tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post7714366351316432720..comments2024-03-27T21:42:56.131-05:00Comments on 1001plus: Super Silent SaturdaySJHoneywellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-18807236838303297002015-12-02T08:38:43.371-06:002015-12-02T08:38:43.371-06:00I find Griffith so difficult. So much of what he d...I find Griffith so difficult. So much of what he did was innovative and important, but it seems so often to be in service of really awful films. SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-2096579373220906632015-11-30T11:11:02.929-06:002015-11-30T11:11:02.929-06:00I think I would be a little more impressed with th...I think I would be a little more impressed with the idea that "Intolerance" is Griffith's "penance" for "Birth of a Nation" if there had been any attempt to show that intolerance towards black people is a bad thing.<br />And I sometimes wonder if this intolerance that Griffith was addressing as a bad thing was the intolerance of those mean people who criticized "Birth of a Nation." Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17921029597363212734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-14925915892127972992011-02-21T01:09:12.132-06:002011-02-21T01:09:12.132-06:00Those two are coming up. I've almost started B...Those two are coming up. I've almost started <i>Broken Blossoms</i> a couple of times in the past week. I've chickened out both times, though.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-79340081086741350742011-02-19T08:48:06.851-06:002011-02-19T08:48:06.851-06:00ORPHANS OF THE STORM is actually my favorite Griff...ORPHANS OF THE STORM is actually my favorite Griffith film, and I did like BROKEN BLOSSOMS (again, though, some pretty HEAVY racism in that one). <br /><br />Still haven't seen WAY DOWN EAST.DVD Infatuationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02986606131886453883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-59158153961661469462011-02-19T07:37:26.332-06:002011-02-19T07:37:26.332-06:00I'm with you on Thief of Bagdad. Fairbanks is ...I'm with you on <i>Thief of Bagdad</i>. Fairbanks is a true pleasure to watch. Everything looks so easy for him. As you say (and as I should have), he really looks like he's enjoying himself, not acting like he's enjoying himself. It makes me want to look for more films of his.<br /><br />As for Griffith, there are three more on the list (<i>Broken Blossoms, Way Down East,</i> and <i>Orphans of the Storm</i>. Since I've been on a silent kick lately, I considered pushing my way through these just to get them done. I still might.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-57459467369314566202011-02-19T04:54:13.395-06:002011-02-19T04:54:13.395-06:00If you haven't already, check out a few of Gri...If you haven't already, check out a few of Griffith's short films. A CORNER IN WHEAT, THE BATTLE AT ELDERBUSH GULCH and THE MUSKATEERS OF PIG ALLEY are pretty impressive.<br /><br />Personally, I don't have a problem with Griffith (though it's hard to argue your points on INTOLERANCE...he was doing penance for BIRTH OF A NATION's blatant racism, thus the overbearing "message" theme). His films are a bit tough to watch nowadays due to that racism (BIRTH OF A NATION, obviously, but also BROKEN BLOSSOMS), yet I do admire their achievements.<br /><br />As for THIEF OF BAGDAD, it is visually spectacular, but what I really like about it is that Fairbanks was obviously having a hell of a good time making that film! He was actually the driving force behind it getting made...he really wanted to play that character (I read an interview with director Raoul Walsh where he states it was Fairbanks who essentially hired him for the film). He surely overacts, but in a very endearing way.<br /><br />Great write-up, sir!DVD Infatuationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02986606131886453883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-28585088281045219422011-02-16T16:32:25.349-06:002011-02-16T16:32:25.349-06:00From what I've seen so far, I agree with that ...From what I've seen so far, I agree with that assessment of Griffith. His work is technically fantastic and innovative, but the stories just drag on and on, and based especially on <i>Intolerance</i>, he's pretty ham-handed to boot.<br /><br />I compare him in my head to artists like Modigliani, whose work displays technical excellence in pursuit of art I find really ugly to look at.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-3789231860706132452011-02-16T10:41:57.528-06:002011-02-16T10:41:57.528-06:00This is a strange film indeed! I agree that the Ba...This is a strange film indeed! I agree that the Babylonian story should have been the entire film. The other three stories are wholly out of balance in their scale of production and are of little consequence or interest to what is otherwise a very contrived plot.<br /><br />As for your comment that Intolerance is "a few hours of preaching, bad behavior, and overacting" -- that's exactly my conclusion as well. <br /><br />Despite Griffith's technical contributions to film making, I've never thought that any of his films were particularly good or entertaining.Klaushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05006608076041962884noreply@blogger.com