Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916)

The story of a poor young woman, separated by prejudice from her husband and baby, is interwoven with tales of intolerance from throughout history.

Director:

D.W. Griffith

Writers:

D.W. Griffith (scenario), Anita Loos (titles),

Stars:

Lillian Gish, Spottiswoode Aitken, Mary Alden

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lillian Gish	...	The Woman Who Rocks the Cradle / Eternal Mother
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Spottiswoode Aitken	...	Brown Eyes's Father (as Spottiswoode Aitkin)
Mary Alden	...	Uplifter
Frank Bennett	...	Charles IX
Monte Blue	...	The Strike Leader
William H. Brown	...	Father of the Bride of Cana / Warden (as William Brown)
Lucille Browne	...	Uplifter
Elmer Clifton	...	The Rhapsode
Miriam Cooper	...	The Friendless One
Josephine Crowell	...	Catherine de Médicis
Dore Davidson	...	The Friendly Neighbor
Sam De Grasse	...	Arthur Jenkins
Edward Dillon	...	Crook
Taylor N. Duncan	...	Captain of the Gateg / Bodyguard of the Princess Beloved (as Ted Duncan)
Pearl Elmore	...	Uplifter

Storyline

Intolerance and its terrible effects 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.

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Plot Keywords:

intolerance | marriage | huguenot | medicis | judea | 

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Taglines:

The Unholy Love

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

5 September 1916 (USA)

Also Known As:

Intolerance

Filming Locations:

Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$385,907 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Triangle Film Corporation, Wark Producing

Technical Specs

Runtime:

163 min 178 min (2000 video release) 197 min (DVD) 123 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The prison chaplain in the modern scenes is played by a real priest.

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Goofs

As the Jenkin's factory militia goes to attack the striking workers, the shadows of a camera and two cameramen, one on either side, are cast onto the ground in front.

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Quotes

The Mountain Girl: But touch my skirt and I'll scratch your eyes out!

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Crazy Credits

Constance Talmadge is credited as 'Georgia Pearce' for her performance as Marguerite de Valois in the French Story. She is credited under her own name in the role of The Mountain Girl in the Babylonian Story.

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Connections

Referenced in Good Morning, Babylon (1987)

User Reviews

Excellent if long!

I saw a four hour, ten minute version of this as the University of Chicago's Ida Noyes Hall in February, 1993 -- restored with stills and copyright photos, with a new score by Gillian Anderson, featuring the composer conducting the University Symphony Orchestra -- what an experience!

And where, oh where, is this restored version to be seen today?

Somebody get on the copyright owner's case to release the 4:10 version, with Gillian Anderson's score!

This fine film, possibly the quintessential Griffith, has been in the shadow of the notorious Birth of a Nation too long. (Of course, without Birth of a Nation's controversy, this might never have been made). Intolerance has more spectacle than Birth, far more "speaking" parts (if that's not an oxymoron, I don't know what is!), and is far more PC -- but not in a negative way.

See it, in any form you can!