director
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1928
The Battle of the Sexes
Movie Director
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1928
Drums of Love
Movie Director
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1927
The King of Kings
Movie Assistant Director
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1926
The Sorrows of Satan
Movie Director
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1925
That Royle Girl
Movie Director
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1925
Sally of the Sawdust
Movie Director
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1924
Isn't Life Wonderful
Movie Director
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1924
America
Movie Director
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1923
The White Rose
Movie Director
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1922
One Exciting Night
Movie Producer
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1921
Orphans of the Storm
Movie Director
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1921
Dream Street
Movie Director
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1921
Screen Snapshots (Series 1, No. 20)
Movie Himself
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1920
Way Down East
Movie Director
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1920
The Love Flower
Movie Writer
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1920
Remodeling Her Husband
Movie Director
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1920
The Idol Dancer
Movie Director
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1919
The Greatest Question
Movie Director
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1919
Scarlet Days
Movie Director
