D.W. Griffith
Known For: Directing
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: January 22, 1875
Day of Death: July 23, 1948 (74 years old)
Place of Birth: LaGrange, Kentucky, USA
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.
2023
2014
2008
2007
2002
1998
1961
1951
1936
1931
1930
1929
1928
1927
1926
1925
1924
1923
1922
1921
1920
1919
Director
Broken Blossoms
Producer
Broken Blossoms
Writer
Broken Blossoms
Director
True Heart Susie
Director
The Greatest Question
Director
Scarlet Days
Director
A Romance of Happy Valley
Director
The Fall of Babylon
Writer
The Fall of Babylon
Producer
The Fall of Babylon
Director
The Mother and the Law
Screenplay
The Mother and the Law
Story
The Mother and the Law
Producer
The Mother and the Law
Director
The Girl Who Stayed at Home
Writer
The Girl Who Stayed at Home
Producer
The Girl Who Stayed at Home
Story
A Romance of Happy Valley
Producer
A Romance of Happy Valley
Producer
True Heart Susie
Producer
The Greatest Question
Producer
Scarlet Days
1918
Director
Hearts of the World
Writer
The Hun Within
Writer
Hearts of the World
Director
The Great Love
Writer
The Great Love
Producer
The Great Love
Writer
The Greatest Thing in Life
Director
The Greatest Thing in Life
Producer
The Greatest Thing in Life
Director
Lillian Gish in a Liberty Loan Appeal
Writer
Lillian Gish in a Liberty Loan Appeal
Producer
Lillian Gish in a Liberty Loan Appeal
Producer
Hearts of the World
1917
1916
Scenario Writer
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Director
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Writer
The Marriage of Molly-O
Writer
Daphne and the Pirate
Producer
The Half-Breed
Story
An Innocent Magdalene
Writer
Diane of the Follies
Editor
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Production Design
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Costume Design
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Makeup Artist
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Producer
Fifty-Fifty
Producer
The Social Secretary
Writer
The Missing Links
Production Supervisor
The Missing Links
Presenter
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Story
The Wood Nymph
Writer
Hoodoo Ann
Story
Betty of Greystone
Supervisor of Production Resources
Betty of Greystone
1915
Actor Mr. Ray
Enoch Arden
Writer
The Birth of a Nation
Producer
The Birth of a Nation
Original Music Composer
The Birth of a Nation
Editor
The Birth of a Nation
Writer
The Lily and the Rose
Producer
The Lily and the Rose
Producer
Ghosts
Supervising Producer
Old Heidelberg
Production Supervisor
Double Trouble
Story
The Lamb
Presenter
The Birth of a Nation
Writer
Enoch Arden
Director
The Birth of a Nation
1914
Director
Waifs
Director
The Avenging Conscience
Writer
The Avenging Conscience
Producer
The Avenging Conscience
Director
The Escape
Director
Judith of Bethulia
Director
Brute Force
Director
Home, Sweet Home
Supervising Producer
The Life of General Villa
Writer
Home, Sweet Home
Supervising Producer
The Odalisque
Director
The Battle of the Sexes
1913
Writer
Just Gold
Director
An Adventure in the Autumn Woods
Director
A Misappropriated Turkey
Director
Brothers
Director
A Chance Deception
Director
Love in an Apartment Hotel
Director
The Hero of Little Italy
Director
If We Only Knew
Director
Near To Earth
Director
The Stolen Loaf
Director
The Ranchero's Revenge
Director
The Sorrowful Shore
Director
The Enemy's Baby
Director
His Mother's Son
Director
The Tender Hearted Boy
Director
The Perfidy of Mary
Director
The Mothering Heart
Director
The Battle at Elderbush Gulch
Director
Death's Marathon
Director
The Yaqui Cur
Director
The Wanderer
Director
The Telephone Girl and the Lady
Director
The House of Darkness
Producer
The Mothering Heart
Director
Her Mother's Oath
Writer
Her Mother's Oath
Director
His Mother's Son
Director
The Adopted Brother
Writer
The Lady and the Mouse
Director
Three Friends
Director
The Sheriff's Baby
Writer
The Battle at Elderbush Gulch
Director
Broken Ways
Director
Fate
Director
The Unwelcome Guest
Director
The Coming of Angelo
Director
The Little Tease
Writer
The Little Tease
Director
Two Men of the Desert
Screenplay
Two Men of the Desert
Director
The Reformers
Director
Oil and Water
Writer
The Wanderer
Director
A Timely Interception
Director
The Lady and the Mouse
Director
A Misunderstood Boy
Director
The Left-Handed Man
Director
Just Gold
Director
Madonna of the Storm
Director
The Conscience of Hassan Bey
1912
Actor At Stage Door
Two Daughters of Eve
Writer
Brutality
Director
Heredity
Director
My Hero
Writer
My Hero
Director
The Musketeers of Pig Alley
Writer
The Musketeers of Pig Alley
Director
The Chief's Blanket
Director
An Unseen Enemy
Director
The Old Actor
Director
The New York Hat
Director
The Female of the Species
Director
The Girl and Her Trust
Director
So Near, Yet So Far
Director
Blind Love
Director
The Transformation of Mike
Director
The Mender of Nets
Director
The Painted Lady
Director
The Eternal Mother
Director
The School Teacher and the Waif
Director
A Beast at Bay
Director
Friends
Director
Under Burning Skies
Director
The Lesser Evil
Director
One Is Business, the Other Crime
Director
The Narrow Road
Director
The Sunbeam
Director
The Sands of Dee
Director
For His Son
Director
The Burglar’s Dilemma
Director
The Massacre
Director
The Baby and the Stork
Writer
The Massacre
Director
Brutality
Director
Man's Genesis
Director
A Pueblo Legend
Writer
Friends
Writer
The Painted Lady
Director
Billy's Stratagem
Director
The Informer
Director
My Baby
Director
The One She Loved
Director
A Feud in the Kentucky Hills
Writer
A Feud in the Kentucky Hills
Writer
A Pueblo Legend
Director
A Lodging for the Night
Director
The Inner Circle
Director
An Indian Summer
Director
Lena and the Geese
Director
Home Folks
Director
Just Like a Woman
Director
Iola's Promise
Director
Fate's Interception
Director
A Temporary Truce
Director
His Lesson
Writer
Man's Genesis
Writer
The Mender of Nets
Director
The God Within
Director
Two Daughters of Eve
Director
In the Aisles of the Wild
Director
Gold and Glitter
Director
A Cry for Help
Director
A Siren of Impulse
Producer
Lena and the Geese
Director
The Goddess of Sagebrush Gulch
Producer
The Goddess of Sagebrush Gulch
Director
When Kings Were the Law
1911
Actor On Bench
The Adventures of Billy
Director
The Lonedale Operator
Producer
The Lonedale Operator
Director
His Trust
Director
Enoch Arden: Part I
Director
Enoch Arden: Part II
Director
The Miser's Heart
Director
What Shall We Do with Our Old?
Director
The Battle
Director
A Country Cupid
Director
The Revenue Man and His Girl
Director
Fate's Turning
Director
His Trust Fulfilled
Director
Saved from Himself
Director
Through Darkening Vales
Director
The Squaw's Love
Director
The Indian Brothers
Director
Swords and Hearts
Director
The Adventures of Billy
Director
The Last Drop of Water
Director
Fighting Blood
Director
A Terrible Discovery
Director
The Primal Call
Director
The Italian Barber
Director
The Rose of Kentucky
Director
Heart Beats of Long Ago
Director
His Daughter
Director
Teaching Dad to Like Her
Director
The Making of a Man
Director
Enoch Arden
Director
When a Man Loves
Director
Three Sisters
Director
Madame Rex
Director
A Decree of Destiny
Director
The Long Road
Director
Fisher Folks
Director
The Lily of the Tenements
Director
The Diamond Star
Director
The Two Paths
Director
A Wreath of Orange Blossoms
Director
Bobby the Coward
Director
Love in the Hills
Director
The Failure
Director
A Woman Scorned
Director
Conscience
Director
Her Awakening
Director
Italian Blood
Director
The Unveiling
1910
Director
Bill Sharkey's Last Game
Director
The House with Closed Shutters
Director
The Fugitive
Director
The Unchanging Sea
Director
In the Border States
Director
Ramona
Director
An Arcadian Maid
Director
As It Is in Life
Director
Winning Back His Love
Director
The Usurer
Director
Wilful Peggy
Director
The Oath and the Man
Director
Faithful
Director
Rose o' Salem Town
Director
A Child of the Ghetto
Director
What the Daisy Said
Director
A Flash of Light
Director
Her Terrible Ordeal
Director
The Lesson
Director
Over Silent Paths
Director
The Message of the Violin
Writer
The Message of the Violin
Director
The Modern Prodigal
Director
Love Among the Roses
Director
The Golden Supper
Director
The Two Brothers
Director
The Rocky Road
Director
The Honor of His Family
Director
In Old California
Director
The Thread of Destiny
Story
The Thread of Destiny
Director
A Romance of the Western Hills
Director
In Life's Cycle
Director
A Plain Song
Director
The Woman from Mellon's
Director
The Englishman and the Girl
Director
The Newlyweds
Director
The Twisted Trail
Director
A Rich Revenge
Director
In the Season of Buds
Director
A Victim of Jealousy
Director
Muggsy's First Sweetheart
Director
A Child's Impulse
Director
The Call to Arms
Director
The Sorrows of the Unfaithful
Director
Waiter No. 5
Director
Simple Charity
Director
The Song of the Wildwood Flute
Writer
Ramona
Director
Sunshine Sue
Director
Unexpected Help
Director
His Last Burglary
Director
The Final Settlement
Director
Taming a Husband
Director
The Man
Director
The Converts
Director
Gold Is Not All
Director
Thou Shalt Not
Director
The Way of the World
Director
The Gold Seekers
Director
The Impalement
Director
The Face at the Window
Director
The Marked Time-Table
Director
The Purgation
Director
A Midnight Cupid
Director
A Child's Faith
Director
Serious Sixteen
Director
As the Bells Rang Out!
Director
His Sister-In-Law
Director
A Child's Stratagem
Director
The Banker's Daughters
Director
Two Little Waifs
Director
Her Father's Pride
Director
A Salutary Lesson
Director
A Summer Idyll
Director
Little Angels of Luck
Director
A Mohawk's Way
Director
The Iconoclast
Director
Examination Day at School
Director
That Chink at Golden Gulch
Director
The Broken Doll
Director
The Last Deal
Writer
The Last Deal
Director
His Last Dollar
Director
The Call
Writer
The Call
Director
The Cloister’s Touch
Director
The Duke’s Plan
Writer
The Duke’s Plan
Director
On the Reef
Writer
On the Reef
1909
Actor
At the Altar
Actor
1776, or The Hessian Renegades
Actor Man - First Couple
The Politician's Love Story
Actor At Black & Tan Ball
The Girls and Daddy
Director
The Sealed Room
Writer
Confidence
Writer
The Politician's Love Story
Writer
The Lure of the Gown
Writer
A Drunkard's Reformation
Writer
What Drink Did
Director
Mrs. Jones Entertains
Director
A Corner in Wheat
Writer
A Sweet Revenge
Director
I Did It
Director
The Curtain Pole
Writer
The Curtain Pole
Director
The Lonely Villa
Director
Those Awful Hats
Director
The Mended Lute
Director
A Trap for Santa Claus
Director
The Golden Louis
Director
The Little Darling
Director
Lady Helen's Escapade
Director
The Redman's View
Director
The Gibson Goddess
Director
Lucky Jim
Director
The Politician's Love Story
Director
The Renunciation
Director
1776, or The Hessian Renegades
Director
Nursing a Viper
Director
Edgar Allan Poe
Director
The Voice of the Violin
Director
What Drink Did
Director
The Mountaineer's Honor
Director
The Joneses Have Amateur Theatricals
Director
The Violin Maker of Cremona
Director
The Country Doctor
Director
The Cricket on the Hearth
Director
A Drunkard's Reformation
Director
Resurrection
Director
Confidence
Writer
Those Awful Hats
Director
Her First Biscuits
Director
At the Altar
Director
The Cord of Life
Director
Getting Even
Director
Pippa Passes
Director
The Lure of the Gown
Director
Twin Brothers
Director
The Son's Return
Screenplay
The Son's Return
Director
The Light That Came
Writer
Lines of White on a Sullen Sea
Writer
The Broken Locket
Writer
The Little Darling
Director
In Old Kentucky
Writer
At the Altar
Director
A Strange Meeting
Writer
Nursing a Viper
Director
The Suicide Club
Director
The Broken Locket
Director
The Indian Runner's Romance
Director
The Way of Man
Director
The Awakening
Director
Lines of White on a Sullen Sea
Director
One Touch of Nature
Director
The Maniac Cook
Writer
The Maniac Cook
Director
The Honor of Thieves
Writer
The Honor of Thieves
Director
Love Finds a Way
Writer
Love Finds a Way
Director
A Rural Elopement
Writer
A Rural Elopement
Director
The Sacrifice
Writer
The Sacrifice
Director
The Criminal Hypnotist
Writer
The Criminal Hypnotist
Director
Mr. Jones Has a Card Party
Writer
Mr. Jones Has a Card Party
Director
The Fascinating Mrs. Francis
Writer
The Fascinating Mrs. Francis
Director
The Welcome Burglar
Writer
The Welcome Burglar
Writer
The Cord of Life
Director
The Salvation Army Lass
Director
Fools of Fate
Director
The Cardinal's Conspiracy
Writer
The Joneses Have Amateur Theatricals
Director
Two Memories
Writer
Two Memories
Director
Sweet and Twenty
Director
Trying to Get Arrested
Director
The Little Teacher
Director
The Day After
Producer
The Day After
Writer
The Golden Louis
Director
His Wife's Visitor
Director
His Duty
Director
The Faded Lilies
Director
The Peachbasket Hat
Director
The Mexican Sweethearts
Director
The Necklace
Director
Tender Hearts
Director
The Slave
Director
They Would Elope
Director
Oh, Uncle!
Director
The Seventh Day
Director
His Lost Love
Director
In the Watches of the Night
Director
What's Your Hurry?
Director
The Restoration
Director
A Midnight Adventure
Director
The Trick that Failed
Director
Through the Breakers
Director
The Test
Director
To Save Her Soul
Director
The Heart of an Outlaw
Writer
1776, or The Hessian Renegades
Writer
The Way of Man
Writer
The Country Doctor
Writer
Getting Even
Director
The Girls and Daddy
Director
Comata, the Sioux
Director
The Children's Friend
Director
Wanted, a Child
Director
A Sweet Revenge
Director
Pranks
Producer
A Corner in Wheat
Writer
The Mountaineer's Honor
Director
The Jilt
Writer
The Jilt
Director
Jones and His New Neighbors
Writer
Jones and His New Neighbors
Director
Jones and the Lady Book Agent
Writer
Jones and the Lady Book Agent
Director
Mr. Jones’ Burglar
Writer
Mr. Jones’ Burglar
Director
The Medicine Bottle
Writer
The Medicine Bottle
Director
Mrs. Jones' Lover or, I Want My Hat
Writer
Mrs. Jones' Lover or, I Want My Hat
Director
The Note in the Shoe
Writer
The Note in the Shoe
Director
The Prussian Spy
Writer
The Prussian Spy
Director
The Road to the Heart
Writer
The Road to the Heart
Director
The Roue’s Heart
Writer
The Roue’s Heart
Director
Schneider’s Anti-Noise Crusade
Writer
Schneider’s Anti-Noise Crusade
Director
Those Boys!
Writer
Those Boys!
Director
Tis an Ill Wind That Blows No Good
Writer
Tis an Ill Wind That Blows No Good
Director
A Troublesome Satchel
Director
The Winning Coat
Writer
The Winning Coat
Director
The Wooden Leg
Writer
The Wooden Leg
Director
A Wreath in Time
Writer
A Wreath in Time
Director
A Baby's Shoe
Writer
A Baby's Shoe
Director
The Brahma Diamond
Writer
The Brahma Diamond
Director
The Deception
Director
Drive for a Life
Writer
Drive for a Life
Director
Eloping with Auntie
Writer
Eloping with Auntie
Director
Eradicating Aunty
Writer
Eradicating Aunty
Director
His Ward's Love
Writer
His Ward's Love
Director
His Wife's Mother
Writer
His Wife's Mother
Director
Jealousy and the Man
Writer
Jealousy and the Man
Writer
To Save Her Soul
Director
The Mills of the Gods
Writer
The Mills of the Gods
Director
A New Trick
Writer
A New Trick
Director
A Rude Hostess
Writer
A Rude Hostess
Director
Tragic Love
Writer
Tragic Love
Writer
The Voice of the Violin
Writer
A Corner in Wheat
Director
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them
Writer
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them
Director
A Burglar’s Mistake
Writer
A Burglar’s Mistake
Director
The Death Disc: A Story of the Cromwellian Period
Director
The Eavesdropper
Writer
The Eavesdropper
Director
The Expiation
Writer
The Expiation
Director
Fool's Revenge
Writer
Fool's Revenge
Writer
The Girls and Daddy
Writer
His Lost Love
Director
The Hindoo Dagger
Writer
The Hindoo Dagger
Director
In Little Italy
Director
In the Window Recess
Director
Leather Stocking
1908
Actor Suitor
At the Crossroads of Life
Actor Husband
At the French Ball
Actor Rescuer
The Black Viper
Actor Policeman
The Fatal Hour
Actor
The Sculptor's Nightmare
Actor
Balked at the Altar
Actor Cannibal in Top Hat
King of the Cannibal Islands
Actor Father
Her First Adventure
Actor Father
Rescued from an Eagle's Nest
Actor
Cupid’s Pranks
Actor Doctor, Charity Worker
Old Isaacs, the Pawnbroker
Actor Messenger
The King's Messenger
Actor Mailman
The Invisible Fluid
Actor Station Agent
The Man in the Box
Actor
The Kentuckian
Actor Phil Bowen
The Stage Rustler
Actor Reginald O.C. Wittington
Deceived Slumming Party
Actor Man on Footpath
The Red Girl
Actor Footman
The Heart of O Yama
Actor
The Music Master
Actor Extra
Classmates
Actor Paddy
Caught by Wireless
Actor Mr. Phlipp
Yellow Peril
Actor
Hulda's Lovers
Actor Cop in Court
Falsely Accused!
Actor Policeman
A Calamitous Elopement
Actor
When Knights Were Bold
Writer
An Awful Moment
Director
The Fight for Freedom
Director
For Love of Gold
Director
For a Wife's Honor
Director
The Man and the Woman
Director
The Adventures of Dollie
Director
The Black Viper
Director
A Calamitous Elopement
Director
Romance of a Jewess
Director
Father Gets in the Game
Director
Money Mad
Director
The Fatal Hour
Director
Balked at the Altar
Writer
Balked at the Altar
Director
Betrayed by a Handprint
Director
The Song of the Shirt
Director
After Many Years
Director
The Taming of the Shrew
Director
The Red Man and the Child
Writer
The Red Man and the Child
Director
An Awful Moment
Director
Deceived Slumming Party
Director
Monday Morning in a Coney Island Police Court
Director
The Girl and the Outlaw
Director
Behind the Scenes: Where All Is Not Gold That Glitters
Director
The Red Girl
Director
The Heart of O Yama
Director
Where the Breakers Roar
Director
A Smoked Husband
Director
The Devil
Director
Ingomar, the Barbarian
Director
The Vaquero's Vow
Director
The Call of the Wild
Director
Concealing a Burglar
Director
The Pirate's Gold
Director
The Guerrilla
Director
The Clubman and the Tramp
Director
The Valet's Wife
Director
The Feud and the Turkey
Director
The Reckoning
Director
The Test of Friendship
Writer
Over the Hills to the Poor House
Director
The Christmas Burglars
Writer
The Christmas Burglars
Director
Mr. Jones at the Ball
Writer
Mr. Jones at the Ball
Director
The Helping Hand
Writer
The Helping Hand
Writer
The Music Master
Writer
Money Mad
Director
The Zulu's Heart
Writer
The Zulu's Heart
Writer
The Taming of the Shrew
Writer
The Call of the Wild
Writer
Mixed Babies
Director
The Greaser's Gauntlet
Writer
The Greaser's Gauntlet
Director
The Bandit’s Waterloo (The Outwitting of an Andalusian Brigand by a Pretty Senora)
Writer
The Bandit’s Waterloo (The Outwitting of an Andalusian Brigand by a Pretty Senora)
Director
The Ingrate
Writer
The Ingrate
Director
The Planter's Wife
Writer
The Planter's Wife
Director
The Stolen Jewels
Writer
The Stolen Jewels
Director
A Woman's Way
Writer
A Woman's Way
Director
The Tavern Keeper’s Daughter
Writer
When Knights Were Bold
