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