D.W. Griffith

by Bruce Eder film biography

One of the pioneers of contemporary filmmaking (and often cited as the single most important figure in the history of American cinema), D.W. Griffith was also one of the most controversial figures in the history of Hollywood. The son of a physician and Confederate hero during the Civil War, Griffith grew up in poverty in Louisville, KY, and gravitated to acting at an early age. At the turn-of-the-century, he worked as a performer in various touring companies with mixed success and in virtual poverty. After years of frustration on the stage, he turned to movies, and became an actor and writer, establishing himself at New York's Biograph Studio. He eventually became a producer and, in 1908, a director. He directed every Biograph release through the end of 1909, and, later as chief of production, supervised the making of every film released by the company for the next three years, personally directing all of the major productions. Most of these 450 films were comedies, although a significant minority were dramas. But it was in 1913 that Griffith's ambitions became clear with Judith of Bethulia; violating the restrictions of the studio heads, Griffith made the Old Testament drama into a four-reel film, almost double the length that had been approved, and an epic by the of the film standards of the day.

After leaving Biograph, Griffith embarked on an ambitious production based upon Thomas Dixon's novel The Clansman, which ultimately became known as Birth of a Nation (1915). The first great epic film of American cinema, this movie, more than any other, defined what the medium could do. Assisted by his cameraman Billy Bitzer, Griffith had already utilized such techniques of film construction and design as the close-up, rhythmic editing, parallel action, and dramatic lighting; these had been used before -- but not with Griffith's coherence or purpose. Birth of a Nation was the culmination of his efforts, drawing these techniques together in an epic-length story that carried viewers through the Civil War and into Reconstruction, with in-depth, detailed drama involving dozens of characters. Griffith single-handedly elevated American film -- which had previously stood in the shadow of its European cousins (Italian filmmakers, in particular, had been more ambitious much earlier) to world-class stature, and forced Americans who had thought of movies as light entertainment to perceive them as serious creations, worthy of respect equal to the greatest stage dramas and capable of creating theatrics that the a live performance couldn't hope to match. The movie's Civil War setting, however, was to prove a blemish on Griffith's reputation -- a Southerner by birth and family history with a deep resentment of the toll that Reconstruction played on his homeland, Griffith was outspoken on his views regarding the races, and black audience members all over the country rose up in protest against the depiction of slaves and ex-slaves in the movie. Demonstrations began almost from the instant the film was released, and Griffith -- despite including a plea for reconciliation of all of mankind's differences in his subsequent film Intolerance (1916) -- never fully recovered from the controversy. (A film answering Birth of a Nation was produced in 1919; entitled Birth of a Race, it presented a completely different view of black Americans and their ancestors.) The ripple effect of Birth also moved in other directions: The news that Griffith was doing an eight-reel drama also led his former mentor, Mack Sennett, to make the hour-long Tillie's Punctured Romance, the first comedy to run longer than two reels.

Griffith never had another success as great as Birth of a Nation, and, indeed, faced ongoing financial problems for much of the rest of his career. In addition, while his filmmaking technique was beyond reproach, his dramatic sensibilities were rooted in the touring theater of the 20th century's first decade. While he expanded the structural boundaries and storytelling capability of film with Intolerance -- the parallel action of which took place across several time periods -- and ventured into topical filmmaking with a vengeance in the World War I story Hearts of the World (1918), his characters and dramas seemed dated and one-dimensional. His smaller scale productions, such as True Heart Susie (1925) and Broken Blossoms (1919), worked better and have endured, but Griffith fell increasingly behind the rest of the country and the filmmaking community in the kinds of stories he told. He co-founded United Artists with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., and Charles Chaplin, but his involvement with the new studio failed to give him the financial independence that he needed to sustain his productions. His career began a downward spiral in the early '20s, despite such major works as the livelyAmerica, an account of the Revolutionary War, and Isn't Life Wonderful?, a compassionate look at post-war Germany. Almost all were box-office failures, costing Griffith creative control over his films. Other than his comedies with W.C. Fields, Sally of the Sawdust and That Royale Girl, his last silents were trivial, impersonal dramas. He made only two sound films: the biopic Abraham Lincoln, distinguished by Walter Huston's acting and Griffith's ease with sound, and The Struggle, a sensitive but neglected drama of alcoholism. Their failure sealed his fate, and he never got another job. Griffith died largely forgotten at age 73 in 1948; the legacy he left was an art form called cinema.

filmography snapshot

1910

1915

1920

1925

1930

1935

1940

1945

Year	Title	Rating
1908	'ostler Joe Actor
1908	A Calamitous Elopement Actor, Screenwriter, Director
1908	A Famous Escape Actor
1908	A Smoked Husband Director, Screenwriter
1908	An Awful Moment Director, Screenwriter
1908	At the French Ball Actor
1908	Balked at the Altar Director, Screenwriter, Actor
1908	Behind the Scenes Director, Screenwriter
1908	Betrayed by a Handprint Director, Screenwriter
1908	Caught by Wireless Actor
1908	Classmates Actor
1908	Concealing a Burglar Screenwriter, Director
1908	Cupid's Pranks Actor
1908	Devil Director, Screenwriter, Actor
1908	Edgar Allen Poe Director
1908	Falsely Accused! Actor
1908	Father Gets in the Game Director, Screenwriter
1908	For Love of Gold Screenwriter, Director
1908	For a Wife's Honor Screenwriter, Director
1908	Her First Adventure Actor
1908	Hulda's Lovers Actor
1908	Monday Morning in a Coney Island Police Court Director
1908	Money Mad Screenwriter, Director
1908	Mr. Jones at the Ball Screenwriter, Director
1908	Mrs. Jones Entertains Screenwriter, Director
1908	Old Isaacs, the Pawnbroker Screenwriter, Actor, Director
1908	Outpost in Malaya Director, Screenwriter
1908	Professional Jealousy Actor
1908	Rescued from an Eagle's Nest Actor
1908	Romance of a Jewess Director, Screenwriter
1908	The Adventures of Dollie Director
1908	The Bandit's Waterloo Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Black Viper Actor, Director
1908	The Call of the Wild Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Christmas Burglars Director, Screenwriter
1908	The Clubman and the Tramp Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Fatal Hour Director, Screenwriter
1908	The Feud and the Turkey Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Girl and the Outlaw Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Greaser's Gauntlet Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Heart of O'yama Actor, Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Helping Hand Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Ingrate Director, Screenwriter
1908	The Invisible Fluid Actor
1908	The King's Messenger Actor
1908	The Man and the Woman Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Man in the Box Actor
1908	The Pirate's Gold Director, Screenwriter
1908	The Princess in the Vase Actor
1908	The Reckoning Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Red Girl Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Red Man and the Child Director, Screenwriter
1908	The Sculptor's Nightmare Actor
1908	The Song of the Shirt Director, Screenwriter
1908	The Stolen Jewels Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Taming of the Shrew Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Tavern Keeper's Daughter Director
1908	The Test of Friendship Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Valet's Wife Screenwriter, Director
1908	The Vaquero's Vow Director, Screenwriter
1908	The Yellow Peril Actor
1908	The Zulu's Heart Screenwriter, Director
1908	Where the Breakers Roar Director, Screenwriter
1908	Woman's Way Screenwriter, Director
1909	1776, or The Hessian Renegades Director
1909	A Baby's Shoe Screenwriter, Director
1909	A Burglar's Mistake Director, Screenwriter
1909	A Change of Heart Director
1909	A Convict's Sacrifice Screenwriter, Director
1909	A Corner in Wheat Director, Screenwriter
1909	A Drunkard's Reformation Director, Screenwriter
1909	A Fair Exchange Director
1909	A Fool's Revenge Director, Screenwriter
1909	A Midnight Adventure Screenwriter, Director
1909	A New Trick Screenwriter, Director
1909	A Rude Hostess Director, Screenwriter
1909	A Rural Elopement Screenwriter, Director
1909	A Sound Sleeper Screenwriter, Director
1909	A Strange Meeting Director, Screenwriter
1909	A Sweet Revenge Director, Screenwriter
1909	A Terrible Quarrel Director
1909	A Trap for Santa Director
1909	A Wreath in Time Director
1909	And a Little Child Shall Lead Them Director, Screenwriter
1909	At the Altar Actor, Screenwriter, Director
1909	Choosing a Husband Screenwriter, Director
1909	Comata, the Sioux Director
1909	Confidence Screenwriter, Director
1909	Fools of Fate Director
1909	Getting Even Director, Screenwriter
1909	Her First Biscuits Director, Screenwriter
1909	His Duty Director
1909	His Lost Love Screenwriter, Director
1909	His Ward's Love Director, Screenwriter
1909	His Wife's Mother Director, Screenwriter
1909	His Wife's Visitor Director, Screenwriter
1909	In Little Italy Director
1909	In Old Kentucky Director
1909	In a Hempen Bag Screenwriter, Director
1909	In the Watches of the Night Director, Screenwriter
1909	In the Window Recess Director
1909	Jealousy and the Man Director, Screenwriter
1909	Jilt Screenwriter, Director
1909	Jones and His New Neighbors Director, Screenwriter
1909	Jones and the Lady Book Agent Screenwriter, Director
1909	Lady Helen's Escapade Director
1909	Leather Stocking Director
1909	Lines of White on a Sullen Sea Screenwriter, Director
1909	Love Finds a Way Screenwriter, Director
1909	Lucky Jim Director
1909	Mamma Director
1909	Mr. Jones Has a Card Party Screenwriter, Director
1909	Mr. Jones' Burglar Screenwriter, Director
1909	Nursing a Viper Director, Screenwriter
1909	Oh, Uncle! Screenwriter, Director
1909	One Busy Hour Director, Screenwriter
1909	One Touch of Nature Director
1909	Pippa Passes Director
1909	Pranks Director
1909	Resurrection Director
1909	Sacrifice Screenwriter, Director
1909	Schneider's Anti-Noise Crusade Screenwriter, Director
1909	Slave Director, Screenwriter
1909	Suicide Club Director
1909	Sweet and Twenty Director
1909	Tender Hearts Screenwriter, Director
1909	Test Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Awakening Director
1909	The Better Way Director
1909	The Brahma Diamond Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Broken Locket Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Cardinal's Conspiracy Director
1909	The Children's Friend Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Cord of Life Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Country Doctor Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Cricket on the Hearth Director
1909	The Criminal Hypnotist Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Curtain Pole Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Day After Director
1909	The Death Disc Director
1909	The Deception Director
1909	The Eavesdropper Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Expiation Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Faded Lilies Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Fascinating Mrs. Francis Screenwriter, Director
1909	The French Duel Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Friend of the Family Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Gibson Goddess Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Girls and Daddy Director, Screenwriter, Actor
1909	The Golden Louis Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Hindoo Dagger Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Honor of Thieves Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Indian Runner's Romance Director
1909	The Joneses Have Amateur Theatricals Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Light That Came Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Little Darling Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Little Teacher Director
1909	The Lonely Villa Director
1909	The Lure of the Gown Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Maniac Cook Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Medicine Bottle Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Mended Lute Director
1909	The Message Director
1909	The Mexican Sweethearts Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Mills of the Gods Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Mountaineer's Honor Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Necklace Director
1909	The Note in the Shoe Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Open Gate Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Peachbasket Hat Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Politician's Love Story Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Prussian Spy Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Red Man's View Director
1909	The Renunciation Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Restoration Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Road to the Heart Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Roue's Heart Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Salvation Army Lass Director, Screenwriter
1909	The Sealed Room Director
1909	The Seventh Day Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Son's Return Screenwriter, Director
1909	The Winning Coat Director
1909	They Would Elope Director
1909	Those Awful Hats Screenwriter, Director
1909	Those Boys! Director, Screenwriter
1909	Through the Breakers Director
1909	To Save Her Soul Screenwriter, Director
1909	Tragic Love Screenwriter, Director
1909	Two Women and a Man Director
1909	Wanted, a Child Director
1909	With Her Card Director
1910	A Child's Faith Director
1910	A Child's Impulse Director
1910	A Child's Stratagem Director
1910	A Flash of Light Director
1910	A Gold Necklace Director
1910	A Knot in the Plot Director
1910	A Midnight Cupid Director
1910	A Mohawk's Way Director
1910	A Plain Song Director
1910	A Rich Revenge Director
1910	A Romance of the Western Hills Director
1910	A Salutary Lesson Director
1910	A Summer Idyll Director
1910	A Summer Tragedy Director
1910	A Victim of Jealousy Director
1910	After Many Years Director
1910	An Affair of Hearts Director
1910	An Arcadian Maid Director
1910	An Old Story with a New Ending Director
1910	As It Is in Life Director
1910	As the Bells Rang Out! Director
1910	Call Screenwriter, Director
1910	Child of the Ghetto Director
1910	Effecting a Cure Director
1910	Examination Day at School Director
1910	Faithful Director
1910	Fugitive Director
1910	Gold Is Not All Director
1910	Her Father's Pride Director
1910	Her Terrible Ordeal Screenwriter, Director
1910	His Last Burglary Director
1910	His New Lid Director
1910	His Sister-In-Law Director
1910	In Life's Cycle Director
1910	In Old California Director
1910	In the Border States Director
1910	In the Season of Buds Director
1910	Little Angels of Luck Director
1910	Love Among the Roses Director
1910	Man Director
1910	May and December Director
1910	Muggsy Becomes a Hero Director
1910	Muggsy's First Sweetheart Director
1910	Never Again Director, Screenwriter
1910	On the Reef Director, Screenwriter
1910	One Night, and Then Director, Screenwriter
1910	Over Silent Paths Director
1910	Ramona Screenwriter, Director
1910	Rose O' Salem Town Director
1910	Serious Sixteen Director
1910	Simple Charity Director
1910	Smoker Director
1910	Sunshine Sue Director
1910	Taming a Husband Director
1910	That Chink at Golden Gulch Director
1910	The Banker's Daughters Director
1910	The Broken Doll Director
1910	The Call to Arms Director
1910	The Cloister's Touch Director
1910	The Converts Director
1910	The Course of True Love Director
1910	The Dancing Girl of Butte Screenwriter, Director
1910	The Duke's Plan Director, Screenwriter
1910	The Englishman and the Girl Screenwriter, Director
1910	The Face at the Window Director
1910	The Final Settlement Director
1910	The Girl from Mellons Director
1910	The Gold Seekers Director
1910	The Golden Supper Director
1910	The Honor of His Family Director
1910	The House with Closed Shutters Director
1910	The Iconoclast Director
1910	The Impalement Director
1910	The Last Deal Director, Screenwriter
1910	The Lesson Director
1910	The Marked Time-Table Director
1910	The Message of the Violin Director
1910	The Modern Prodigal Director
1910	The Newlyweds Screenwriter, Director
1910	The Oath and the Man Director
1910	The Purgation Director
1910	The Rocky Road Screenwriter, Director
1910	The Song of the Wildwood Flute Director
1910	The Sorrows of the Unfaithful Director
1910	The Tenderfoot's Triumph Director
1910	The Thread of Destiny Director
1910	The Twisted Trail Director
1910	The Two Brothers Director
1910	The Unchanging Sea Director
1910	The Woman from Mellon's Screenwriter, Director
1910	Thou Shalt Not Director
1910	Two Little Waifs Director
1910	Unexpected Help Director
1910	Up a Tree Director
1910	Usurer Director
1910	Waiter No. 5 Director
1910	Way of the World Director
1910	What the Daisy Said Director
1910	When We Were in Our Teens Director
1910	White Roses Director
1910	Wilful Peggy Director
1910	Winning Back His Love Director
1911	A Country Cupid Director
1911	A Decree of Destiny Director
1911	A Knight of the Road Director
1911	A Romany Tragedy Director
1911	A Terrible Discovery Director
1911	A Woman Scorned Director
1911	A Wreath of Orange Blossoms Director
1911	As in a Looking Glass Director
1911	Bobby, the Coward Director
1911	Conscience Director
1911	Dan the Dandy Director
1911	Enoch Arden Director
1911	Failure Director
1911	Fate's Turning Director
1911	Fighting Blood Director
1911	Fisher Folks Director
1911	Heart Beats of Long Ago Director
1911	Her Awakening Director
1911	Her Sacrifice Director
1911	His Daughter Director
1911	His Mother's Scarf Director
1911	His Trust Director
1911	His Trust Fulfilled Director
1911	How She Triumphed Director
1911	In the Days of '49 Director
1911	Italian Blood Director
1911	Lily of the Tenements Director
1911	Love in the Hills Director
1911	Madame Rex Director
1911	Out from the Shadow Director
1911	Paradise Lost Director
1911	Ruling Passion Director
1911	Saved from Himself Director
1911	Sunshine Through the Dark Director
1911	Swords and Hearts Director
1911	Teaching Dad to Like Her Director
1911	The Adventures of Billy Director
1911	The Battle Director
1911	The Blind Princess and the Poet Director
1911	The Broken Cross Director
1911	The Chief's Daughter Director
1911	The Crooked Road Director
1911	The Diamond Star Director
1911	The Heart of a Savage Director
1911	The Indian Brothers Director
1911	The Italian Barber Director
1911	The Jealous Husband Director
1911	The Last Drop of Water Director
1911	The Lonedale Operator Director
1911	The Long Road Director
1911	The Making of a Man Director
1911	The Miser's Heart Director
1911	The New Dress Director
1911	The Old Confectioner's Mistake Director
1911	The Poor Sick Men Director
1911	The Primal Call Director
1911	The Revenue Man and the Girl Director
1911	The Rose of Kentucky Director
1911	The Smile of a Child Director
1911	The Sorrowful Example Director
1911	The Spanish Gypsy Director
1911	The Squaw's Love Director
1911	The Stuff Heroes Are Made Of Director
1911	The Thief and the Girl Director
1911	The Trail of Books Director
1911	The Two Paths Director
1911	The Two Sides Director
1911	The Unveiling Director
1911	The Voice of the Child Director
1911	The White Rose of the Wilds Director
1911	Three Sisters Director
1911	Through Darkened Vales Director
1911	Was He a Coward? Director
1911	What Shall We Do with Our Old? Director
1911	When a Man Loves Director
1912	A Beast at Bay Director
1912	A Change of Spirit Director, Screenwriter
1912	A Child's Remorse Director
1912	A Cry for Help Director
1912	A Feud in the Kentucky Hills Screenwriter, Director
1912	A Lodging for the Night Director
1912	A Pueblo Legend Screenwriter, Director
1912	A Sailor's Heart Director
1912	A Siren of Impulse Director
1912	A Sister's Love Director
1912	A String of Pearls Director
1912	A Tale of the Wilderness Director
1912	A Temporary Truce Director
1912	An Indian Summer Director
1912	An Outcast Among Outcasts Director
1912	An Unseen Enemy Director
1912	Billy's Stratagem Director
1912	Black Sheep Director
1912	Blind Love Director
1912	Brutality Director, Screenwriter
1912	Fate's Interception Director
1912	For His Son Director
1912	Friends Screenwriter, Director
1912	Gold and Glitter Director
1912	Heaven Avenges Director
1912	Heredity Director
1912	His Lesson Director
1912	Home Folks Director
1912	In the Aisles of the Wild Director
1912	In the Elemental World Director
1912	In the North Woods Director
1912	Iola's Promise Director
1912	Just Like a Woman Director
1912	Lena and the Geese Producer, Director
1912	Man's Genesis Screenwriter, Director
1912	Man's Lust for Gold Director
1912	My Baby Director
1912	My Hero Screenwriter, Director
1912	One Is Business, the Other Crime Director
1912	Root of Evil Director
1912	So Near, Yet So Far Director
1912	Sunbeam Director
1912	The Baby and the Stork Director
1912	The Burglar's Dilemma Director
1912	The Chief's Blanket Director
1912	The Eternal Mother Screenwriter, Director
1912	The Female of the Species Director
1912	The Girl and Her Trust Director
1912	The God Within Director
1912	The Goddess of Sagebrush Gulch Director
1912	The Informer Director
1912	The Inner Circle Director
1912	The Lesser Evil Director
1912	The Massacre Screenwriter, Director
1912	The Mender of Nets Director
1912	The Musketeers of Pig Alley Director, Screenwriter
1912	The Narrow Road Director
1912	The New York Hat Director
1912	The Old Actor Director
1912	The Old Bookkeeper Director
1912	The One She Loved Director
1912	The Painted Lady Screenwriter, Director
1912	The Punishment Director
1912	The Sands of Dee Director
1912	The Schoolteacher and the Waif Director
1912	The Spirit Awakened Director
1912	The Switch Tower Director
1912	The Transformation of Mike Director
1912	Two Daughters of Eve Director, Actor
1912	Under Burning Skies Director
1912	When Kings Were the Law Director
1912	With the Enemy's Help Director
1913	A Chance Deception Director
1913	A Girl's Stratagem Director
1913	A Misappropriated Turkey Director
1913	A Misunderstood Boy Director
1913	A Modest Hero Director
1913	A Timely Interception Director
1913	A Welcome Intruder Director
1913	A Woman in the Ultimate Director
1913	An Adventure in the Autumn Woods Director
1913	An Indian's Loyalty Director
1913	Broken Ways Director
1913	Brute Force Director
1913	Death's Marathon Director
1913	Drink's Lure Director
1913	During the Round-Up Director
1913	Fate Director
1913	Her Mother's Oath Screenwriter, Director
1913	His Mother's Son Director
1913	If We Only Knew Director
1913	Just Gold Screenwriter, Director
1913	Love in an Apartment Hotel Director
1913	Madonna of the Storm Director
1913	Mirror Director
1913	Near to Earth Director
1913	Oil and Water Director
1913	Olaf-An Atom Director
1913	Pirate Gold Director
1913	So Runs the Way Director
1913	The Battle at Elderbush Gulch Director, Screenwriter
1913	The Coming of Angelo Director
1913	The Conscience of Hassan Bey Director
1913	The Enemy's Baby Director
1913	The Hero of Little Italy Director
1913	The House of Darkness Director
1913	The Lady and the Mouse Screenwriter, Director
1913	The Left-Handed Man Director
1913	The Little Tease Screenwriter, Director
1913	The Mistake Director
1913	The Mothering Heart Director
1913	The Perfidy of Mary Director
1913	The Ranchero's Revenge Director
1913	The Reformers Director
1913	The Sheriff's Baby Director
1913	The Sorrowful Shore Director
1913	The Stolen Bride Director
1913	The Stolen Loaf Director
1913	The Telephone Girl and the Lady Director
1913	The Tender Hearted Boy Director
1913	The Unwelcome Guest Director
1913	The Wanderer Screenwriter, Director
1913	The Yaqui Cur Director
1913	Three Friends Director
1913	Two Men of the Desert Director
1914	Classmates Supervisor/Manager
1914	His Last Dollar Director
1914	Home, Sweet Home Screenwriter, Director
1914	Judith of Bethulia Screenwriter, Director
1914	The Avenging Conscience Producer, Director, Screenwriter
1914	The Battle of the Sexes Director
1914	The Dishonored Medal Supervisor/Manager
1914	The Escape Director, Screenwriter
1914	The Gangsters of New York Director
1914	The Mother and the Law Director
1915	Don Quixote Producer
1915	Enoch Arden Screenwriter, Actor
1915	Jordan Is a Hard Road Producer, Supervisor/Manager
1915	The Birth of a Nation Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Composer (Music Score)
1915	The Lamb Supervisor/Manager, Director
1915	The Lily and the Rose Supervisor/Manager
1915	The Martyrs of the Alamo Producer, Screenwriter
1915	The Sable Lorcha Producer
1916	An Innocent Magdalene Producer
1916	Daphne and the Pirate Screenwriter
1916	Fifty-Fifty Producer
1916	Half Breed Producer
1916	Hoodoo Ann Screenwriter
1916	Intolerance Production Designer, Director, Composer (Music Score), Costume Designer, Screenwriter, Producer, Editor
1916	Manhattan Madness Producer
1916	Pillars of Society Screenwriter
1916	Susan Rocks the Boat Producer
1916	The Good Bad Man Producer
1916	The Habit of Happiness Producer
1916	The Mystery of the Leaping Fish Screen Story
1918	Hearts of the World Producer, Cinematographer, Director, Screenwriter
1918	The Great Love Director, Screenwriter
1918	The Greatest Thing in Life Director, Screenwriter, Producer
1919	A Romance of Happy Valley Screenwriter, Director
1919	Broken Blossoms Screenwriter, Director, Composer (Music Score), Producer
1919	Scarlet Days Director
1919	The Fall of Babylon Director
1919	The Girl Who Stayed at Home Director, Screenwriter
1919	True Heart Susie Director
1920	Romance Producer
1920	The Greatest Question Producer, Director
1920	The Idol Dancer Director
1920	The Love Flower Screenwriter, Producer, Director
1920	Way Down East Screenwriter, Director, Producer
1921	Dream Street Director, Screenwriter, Producer
1922	One Exciting Night Producer, Screenwriter, Director
1922	Orphans of the Storm Director, Screenwriter, Producer
1923	The White Rose Director, Producer, Screenwriter
1924	America Director, Producer
1924	Isn't Life Wonderful Director, Screenwriter, Producer
1925	Sally of the Sawdust Producer, Director
1925	That Royale Girl Director, Producer
1926	The Sorrows of Satan Director
1928	Drums of Love Producer, Director
1928	The Battle of the Sexes Director, Producer
1929	Lady of the Pavements Director
1930	Abraham Lincoln Director, Producer
1931	The Struggle Composer (Music Score), Screenwriter, Producer, Director
1990	Hollywood Mavericks Archival Appearance

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Movie Genres

Active

1908 - 1948

Born

01/22/1875 in La Grange, KY

Died

07/23/1948 in Hollywood, CA

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