Thursday 23 January 2014

Way Down East (1920)

  Way Down East is a 1920 Melodrama directed by D.W Griffith and starring Lillian Gish.
The film follows Anna Moore (Gish) as she visits her cousin and falls in love with Lennox Sanderson. Tricked into a fake marriage she has his baby, which later dies. Having a baby with no husband was severely frowned upon back then (seems to be fine nowadays...), so her life is ruined and she flees town, and gets employed at the Bartlett residence. But how long until her reputation catches up with her again.
  Historically, this is a monument of silent cinema. Not only is this Griffith's most profitable film, but it established the 'melodrama', which is used in 90% of Hollywood today. Forgotten and often considered dated, this isn't as famous as Intolerance or as notorious as Birth of a Nation, but when released, everyone enjoyed it. Now, only fans of silent cinema would have seen it.
  Is the content as worthy as it's historical significance? Not really. The majority who watch this film love it, but within the first 20 minutes I was bored. I wanted to like it, however little was happening on screen and the music was repetitive and irritating. It doesn't have the grandeurs of Intolerance, nor the repulsive racial views of Birth of a Nation.  Despite being Griffith's most costly to make 'Way Down East' is a small film, filmed on small sets with a small story.
  The ending is the best thing about the film, it is a breath-taking action scene which I really don't want to spoil for you. It's a shame that the running time is 2 1/2 hours, which is too long.


TO CONCLUDE
It is way better than The Birth of a Nation.

SCORE
68

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