True Heart Susie (1919)

Susie, a plain young country girl, secretly loves a neighbor boy, William. She believes in him and sacrifices much of her own happiness to promote his own ambitions, all without his ... See full summary »

Director:

D.W. Griffith

Writer:

Marian Fremont (story)

Stars:

Lillian Gish, Robert Harron, Wilbur Higby

Cast

Cast overview:
Lillian Gish	...	True Heart Susie
Robert Harron	...	William Jenkins
Wilbur Higby	...	William's father
Loyola O'Connor	...	Susie's aunt
George Fawcett	...	The Stranger
Clarine Seymour	...	Bettina Hopkins
Kate Bruce	...	Bettina's aunt
Carol Dempster	...	Bettina's friend
Raymond Cannon	...	Sporty Malone

Storyline

Susie, a plain young country girl, secretly loves a neighbor boy, William. She believes in him and sacrifices much of her own happiness to promote his own ambitions, all without his knowledge. Eventually he rises to a position of success and sophistication, and Susie realizes that she has through her own efforts raised him to a level where he is inaccessible to her.

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Plot Keywords:

small town americana | marriage | self sacrifice | minister | unrequited love | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 June 1919 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Story of a Plain Girl

Company Credits

Production Co:

D.W. Griffith Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 61 min (video) 87 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Queen Alexandra's favorite film.

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Connections

Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.4 (2011)

User Reviews

Minor Griffith?

True, there are no big set pieces. We don't see Richard Barthelmess leaping from ice floe to ice floe, we don't see the Little Colonel ramming a Confederate battle flag down a cannon's mouth. What we see are faces: a small boy watching a church elder eat ice cream; Robert Harron, exultant at getting a scholarship; and, of course, Lilian Gish. She walks funny. Her outfits are ridiculous and True Heart Susie is, let's face it, not very bright, but she feels deeply and we feel with her.

What more, really, can you ask for in a movie? You get beautifully composed pictures, a fluid story, fine acting.... two years later Henry King would tread the same ground with TOL'ABLE David and produce a masterpiece that is not as funny and warm as this.

Minor Griffith? If so, there are few major directors besides Griffith.