“Intolerance” was director D. W. Griffith’s response in part to heavy criticism he received for his previous film, “The Birth of a Nation” (1915). This movie featured four storylines about historical accounts of examples of people’s perseverance against adverse conditions. They include a contemporary crime drama, St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre of 1572 in France, the fall of the Babylonian Empire to Persia in 539, and the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.
As in the case of “The Birth of a Nation,” “Intolerance” had outstanding production values, such as a well-written screenplay, authentic period costumes, lavish sets, and brilliant cinematography by Billy Bitzer. Each of the four segments had its own unique color tint in the original print. Stars of the show include silent picture luminaries Lillian Gish, Constance Talmadge, Mae Marsh, Miriam Cooper, Vera Lewis, Ralph Lewis, Robert Harron, Josephine Cromwell, Frank Bennett, et al.
“Intolerance” was a big hit at the box office for producer-director-screenwriter D. W. Griffith, despite the three-and-a-half hour length.
Intolerance (1916)
cinema
My Review
“Intolerance” was director D. W. Griffith’s response in part to heavy criticism he received for his previous film, “The Birth of a Nation” (1915). This movie featured four storylines about historical accounts of examples of people’s perseverance against adverse conditions. They include a contemporary crime drama, St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre of 1572 in France, the fall of the Babylonian Empire to Persia in 539, and the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.
As in the case of “The Birth of a Nation,” “Intolerance” had outstanding production values, such as a well-written screenplay, authentic period costumes, lavish sets, and brilliant cinematography by Billy Bitzer. Each of the four segments had its own unique color tint in the original print. Stars of the show include silent picture luminaries Lillian Gish, Constance Talmadge, Mae Marsh, Miriam Cooper, Vera Lewis, Ralph Lewis, Robert Harron, Josephine Cromwell, Frank Bennett, et al.
“Intolerance” was a big hit at the box office for producer-director-screenwriter D. W. Griffith, despite the three-and-a-half hour length.