David W. Griffith was one of the most important people in the history of moving pictures. Although mainly known for the controversial "The Birth of a Nation" today, the director was crucial to the development of the new art form in Hollywood. Together with Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, he also founded United Artists in 1919. A studio that allowed actors and directors to shoot feature films on their own terms. In Tinseltown, that was a new thing.
As his first production for the new company, Griffith chose "Way Down East". A melodramatic stage play first performed on Broadway back in the late 1890s. Considered out of date even in 1920, industry insiders were certain that the director had taken leave of his financial senses when he paid a staggering $175,000 for the screen rights to the old piece. Surely this was going to be Griffith's big Folly.
In the film Anna Moore, a young country girl, becomes pregnant after being tricked into a phony marriage. However, the baby dies, and Anna seeks refuge on a nearby farm. When the prejudiced farmer finds out about Anna's past, he throws her out in a raging blizzard.
Griffith, however, knew what he was doing. When he adapted "Way Out East" for the silver screen, he fleshed out and strengthened Anna Moore's character. The director also revitalized the weary old property with some new scenes. Thus, it was Griffith who placed Anna (played by Lillian Gish) on a small ice floe in the middle of a foaming river. A sheet of ice heading towards a steep waterfall.
Far from becoming the economic Folly many studio heads had predicted, "Way Down East" was a big moneymaker at the box office. And there is probably no better proof of Griffith's great capability as a director than the fact that the 1935 talkie remake completely failed to match the power of the original film.
As his first production for the new company, Griffith chose "Way Down East". A melodramatic stage play first performed on Broadway back in the late 1890s. Considered out of date even in 1920, industry insiders were certain that the director had taken leave of his financial senses when he paid a staggering $175,000 for the screen rights to the old piece. Surely this was going to be Griffith's big Folly.
In the film Anna Moore, a young country girl, becomes pregnant after being tricked into a phony marriage. However, the baby dies, and Anna seeks refuge on a nearby farm. When the prejudiced farmer finds out about Anna's past, he throws her out in a raging blizzard.
Griffith, however, knew what he was doing. When he adapted "Way Out East" for the silver screen, he fleshed out and strengthened Anna Moore's character. The director also revitalized the weary old property with some new scenes. Thus, it was Griffith who placed Anna (played by Lillian Gish) on a small ice floe in the middle of a foaming river. A sheet of ice heading towards a steep waterfall.
Far from becoming the economic Folly many studio heads had predicted, "Way Down East" was a big moneymaker at the box office. And there is probably no better proof of Griffith's great capability as a director than the fact that the 1935 talkie remake completely failed to match the power of the original film.