The Washington herald., 1922-04-02
PRN BRINGS DRAMA AND OPERETTA INTO THE SPRING THEATE
Griffith's Works
Reveal Him As
A Film Historian
Directors Forte l. to State the His
toric in Terms of the Lyric
And Romantic.

And Romantic.
By EARLE DORSEY.
UT Of the wsitsr OF smotionaiism and the
play of dramatic force and circumstance
that characterizes every D. W. Griffith
~ screen play. from The Birth Of q Nation"
to orphans of the Storm r is possible discern
and follow q strain In the Griffith producing
ner that marks him not only Q major dramatist
but as the great dramatic historian Of his day.
II 10 doubtful course whether Griffith de-
sires the distinction thus conferred. II 10
than probable that he would deprsests . too gen
eral acceptance of the idea Cursed he 10 with
the curse Of Adam. and forced wiring 81. 900
from the multitude at frequent intervals to pay
for his projects Griffith cannot ignore the box
office and q historical reputation. while splendid
ones tombstone. drags up few dollars to the
turnstiies. None OF which. however. changes.
the slightest degree. the fact that outstanding
element Of Grinith's technique is to adduce and
purvey an Interpretation Of history which. in
Quent instances. 10 vastly Instructive though not
always discerned immediately.
1t 10 not possible 1t any time for Griffith
dredge up bucketfuls Of historical tradition and
dump It bodily into this or that picture. His cinema
ideas constantly experimental and the expert
ment usually runs into enormous cost In order TO
realize at all with his work sugar-coat his
ideas with romance and adventure and gaud them
out like little girls at school. but down under the
sugar-coating-and sometimes not SO deep as it
might be-you'n ind Griffith slyiy at his work
tncturing his stun with essence Of history and
frequently arriving at conclusions that are pro-
found
H6 frst fSH-btop1 sdmpls Of histo-scul tnteT-
prsfdfsor oos nanVested ta he adaptation Of
o''u ~o' ero"o' o"o toos amor TN
meososey yoao1eo es fxrfhsr hsfersod' editor
soe IN hts pretewnoxs sorpha.s OF the sto,ns
1850 ,pp.a .. We ro".e"',o ~ re'su.age' " po-
Io""o o"o epo s'"o' oy "s ne'e" 09 I770.
TVHE eoucativs force Of Criniths interprsta-
uon or hs DIXON novel was not only
pfotouho out nauenwioe In its scope Re
veaing on the one hand the atrocious wrongs
committed on tne south y Nortnern pohueisns In
the reconsrucuon era ne showed. at the same \
time no" the sou,h mao itsen 10 blame Tor the
civn war. Hs makes II clear that the struggle
primarily was no. oe'ween tne North ana south'
Is impossioie. Tor instance 70 even casually
seAn TINS screen s'oIy "i'n0u' seins impressed oy
inc i~c' 'na' .ne Nortnern pon.csi oioo an Oon-
-, % 80 .. n 80 " '
unAoIe ~ 70 tuiy ~ u'ii1e II oecause OF ehn.Ie CON
uions' $50 .,, noee ,,s 'n~. ~ mus
% neeu- Su ue Sou.n ,. oeoIineo' "l'nout resst
Anee' 70 euf &c suoii'ion anu iree ios Oohos-
men men .he pon.ie,ans OF tne Nortn mus. nave ereauy
p.eu 70 -. Ior s 20 en,0iee t'I,' tner oenlAnu' n
as was the ho'-neaoeo sou'n STRUCK al sumter
anu 'ne Nor'n was iniis"eo WIN 'he cry Oh
u''ueo S"- -
=" ms secono Ois "oIA' Nriiii'h
Ven on 70 tne seeonu ~ nAoyiohian an EmpIe anu
80 .ne As,. ol S' ene tA.i % .hls ' "a
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