tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214297712303916286.post6103111260429387761..comments2023-04-16T07:57:04.629-04:00Comments on Screen Savour: Griffith at Biograph (1908-1914)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214297712303916286.post-59734581144946179432009-06-02T14:25:58.974-04:002009-06-02T14:25:58.974-04:00Admiring Griffith is a problematic situation. His ...Admiring Griffith is a problematic situation. His development and advancement of film language goes without saying, however along with that comes baggage; the values rooted in late 19th century/early 20th century society that seems so dated today, and then their is the ever present racism. I always felt unsettled when I have watched “The Birth of a Nation.” <br /><br />I do remember being impressed with “A Corner in Wheat” and “Musketeers of Pig Alley” though I do admit the last time I saw these two films, and many other Griffith shorts, was back in the 1970’s at the Museum of Modern Art. “The Good Doctor” I saw within the last year with another short call “A Girl and Her Trust.” What I found particularly interesting and impressive about the second film was its lead female character who was no damsel in distress. She works in a railroad payroll office and her “trust” is $2,000 in cash. She fights off potential thieves including chasing after them. After they do finally steal the strongbox, she telegraphs for help, which leads not only to her rescue but also to Griffith doing some nice parallel editing between the damsel fighting with the crooks and the rescuers coming to her aid.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214297712303916286.post-48346443383518262442009-06-02T10:53:25.981-04:002009-06-02T10:53:25.981-04:00John - I'm glad you enjoy The Country Doctor as mu...John - I'm glad you enjoy <I>The Country Doctor</I> as much as me; Gunning's essay and commentary on the film that accompany its release on the second installment of "Treasures from the American Film Archives" is quite wonderful. <br /><br />It's funny you should mention the diametric opposite motif that occurs so often in his films; I've never specifically thought of that until watching these shorts recently, but it actually sums up my own relationship with Griffith quite well. On the one hand I really do admire his artistic innovations and think he justly deserves the title of the pioneer of *American* cinema; but on the other hand, while I've been grateful to see nice prints of his films, I've struggled to embrace them as anything other than artifact — <I>The Country Doctor</I> probably excluded, and possibly <I>Elderbush Gulch</I>. Anyway, I think such "opposites" worked out well for him because they stand as big, bold, and easily understood conflicts that can power so many otherwise staid silent narrative. Usually I find the stories underwhelming in silent dramas but technically they are so accomplished; silent comedies are imminently more watchable but less innovative in terms of their sheer mechanics. Another noteworthy "opposite" indeed.T.S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00945932279787919282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214297712303916286.post-5504233011200177592009-06-02T09:11:53.841-04:002009-06-02T09:11:53.841-04:00Griffith’s use of “opposites’ was a common trait i...Griffith’s use of “opposites’ was a common trait in his films, rich vs. poor, north vs. south, brother vs. brother, good vs. evil. You choices are certainly in line with my own as far as his works that hold up the best. “The Country Doctor” is extremely effective even today. Griffith should be essential viewing for anyone seriously interested in film.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.com