Intolerance (1916) directed by David Wark Griffith is by a considerable margin the landmark film og early cinema history, greatly surpassing his previous effort of Birth of a Nation (1915) in basically every single aspect of film making.
The story is an exploration of intolerance and its terrible effects, which are examined in four historical eras. In ancient Babylon, a mountain girl is caught up in the religious rivalry that leads to the city's downfall. In Judea, the hypocritical Pharisees condemn Jesus Christ. In 1572 Paris, unaware of the impending St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, two young Huguenots prepare for marriage. Finally, in modern America, social reformers destroy the lives of a young woman and her beloved.
It is particularly impressive in its production design, and the reconstruction of Babylon is breathtaking, still holding up to this day in 2022 as some og the most impressive production design I have ever seen. Contrary to Birth of a Nation (1915), Intolerance is a wonderful, rather than atrocious propagandized, story, and the technical merits of the film making from Griffith is greatly improved, with an astounding 400.000$ budget well spent.
Highly recommended for film buffs and for those interested in cinema history.
The story is an exploration of intolerance and its terrible effects, which are examined in four historical eras. In ancient Babylon, a mountain girl is caught up in the religious rivalry that leads to the city's downfall. In Judea, the hypocritical Pharisees condemn Jesus Christ. In 1572 Paris, unaware of the impending St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, two young Huguenots prepare for marriage. Finally, in modern America, social reformers destroy the lives of a young woman and her beloved.
It is particularly impressive in its production design, and the reconstruction of Babylon is breathtaking, still holding up to this day in 2022 as some og the most impressive production design I have ever seen. Contrary to Birth of a Nation (1915), Intolerance is a wonderful, rather than atrocious propagandized, story, and the technical merits of the film making from Griffith is greatly improved, with an astounding 400.000$ budget well spent.
Highly recommended for film buffs and for those interested in cinema history.