• Director: D. W. Griffith
  • Year: 1920
  • Starring: Lillian Gish,Richard Barthelmess,Lowell Sherman,Burr McIntosh
  • Runtime: 2h 25m
  • Available on: YouTube

A dramatic story of redemption and class dynamics with some lighthearted moments that I was not expecting to enjoy given that who the director is. Thankfully, he is saved by the source material, a play by Lottie Blair Parker, as well as an excellent cast headed by the delightful Lillian Gish playing Anna, the naive country girl who ends up as a sympathetic, resilient powerhouse of a character given what's thrown at her.

There is some great (and some weird) cinematography in there and the title cards have a tendency to over-explain but scenes are established well, the story moves along at a good pace, and there are some decent stabs (literally in one instance) at comic relief.

The main premise is dated (although perhaps not as much as we'd like) but the arrogant Lennox Sanderson thinking his wealth and privilege can protect him from his bad behaviour remains entirely relevant today.