Way Down East

Griffith likes an epic drama. I'm not the biggest fan of these lengthy silent films, the constant presence of the music tends to get a bit annoying and the balance between footage and intertitles is off, but all things considered, these films are often better than the ones from the 30s and 40s.

The young Anna Moore is engaged to Sanderson, a wealthy gentleman. After their wedding, when she tells him she is expecting, he confesses to her that the marriage is a sham. Moore is left behind and loses her baby, a serious trauma that leaves her scarred. Later on, Bartlett tells Moore he loves her, but she can't trust the man.

I got a bit annoyed with the slow intertitles and much of the drama is too sentimental for my taste, but the monochrome footage is relatively moody, and some of the more adventurous scenes (like the stormy finale) are a step up from the norm. Could've been better as a 90-minute film, but certainly not the worst.