Innocent Anna (Lillian Gish, in a terrific performance) is sent by her poverty-stricken mother to visit rich relations in Boston, where she is seduced into a sham marriage by a smooth-talking scoundrel (Lowell Sherman). When she becomes pregnant, he abandons her; later, the baby dies. Now a social outcast, she changes her name .. Read more
| Starring | Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess, Lowell Sherman, Josephine Bernard |
|---|---|
| Director | D.W. Griffith |
| Genres | Drama |
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Innocent Anna (Lillian Gish, in a terrific performance) is sent by her poverty-stricken mother to visit rich relations in Boston, where she is seduced into a sham marriage by a smooth-talking scoundrel (Lowell Sherman). When she becomes pregnant, he abandons her; later, the baby dies. Now a social outcast, she changes her name and eventually finds shelter at the estate of the sternly religious Squire Bartlett (Burr McIntosh). She falls in love with his handsome son (Richard Barthelmess), but cannot divulge to him her terrible secret for fear of his father's righteous fury. D.W. Griffith (BIRTH OF A NATION) directed this film with his usual blend of powerfully cinematic storytelling and scathing social commentary. Rustic New England and New York locations provide a gorgeous backdrop to the proceedings, and the climax, where poor Anna becomes lost in a winter storm, and is swept down the river on ice floes, is one of silent cinema's peak moments.
| Starring | Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess, Lowell Sherman, Josephine Bernard, Florence Short |
|---|---|
| Director | D.W. Griffith |
| Studio | EUREKA ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 25 mins LOVEFiLM Instant: 1 hr 58 mins |
| Certificate |  DVD LOVEFiLM Instant |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English LOVEFiLM Instant: Silent |
| Subtitles | LOVEFiLM Instant: English |
| Released | Production year: 1920 To Watch Online: LOVEFiLM Instant: 04 Jan 2011 To Rent: DVD: To be confirmed |
| Watch now | Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant. Subscribe. |
Griffith's Victorian perspective on illegitimacy (plus his view of maternity as 'woman's Gethsemane', etc) threatens... read more on Time Out
- 5
- 0
This Silent Movie speaks volumes!!
Don't let the idea of a 'Silent Movie' put you off watching this milestone in movie making history.
'Way Down East' broke many ... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
- 0
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There are rewards.
Kind of Tess of the D'urbervilles played on a tinny piano. With a different ending!
Miss Gish though is tremendously appealing.
And ... read more »
- 1
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very watchable for 1920
i have watched a few DW Griffiths films.. Birth of a Nation, Intolerance being a few... although these are historically important in terms of film development ... read more »
- 0
- 0
way down east
very old classic but interesting
by:
Tolis
from Kent
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