Judith of Bethulia (1914)
1914 · Silent film · 48 min · dir. D.W. Griffith
- Drama
- History
- War
Synopsis
A fascinating work of high artistry, "Judith of Bethulia" will not only rank as an achievement in this country, but will make foreign producers sit up and take notice. It has a signal and imperative message, and the technique displayed throughout an infinity of detail, embracing even the delicate film tinting and toning, marks an encouraging step in the development of the new art. Ancient in story and settings, it is modern in penetrative interpretation - it is a vivid history of one phase of the time it concerns, and is redemptive as well as relative, a lesson from one of those vital struggles that made and unmade nations as well as individuals, yet it is not without that inspiring influence that appeals powerfully to human sense of justice. The entire vigorous action of the play works up to the personal sacrifice of Judith of Bethulia, a perilous chance she takes for the sake of the lives and happiness of her people. She dares expose herself to overwhelming humiliation and dishonor in a challenge of beauty to strength, struggles through a conversion of sentiment that makes the high crisis more acute, and sets at defiance the "better-death-than-dishonor" platitude, escaping both through that all-conquering combination in a woman, great physical beauty joined to lofty intelligence. She enters upon a relation of constant peril - only delicate treatment saves the situation at times - abandons her native purity of conduct and dares her own undoing, yet the noble end justified…
Synopsis from OMDb
Details
- Director
- D.W. Griffith
- Writer
- Frank E. Woods
- Cinematography
- Billy Bitzer
- Studio
- Biograph Company
- Released
- 1914-03-08
- Running time
- 48 minutes
- Language
- English
- Collection
- Silent Films, Feature Films
Cast & crew
D.W. Griffith Director
Blanche Sweet
Henry B. Walthall
Mae Marsh
Robert Harron
Kate Bruce
Lillian Gish
Dorothy Gish
J. Jiquel Lanoe
