The more that has been seen of DW Griffith's (almost all of them seen being very good to masterpiece, caring not only for 'The Birth of a Nation'), the more interesting he and his work have become to me. He may not be one of my favourite ever directors, but he is one of the most innovative and influential silent film directors. Also have loved Lillian Gish more and more with each film seen of hers, again more to see but no other silent film actress was as expressive as her and so movingly.
'Broken Blossoms' has been hailed as one of Griffith's best by many. Personally don't quite agree and do slightly prefer 'Orphans of the Storm' and 'Intolerance' as far as his feature films go ('Way Down East' needs a re-watch but remember thinking highly of that too). 'Broken Blossoms' is still extremely good and almost is one of his best, considering how many good things it has and how brilliantly the film executes them. It is interesting for being his most expensive film, or at least one of them, and perhaps his most ambitious in terms of characterisation.
Despite there being so many fine things, there are drawbacks. 'Broken Blossoms' is a very rare case of Donald Crisp being the worst thing in any of his flms, when he usually is one of the best and a redeeming merits in his not so great films. Here he is made to uncharacteristically overact wildly and it jars with everything else, it was like watching a different Donald Crisp.
Also felt that the music didn't gel with the setting or the mood, the film needed a more understated score that one not as over-emphatic.
Conversely, it is truly hard to believe that 'Broken Blossoms' was only shot in eighteen days, when it looks so much better than a lot of films that took much longer to make (sorry if that sounds cliched, but it had to be said). It was an expensive production and it absolutely shows, especially in the quite stunning photography with inventive and quite advanced techniques not heavy on gimmicks, such as revolutionary use of tinted film stock. Griffith's direction is some of his most technically advanced and accomplished, while not having a "biting off more than he can chew" feel. The studio sets don't look like studio sets at all and the misty atmosphere and seediness can be felt, the expense obvious.
Story is a very poignant and human one, with one of 'Broken Blossoms' biggest selling points being the delicately handled and beautifully developed central relationship, that has so much heart and emotion. The characterisation is some of the most complex of any Griffith film, perrhaps the most ambitious, with two compellingly real lead characters. Despite the unintentionally bizarre way he's made up, which some have also found distasteful, that doesn't stop Richard Barthelmess from giving a nobly sensitive performance. Even better is the always wonderful Gish showing perfectly why she was a Griffith prolific leading lady for very good reason. Not many silent film stars at the time did pathos as expressively and movingly as Gish.
In summary, very good and very nearly great despite a disappointing Crisp and jarring score. 8/10
'Broken Blossoms' has been hailed as one of Griffith's best by many. Personally don't quite agree and do slightly prefer 'Orphans of the Storm' and 'Intolerance' as far as his feature films go ('Way Down East' needs a re-watch but remember thinking highly of that too). 'Broken Blossoms' is still extremely good and almost is one of his best, considering how many good things it has and how brilliantly the film executes them. It is interesting for being his most expensive film, or at least one of them, and perhaps his most ambitious in terms of characterisation.
Despite there being so many fine things, there are drawbacks. 'Broken Blossoms' is a very rare case of Donald Crisp being the worst thing in any of his flms, when he usually is one of the best and a redeeming merits in his not so great films. Here he is made to uncharacteristically overact wildly and it jars with everything else, it was like watching a different Donald Crisp.
Also felt that the music didn't gel with the setting or the mood, the film needed a more understated score that one not as over-emphatic.
Conversely, it is truly hard to believe that 'Broken Blossoms' was only shot in eighteen days, when it looks so much better than a lot of films that took much longer to make (sorry if that sounds cliched, but it had to be said). It was an expensive production and it absolutely shows, especially in the quite stunning photography with inventive and quite advanced techniques not heavy on gimmicks, such as revolutionary use of tinted film stock. Griffith's direction is some of his most technically advanced and accomplished, while not having a "biting off more than he can chew" feel. The studio sets don't look like studio sets at all and the misty atmosphere and seediness can be felt, the expense obvious.
Story is a very poignant and human one, with one of 'Broken Blossoms' biggest selling points being the delicately handled and beautifully developed central relationship, that has so much heart and emotion. The characterisation is some of the most complex of any Griffith film, perrhaps the most ambitious, with two compellingly real lead characters. Despite the unintentionally bizarre way he's made up, which some have also found distasteful, that doesn't stop Richard Barthelmess from giving a nobly sensitive performance. Even better is the always wonderful Gish showing perfectly why she was a Griffith prolific leading lady for very good reason. Not many silent film stars at the time did pathos as expressively and movingly as Gish.
In summary, very good and very nearly great despite a disappointing Crisp and jarring score. 8/10