Way Down East
1920
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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Critics' reviews (2)
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A prime example of Hollywood's all-too-frequent attempts to remake a masterpiece when there's little possibility of equalling, let alone improving, the original. Fifteen years after the memorable silent collaboration of DW Griffith and Lillian Gish, Fox handed a sound version to Henry King and Rochelle Hudson (replacing the more suitable Janet Gaynor who dropped out), with Henry Fonda in the Richard Barthelmess role. King's work is all right, especially his re-creation of the ice-river climax, but Hudson is no match for Gish, leaving the honours to Fonda in a much smaller role. The major problem though, lies in the material which, by the mid-thirties, played as outmoded period melodrama, needing a genius to rescue it.
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Griffith's Victorian perspective on illegitimacy (plus his view of maternity as 'woman's Gethsemane', etc) threatens... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
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 ... more -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Silent masterpiece.
Gish is beautifully magnificent,the direction is outstanding and those ice floes look pretty cold.
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Fantstic film - Another Griffith masterpiece
D.W. Griffith brings the Victorian stage drama 'Way Down East' to the silver screen with this classic film starring the ever-beautiful Lillian Gish. ... more
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
Fantstic film - Another Griffith masterpiece
D.W. Griffith brings the Victorian stage drama 'Way Down East' to the silver screen with this classic film starring the ever-beautiful Lillian Gish. ... more
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-
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
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 ... more -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Silent masterpiece.
Gish is beautifully magnificent,the direction is outstanding and those ice floes look pretty cold.
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Fantstic film - Another Griffith masterpiece
D.W. Griffith brings the Victorian stage drama 'Way Down East' to the silver screen with this classic film starring the ever-beautiful Lillian Gish. ... more
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Aside from Lillian Gish, a sprawling bore
It's difficult to know, when watching silent films, whether you're being virtuous or genuinely looking for something you will really enjoy. Watching D.W... more
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way down east
if you have an interest in silent
movies this is a very good place to start
and a good look at how movre began miss this at you peril -
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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 ... more
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[Highly rated reviewer]
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 ... more
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- SteveMason from Nottingham
- Posted 10 Feb 2009 unknown
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0 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Critics' reviews (2)
-
A prime example of Hollywood's all-too-frequent attempts to remake a masterpiece when there's little possibility of equalling, let alone improving, the original. Fifteen years after the memorable silent collaboration of DW Griffith and Lillian Gish, Fox handed a sound version to Henry King and Rochelle Hudson (replacing the more suitable Janet Gaynor who dropped out), with Henry Fonda in the Richard Barthelmess role. King's work is all right, especially his re-creation of the ice-river climax, but Hudson is no match for Gish, leaving the honours to Fonda in a much smaller role. The major problem though, lies in the material which, by the mid-thirties, played as outmoded period melodrama, needing a genius to rescue it.
-
Griffith's Victorian perspective on illegitimacy (plus his view of maternity as 'woman's Gethsemane', etc) threatens... read more on Time Out
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