D.W. Griffith
Photoplayd Industry Rating
Not enough rated films yet to compute a weighted score.
Roles are weighted by involvement: director 1.0, screenwriter 0.7, lead 0.8, supporting 0.4, crew 0.1.
David Llewelyn Wark Griffith was a premier pioneering American film director. He is best known as the director of the controversial and groundbreaking 1915 film The Birth of a Nation and the subsequent film Intolerance (1916). Griffith's film The Birth of a Nation made pioneering use of advanced camera and narrative techniques, and its immense popularity set the stage for the dominance of the feature-length film. It also proved extremely controversial at the time and ever since for its negative depiction of Black Americans and their supporters, and its positive portrayal of slavery and the Ku Klux Klan. Griffith responded to his critics with his next film, Intolerance, intended to show the dangers of prejudiced thought and behavior. The film was not the financial success that its predecessor had been, but was received warmly by critics. Several of his later films were also successful, but high production, promotional, and roadshow costs often made his ventures commercial failures. Even so, he is generally considered one of the most important figures of early cinema.
Known for
Credits
The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Director
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916)
Director
To Save Her Soul (1909)
Director
Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl (1919)
Director
1776, or The Hessian Renegades (1909)
Director
The Englishman and the Girl (1910)
Director
A Knight of the Road (1911)
Director
Home, Sweet Home (1914)
Director
Abraham Lincoln (1930)
Director
Judith of Bethulia (1914)
Director
The Female of the Species (1912)
Director
Sweet Revenge (1909)
Director
A Child's Impulse (1910)
Director
The Battle at Elderbush Gulch (1913)
Director
Madonna of the Storm (1913)
Director
Orphans of the Storm (1921)
Director
The Call to Arms (1910)
Director
The Renunciation (1909)
Director
They Would Elope (1909)
Director
The Blind Princess and the Poet (1911)
Director
Muggsy's First Sweetheart (1910)
Director
The Spanish Gypsy (1911)
Director
The Battle of the Sexes (1928)
Director
The One She Loved (1912)
Director
The Last Drop of Water (1911)
Director
Just Like a Woman (1912)
Director
Way Down East (1920)
Director
A Lodging for the Night (1912)
Director
A Decree of Destiny (1911)
Director
The Twisted Trail (1910)
Director
In the Aisles of the Wild (1912)
Director
Love in an Apartment Hotel (1913)
Director
The Greaser's Gauntlet (1908)
Director
Three Sisters (1911)
Director
The School Teacher and the Waif (1912)
Director
Teaching Dad to Like Her (1911)
Director
How She Triumphed (1911)
Director
Remodeling Her Husband (1920)
Director
The Way of the World (1910)
Director
The Hero of Little Italy (1913)
Director
The Baby and the Stork (1912)
Director
The Adventures of Billy (1911)
Director
Just Gold (1913)
Director
The Little Tease (1913)
Director
Mr. Jones at the Ball (1908)
Director
His Lost Love (1909)
Director
The Sorrows of Satan (1926)
Director
The Narrow Road (1912)
Director
Winning Back His Love (1910)
Director
Love Among the Roses (1910)
Director
A Corner in Wheat (1909)
Director
The Modern Prodigal (1910)
Director
The Ranchero's Revenge (1913)
Director
The Song of the Shirt (1908)
Director
The Light That Came (1909)
Director
The Two Paths (1911)
Director
Lady Helen's Escapade (1909)
Director
Taming a Husband (1910)
Director
The Lady and the Mouse (1913)
Director
The Indian Brothers (1911)
Director
The Musketeers of Pig Alley (1912)
Director
Three Friends (1913)
Director
Pippa Passes (1909)
Director
Oil and Water (1913)
Director
The Broken Cross (1911)
Director
Where the Breakers Roar (1908)
Director
Betrayed by a Handprint (1908)
Director
Brutality (1912)
Director
Drums of Love (1928)
Director
The Sheriff's Baby (1913)
Director
I Did It, Mamma (1909)
Director
Leather Stocking (1909)
Director
His Duty (1909)
Director
A Feud in the Kentucky Hills (1912)
Director
The Lure of the Gown (1909)
Director
The New Dress (1911)
Director
Gold and Glitter (1912)
Director
In Little Italy (1909)
Director
The Broken Locket (1909)
Director
In the Watches of the Night (1909)
Director
The Informer (1912)
Director
A Romance of the Western Hills (1910)
Director
The Politician's Love Story (1909)
Director
If We Only Knew (1913)
Director
A Child of the Ghetto (1910)
Director
The Trick that Failed (1909)
Director
The Redman's View (1909)
Director
The Marked Time-Table (1910)
Director
The Enemy's Baby (1913)
Director
The Girls and Daddy (1909)
Director
The Little Teacher (1909)
Director
The Mountaineer's Honor (1909)
Director
The Violin Maker of Cremona (1909)
Director
Edgar Allen Poe (1909)
Director
The Call of the Wild (1908)
Director
Balked at the Altar (1908)
Director
Blind Love (1912)
Director
The Squaw's Love (1911)
Director
The Salvation Army Lass (1909)
Director
Sally of the Sawdust (1925)
Director
The Girl Who Stayed at Home (1919)
Director
What Shall We Do with Our Old? (1911)
Director
Isn't Life Wonderful (1924)
Director
One Is Business, the Other Crime (1912)
Director
What's Your Hurry? (1909)
Director
The Face at the Window (1910)
Director
Monday Morning in a Coney Island Police Court (1908)
Director
Little Angels of Luck (1910)
Director
A Drunkard's Reformation (1909)
Director
A Misunderstood Boy (1913)
Director
The Song of the Wildwood Flute (1910)
Director
An Arcadian Maid (1910)
Director
A Change of Heart (1909)
Director
The Battle of the Sexes (1914)
Director
True Heart Susie (1919)
Director
So Near, Yet So Far (1912)
Director
A Baby's Shoe (1909)
Director
The New York Hat (1912)
Director
The Man (1910)
Director
The Struggle (1931)
Director
That Chink at Golden Gulch (1910)
Director
That Royle Girl (1925)
Director
The Taming of the Shrew (1908)
Director
A String of Pearls (1912)
Director
The Death Disc: A Story of the Cromwellian Period (1909)
Director
The Tavern Keeper’s Daughter (1908)
Director
The Cricket on the Hearth (1909)
Director
His Sister-In-Law (1910)
Director
Hearts of the World (1918)
Director
A Victim of Jealousy (1910)
Director
The Cardinal's Conspiracy (1909)
Director
Home Folks (1912)
Director
The Fall of Babylon (1919)
Director
Death's Marathon (1913)
Director
The Expiation (1909)
Director
Enoch Arden: Part I (1911)
Director
The Miser's Heart (1911)
Director
Lady of the Pavements (1929)
Director
Near To Earth (1913)
Director
The Duke’s Plan (1910)
Director
The Fight for Freedom (1908)
Director
The Eternal Mother (1912)
Director
A Romance of Happy Valley (1919)
Director
The Greatest Thing in Life (1918)
Director
A Terrible Discovery (1911)
Director
The Cord of Life (1909)
Director
Lena and the Geese (1912)
Director
Wilful Peggy (1910)
Director
A Mohawk's Way (1910)
Director
The House of Darkness (1913)
Director
The Sacrifice (1909)
Director
The Sealed Room (1909)
Director
When a Man Loves (1911)
Director
The Mother and the Law (1919)
Director
The Planter's Wife (1908)
Director
A Beast at Bay (1912)
Director
The Cloister’s Touch (1910)
Director
The Chief's Blanket (1912)
Director
The Refuge (1910)
Director
The Golden Supper (1910)
Director
His Wife's Mother (1909)
Director
The Heart of O Yama (1908)
Director
Schneider’s Anti-Noise Crusade (1909)
Director
The Thread of Destiny (1910)
Director
A Flash of Light (1910)
Director
Sunshine Sue (1910)
Director
The Avenging Conscience (1914)
Director
In the Border States (1910)
Director
A Cry for Help (1912)
Director
A Woman's Way (1908)
Director
Wanted, a Child (1909)
Director
The Perfidy of Mary (1913)
Director
Man's Genesis (1912)
Director
A Wreath in Time (1909)
Director
The Conscience of Hassan Bey (1913)
Director
Lines of White on a Sullen Sea (1909)
Director
Two Men of the Desert (1913)
Director
A Griffith Biograph Collection Featuring Mary Pickford: Volume One (—)
Director
In the Window Recess (1909)
Director
The Making of a Man (1911)
Director
The Sorrows of the Unfaithful (1910)
Director
The Children's Friend (1909)
Director
Two Daughters of Eve (1912)
Director
A Country Cupid (1911)
Director
One Touch of Nature (1909)
Director
Money Mad (1908)
Director
The Suicide Club (1909)
Director
The Mender of Nets (1912)
Director
In the Season of Buds (1910)
Director
A Fool's Revenge (1909)
Director
The Battle (1911)
Director
The House with Closed Shutters (1910)
Director
The Unwelcome Guest (1913)
Director
The Rocky Road (1910)
Director
The Feud and the Turkey (1908)
Director
Through Darkening Vales (1911)
Director
The Transformation of Mike (1912)
Director
The Mills of the Gods (1909)
Director
The Voice of the Child (1911)
Director
The Left-Handed Man (1913)
Director
The God Within (1912)
Director
Her Sacrifice (1911)
Director
As It Is in Life (1910)
Director
In Old Kentucky (1909)
Director
The Root of Evil (1912)
Director
The Golden Louis (1909)
Director
My Hero (1912)
Director
The Telephone Girl and the Lady (1913)
Director
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them (1909)
Director
Behind the Scenes: Where All Is Not Gold That Glitters (1908)
Director
The Burglar’s Dilemma (1912)
Director
His Wife's Visitor (1909)
Director
The Old Actor (1912)
Director
The Joneses Have Amateur Theatricals (1909)
Director
The Man and the Woman (1908)
Director
Father Gets in the Game (1908)
Director
The Son's Return (1909)
Director
Mrs. Jones Entertains (1909)
Director
Dream Street (1921)
Director
The Voice of the Violin (1909)
Director
The Criminal Hypnotist (1909)
Director
A Trap for Santa Claus (1909)
Director
Love in the Hills (1911)
Director
The Indian Runner's Romance (1909)
Director
The Diamond Star (1911)
Director
The Helping Hand (1908)
Director
A Child's Faith (1910)
Director
The Impalement (1910)
Director
Love Finds a Way (1909)
Director
Pranks (1909)
Director
The Rose of Kentucky (1911)
Director
An Unseen Enemy (1912)
Director
The Oath and the Man (1910)
Director
The Sorrowful Example (1911)
Director
The Sorrowful Shore (1913)
Director
A Child's Stratagem (1910)
Director
A Burglar’s Mistake (1909)
Director
For His Son (1912)
Director
The Roue’s Heart (1909)
Director
The Girl and Her Trust (1912)
Director
The Unchanging Sea (1910)
Director
Mr. Jones Has a Card Party (1909)
Director
Gold Is Not All (1910)
Director
The Fatal Hour (1908)
Director
His Last Burglary (1910)
Director
Lucky Jim (1909)
Director
Her Terrible Ordeal (1910)
Director
The Goddess of Sagebrush Gulch (1912)
Director
The Clubman and the Tramp (1908)
Director
For a Wife's Honor (1908)
Director
The Tender Hearted Boy (1913)
Director
The White Rose (1923)
Director
The Lily of the Tenements (1911)
Director
Lillian Gish in a Liberty Loan Appeal (1918)
Director
The Thief and the Girl (1911)
Director
Eradicating Aunty (1909)
Director
The Day After (1909)
Director
The Sands of Dee (1912)
Director
What the Daisy Said (1910)
Director
Comata, the Sioux (1909)
Director
When Kings Were the Law (1912)
Director
The Unveiling (1911)
Director
The Girl and the Outlaw (1908)
Director
The Lonely Villa (1909)
Director
The Heart of an Outlaw (1909)
Director
Enoch Arden: Part II (1911)
Director
The Two Brothers (1910)
Director
Jones and the Lady Book Agent (1909)
Director
The Failure (1911)
Director
Scarlet Days (1919)
Director
Her First Biscuits (1909)
Director
The Inner Circle (1912)
Director
The Restoration (1909)
Director
The Wanderer (1913)
Director
A Wreath of Orange Blossoms (1911)
Director
The Revenue Man and His Girl (1911)
Director
Ramona (1910)
Director
The Way of Man (1909)
Director
The Fascinating Mrs. Francis (1909)
Director
Bill Sharkey's Last Game (1910)
Director
The Coming of Angelo (1913)
Director
The Test of Friendship (1908)
Director
Jones and His New Neighbors (1909)
Director
The Pirate's Gold (1908)
Director
The Valet's Wife (1908)
Director
His Mother's Son (1913)
Director
Fate's Turning (1911)
Director
The Black Viper (1908)
Director
His Mother's Son (1913)
Director
The Converts (1910)
Director
The Little Darling (1909)
Director
Faithful (1910)
Director
The Long Road (1911)
Director
Jealousy and the Man (1909)
Director
Nursing a Viper (1909)
Director
A New Trick (1909)
Director
For Love of Gold (1908)
Director
The Peachbasket Hat (1909)
Director
A Strange Meeting (1909)
Director
The Curtain Pole (1909)
Director
The Greatest Question (1919)
Director
A Chance Deception (1913)
Director
Heart Beats of Long Ago (1911)
Director
The Vaquero's Vow (1908)
Director
As the Bells Rang Out! (1910)
Director
The Redman and the Child (1908)
Director
The Yaqui Cur (1913)
Director
The Awakening (1909)
Director
The Great Love (1918)
Director
1930 Prelude to "The Birth of a Nation" (1930)
Director
The Mended Lute (1909)
Director
Resurrection (1909)
Director
The Mothering Heart (1913)
Director
Oh, Uncle! (1909)
Director
The Medicine Bottle (1909)
Director
The Welcome Burglar (1909)
Director
Her Awakening (1911)
Director
A Midnight Cupid (1910)
Director
The Massacre (1912)
Director
The Message of the Violin (1910)
Director
Fate's Interception (1912)
Director
Drive for a Life (1909)
Director
An Awful Moment (1908)
Director
A Smoked Husband (1908)
Director
Through the Breakers (1909)
Director
Romance of a Jewess (1908)
Director
Enoch Arden (1911)
Director
The Winning Coat (1909)
Director
Tis an Ill Wind That Blows No Good (1909)
Director
The Eavesdropper (1909)
Director
Waiter No. 5 (1910)
Director
Tender Hearts (1909)
Director
The Newlyweds (1910)
Director
Madame Rex (1911)
Director
Heredity (1912)
Director
Unexpected Help (1910)
Director
Simple Charity (1910)
Director
Over Silent Paths (1910)
Director
A Temporary Truce (1912)
Director
The Zulu's Heart (1908)
Director
Brothers (1913)
Director
The Escape (1914)
Director
Deceived Slumming Party (1908)
Director
A Siren of Impulse (1912)
Director
Getting Even (1909)
Director
Eloping with Auntie (1909)
Director
The Primal Call (1911)
Director
His Daughter (1911)
Director
Her Father's Pride (1910)
Director
The Iconoclast (1910)
Director
Her Mother's Oath (1913)
Director
Rose o' Salem Town (1910)
Director
In Life's Cycle (1910)
Director
An Adventure in the Autumn Woods (1913)
Director
An Indian Summer (1912)
Director
Friends (1912)
Director
The Necklace (1909)
Director
Conscience (1911)
Director
The Lonedale Operator (1911)
Director
The Brahma Diamond (1909)
Director
At the Altar (1909)
Director
A Salutary Lesson (1910)
Director
The Lesson (1910)
Director
The Red Girl (1908)
Director
The Mistake (1913)
Director
The Idol Dancer (1920)
Director
The Honor of Thieves (1909)
Director
The Woman from Mellon's (1910)
Director
The Painted Lady (1912)
Director
My Baby (1912)
Director
Brute Force (1914)
Director
Tragic Love (1909)
Director
His Trust (1911)
Director
The Country Doctor (1909)
Director
Those Awful Hats (1909)
Director
The Banker's Daughters (1910)
Director
The Purgation (1910)
Director
The Adventures of Dollie (1908)
Director
His Trust Fulfilled (1911)
Director
America (1924)
Director
Fate (1913)
Director
The Wooden Leg (1909)
Director
The Seventh Day (1909)
Director
The Gold Seekers (1910)
Director
The Trail of Books (1911)
Director
Confidence (1909)
Director
The Reformers (1913)
Director
The Gibson Goddess (1909)
Director
The Maniac Cook (1909)
Director
A Rude Hostess (1909)
Director
Mrs. Jones' Lover or, I Want My Hat (1909)
Director
The Bandit's Waterloo: The Outwitting of an Andalusian Brigand by a Pretty Senora (1908)
Director
The Road to the Heart (1909)
Director
The Note in the Shoe (1909)
Director
Swords and Hearts (1911)
Director
His Ward's Love (1909)
Director
Trying to Get Arrested (1909)
Director
Fisher Folks (1911)
Director
In Old California (1910)
Director
Fighting Blood (1911)
Director
The Honor of His Family (1910)
Director
The Slave (1909)
Director
Examination Day at School (1910)
Director
The Broken Doll (1910)
Director
One Exciting Night (1922)
Director
The Guerrilla (1908)
Director
Broken Ways (1913)
Director
Mr. Jones' Burglar (1909)
Director
A Rural Elopement (1909)
Director
A Pueblo Legend (1912)
Director
The French Duel (1909)
Director
Under Burning Skies (1912)
Director
The Stolen Loaf (1913)
Director
Two Memories (1909)
Director
After Many Years (1908)
Director
What Drink Did (1909)
Director
A Woman Scorned (1911)
Director
A Misappropriated Turkey (1913)
Director
Iola's Promise (1912)
Director
Waifs (1914)
Director
The Call (1910)
Director
The Fugitive (1910)
Director
Those Boys! (1909)
Director
Biograph Shorts Special Edition: 1909-1913 (—)
Director
Bobby the Coward (1911)
Director
Two Little Waifs (1910)
Director
Saved from Himself (1911)
Director
The Last Deal (1910)
Director
Twin Brothers (1909)
Director
A Rich Revenge (1910)
Director
The Sunbeam (1912)
Director
The Adopted Brother (1913)
Director
The Mexican Sweethearts (1909)
Director
A Timely Interception (1913)
Director
The Deception (1909)
Director
His Lesson (1912)
Director
The Italian Barber (1911)
Director
A Plain Song (1910)
Director
A Summer Idyll (1910)
Director
His Last Dollar (1910)
Director
The Christmas Burglars (1908)
Director
The Final Settlement (1910)
Director
Footlight Varieties (1951)
Director
Fools of Fate (1909)
Director
Ingomar, the Barbarian (1908)
Director
The Prussian Spy (1909)
Director
The Faded Lilies (1909)
Director
A Midnight Adventure (1909)
Director
The Love Flower (1920)
Director
The Hindoo Dagger (1909)
Director
The Usurer (1910)
Director
A Troublesome Satchel (1909)
Director
The Lesser Evil (1912)
Director
The Ingrate (1908)
Director
Concealing a Burglar (1908)
Director
The Jilt (1909)
Director
Italian Blood (1911)
Director
The Stolen Jewels (1908)
Director
On the Reef (1910)
Director
Sweet and Twenty (1909)
Director
The Test (1909)
Director
A Calamitous Elopement (1908)
Director
Serious Sixteen (1910)
Director
Thou Shalt Not (1910)
Director
The Reckoning (1908)
Director
Billy's Stratagem (1912)
Director
The Devil (1908)
Director