D.W. Griffith

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.

Known For

Birth Location LaGrange, Kentucky, USA
Born 1875-01-22
Died 1948-07-23

Movies

Flashback: The First World War as Self (archive footage)
2014
Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies as Self (archive footage)
2008
The Tramp and the Dictator as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2002
Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists as Self (archive footage)
1998
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino as Self (archive footage)
1961
San Francisco as Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
1936
Enoch Arden as Mr. Ray
1915
Two Daughters of Eve as At Stage Door
1912
1911
The Politician's Love Story as Man - First Couple
1909
The Girls and Daddy as At Black & Tan Ball
1909
The Heart of O Yama as Footman
1908
The Red Girl as Man on Footpath
1908
The Fatal Hour as Policeman
1908
A Calamitous Elopement as Policeman
1908
Deceived Slumming Party as Reginald O.C. Wittington
1908
The Black Viper as Rescuer
1908
The Stage Rustler as Phil Bowen
1908
1908
At the French Ball as Husband
1908
The Man in the Box as Station Agent
1908
The Invisible Fluid as Mailman
1908
The King's Messenger as Messenger
1908
King of the Cannibal Islands as Cannibal in Top Hat
1908
Old Isaacs, the Pawnbroker as Doctor, Charity Worker
1908
1908
1908
Yellow Peril as Mr. Phlipp
1908
Classmates as Extra
1908
Falsely Accused! as Cop in Court
1908

Movies

1951
1951
San Francisco Second Assistant Director
1936
The Struggle Screenplay
1931
The Struggle Producer
1931
The Struggle Original Music Composer
1931
The Struggle Director
1931
Abraham Lincoln Director
1930
1929
1928
1928
Drums of Love Director
1928
The King of Kings Assistant Director
1927
1926
1926
That Royle Girl Director
1925
1925
1924
1924
1924
America Producer
1924
America Director
1924
The White Rose Producer
1923
1923
The White Rose Director
1923
1922
1922
1922
1921
1921
1921
Dream Street Producer
1921
Dream Street Writer
1921
Dream Street Director
1921
Way Down East Writer
1920
Way Down East Producer
1920
Way Down East Director
1920
The Love Flower Producer
1920
1920
The Love Flower Director
1920
1920
The Idol Dancer Director
1920
1919
1919
Scarlet Days Producer
1919
Scarlet Days Director
1919
1919
1919
1919
1919
1919
1919
True Heart Susie Producer
1919
True Heart Susie Director
1919
1919
Broken Blossoms Producer
1919
Broken Blossoms Director
1919
1918
The Great Love Producer
1918
1918
The Great Love Director
1918
1918
1918
1918
Betsy's Burglar Supervising Producer
1917
A Girl of the Timber Claims Supervising Producer
1917
Fifty-Fifty Producer
1916
1916
1916
The Half-Breed Producer
1916
Hoodoo Ann Writer
1916
1916
1916
1916
The Missing Links Production Supervisor
1916
1916
Double Trouble Production Supervisor
1915
Old Heidelberg Supervising Producer
1915
The Lamb Story
1915
1915
1915
Ghosts Producer
1915
Enoch Arden Writer
1915
1915
1915
1915
The Birth of a Nation Original Music Composer
1915
1915
1915
1914
1914
The Escape Director
1914
1914
Home, Sweet Home Director
1914
The Life of General Villa Supervising Producer
1914
Brute Force Director
1914
1914
1914
Waifs Director
1914
1913
1913
1913
1913
1913
The Reformers Director
1913
1913
1913
1913
1913
Death's Marathon Director
1913
The Enemy's Baby Director
1913
1913
1913
1913
His Mother's Son Director
1913
His Mother's Son Director
1913
Just Gold Writer
1913
Just Gold Director
1913
The Yaqui Cur Director
1913
The Stolen Loaf Director
1913
1913
The Wanderer Writer
1913
The Wanderer Director
1913
If We Only Knew Director
1913
1913
1913
1913
1913
The Little Tease Director
1913
1913
1913
1913
Fate Director
1913
Near To Earth Director
1913
1913
Broken Ways Director
1913
1913
Oil and Water Director
1913
Brothers Director
1913
1913
Three Friends Director
1913
1913
The God Within Director
1912
A Cry for Help Director
1912
The Massacre Writer
1912
The Massacre Director
1912
1912
My Hero Writer
1912
My Hero Director
1912
The New York Hat Director
1912
Brutality Writer
1912
Brutality Director
1912
The Informer Director
1912
My Baby Director
1912
Gold and Glitter Director
1912
Heredity Director
1912
1912
The Painted Lady Director
1912
1912
1912
1912
Friends Writer
1912
Friends Director
1912
1912
Blind Love Director
1912
An Unseen Enemy Director
1912
1912
A Pueblo Legend Director
1912
The Inner Circle Director
1912
The Narrow Road Director
1912
Man's Genesis Writer
1912
Man's Genesis Director
1912
An Indian Summer Director
1912
1912
1912
1912
Home Folks Director
1912
A Beast at Bay Director
1912
1912
1912
The Old Actor Director
1912
The Lesser Evil Director
1912
1912
1912
1912
1912
Iola's Promise Director
1912
The Sunbeam Director
1912
The Sands of Dee Director
1912
1912
1912
1912
1912
For His Son Director
1912
1912
1912
1911
1911
The Failure Director
1911
A Woman Scorned Director
1911
1911
1911
The Battle Director
1911
1911
The Long Road Director
1911
1911
The Unveiling Director
1911
Italian Blood Director
1911
1911
Her Awakening Director
1911
The Squaw's Love Director
1911
1911
1911
1911
A Country Cupid Director
1911
1911
Bobby the Coward Director
1911
Fighting Blood Director
1911
The Primal Call Director
1911
Enoch Arden Director
1911
1911
1911
Madame Rex Director
1911
1911
1911
1911
Conscience Director
1911
1911
His Daughter Director
1911
The Diamond Star Director
1911
Fisher Folks Director
1911
1911
Three Sisters Director
1911
Fate's Turning Director
1911
1911
His Trust Director
1911
1911
When a Man Loves Director
1911
The Two Paths Director
1911
1910
The Lesson Director
1910
1910
1910
A Plain Song Director
1910
Sunshine Sue Director
1910
Simple Charity Director
1910
The Fugitive Director
1910
Waiter No. 5 Director
1910
Two Little Waifs Director
1910
1910
The Broken Doll Director
1910
1910
The Iconoclast Director
1910
1910
1910
In Life's Cycle Director
1910
A Mohawk's Way Director
1910
1910
A Summer Idyll Director
1910
1910
Wilful Peggy Director
1910
The Usurer Director
1910
1910
1910
An Arcadian Maid Director
1910
Unexpected Help Director
1910
The Call to Arms Director
1910
A Flash of Light Director
1910
1910
1910
1910
1910
1910
Serious Sixteen Director
1910
A Child's Faith Director
1910
1910
A Midnight Cupid Director
1910
1910
1910
The Purgation Director
1910
Ramona Writer
1910
Ramona Director
1910
1910
1910
The Two Brothers Director
1910
1910
1910
1910
The Impalement Director
1910
A Rich Revenge Director
1910
As It Is in Life Director
1910
His Last Dollar Director
1910
1910
Faithful Director
1910
The Gold Seekers Director
1910
1910
1910
1910
Thou Shalt Not Director
1910
The Newlyweds Director
1910
Gold Is Not All Director
1910
1910
1910
The Converts Director
1910
The Man Director
1910
1910
1910
The Last Deal Writer
1910
The Last Deal Director
1910
1910
The Call Writer
1910
The Call Director
1910
On the Reef Writer
1910
On the Reef Director
1910
Taming a Husband Director
1910
1910
1910
1910
The Rocky Road Director
1910
1909
The Day After Producer
1909
The Day After Director
1909
1909
To Save Her Soul Director
1909
In Little Italy Director
1909
1909
The Test Director
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
A Sweet Revenge Director
1909
1909
1909
The Restoration Director
1909
1909
Nursing a Viper Director
1909
1909
1909
1909
The Expiation Writer
1909
The Expiation Director
1909
His Lost Love Writer
1909
His Lost Love Director
1909
1909
Fools of Fate Director
1909
Pippa Passes Director
1909
Wanted, a Child Director
1909
The Awakening Director
1909
Leather Stocking Director
1909
In Old Kentucky Director
1909
1909
1909
Getting Even Writer
1909
Getting Even Director
1909
1909
The Sealed Room Director
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
Pranks Director
1909
The Seventh Day Director
1909
Oh, Uncle! Director
1909
1909
1909
1909
They Would Elope Director
1909
The Mended Lute Director
1909
1909
The Slave Director
1909
Sweet and Twenty Director
1909
A New Trick Writer
1909
A New Trick Director
1909
Tender Hearts Director
1909
The Renunciation Director
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
The Necklace Director
1909
1909
The Way of Man Director
1909
1909
1909
The Faded Lilies Director
1909
1909
The Son's Return Screenplay
1909
The Son's Return Director
1909
The Lonely Villa Director
1909
1909
What Drink Did Director
1909
1909
1909
His Duty Director
1909
1909
1909
Two Memories Writer
1909
Two Memories Director
1909
Resurrection Director
1909
The Jilt Writer
1909
The Jilt Director
1909
A Baby's Shoe Writer
1909
A Baby's Shoe Director
1909
1909
1909
The Suicide Club Director
1909
1909
The Eavesdropper Director
1909
Twin Brothers Director
1909
Lucky Jim Director
1909
1909
Drive for a Life Director
1909
1909
1909
Confidence Writer
1909
Confidence Director
1909
1909
The Winning Coat Director
1909
1909
A Rude Hostess Director
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
The Deception Director
1909
1909
1909
I Did It Director
1909
1909
1909
1909
The Wooden Leg Director
1909
1909
1909
1909
Fool's Revenge Director
1909
1909
The Prussian Spy Director
1909
1909
1909
At the Altar Writer
1909
At the Altar Director
1909
The Golden Louis Director
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
His Ward's Love Director
1909
1909
The Curtain Pole Director
1909
Tragic Love Writer
1909
Tragic Love Director
1909
1909
A Wreath in Time Director
1909
Edgar Allan Poe Director
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
The Cord of Life Director
1909
1909
1909
1909
Those Awful Hats Director
1909
Those Boys! Writer
1909
Those Boys! Director
1909
1909
The Sacrifice Writer
1909
The Sacrifice Director
1909
1909
1909
1909
Love Finds a Way Director
1909
1909
1909
1909
1909
The Maniac Cook Director
1909
1909
1908
The Helping Hand Director
1908
1908
1908
1908
1908
An Awful Moment Director
1908
1908
The Reckoning Director
1908
1908
Money Mad Writer
1908
Money Mad Director
1908
The Valet's Wife Director
1908
A Woman's Way Writer
1908
A Woman's Way Director
1908
The Ingrate Writer
1908
The Ingrate Director
1908
1908
The Guerrilla Director
1908
1908
1908
After Many Years Director
1908
1908
1908
1908
1908
1908
1908
1908
1908
1908
1908
The Zulu's Heart Director
1908
The Devil Director
1908
1908
1908
A Smoked Husband Director
1908
1908
1908
The Red Girl Director
1908
1908
1908
1908
1908
1908
For Love of Gold Director
1908
The Fatal Hour Director
1908
1908
1908
1908
1908
The Black Viper Director
1908
1908
1908
Mixed Babies Writer
1908
1908