D.W. Griffith

483 films · 1908 to 1931

Born 22 January 1875, LaGrange, Kentucky, USA · Died 23 July 1948

David Wark Griffith was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the motion picture, he pioneered many aspects of film editing and expanded the art of the narrative film. To modern audiences, Griffith is known primarily for directing the 1915 film The Birth of a Nation. One of the most financially successful films of all time and considered a landmark by film historians, it has also been denounced for its degrading portrayals of African Americans, its glorification of the Ku Klux Klan, and support for the Confederacy. The Ku Klux Klan's revival in the months that followed is partially attributed to the film's release. The film led to riots in several major cities all over the United States and the NAACP attempted to have it banned.

Biography adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.

Critical context from Senses of Cinema