D. W. Griffith

Also known as David Llewelyn Wark Griffith, David Wark Griffith, David Griffith, D W Griffith, David W. Griffith

American filmmaker (1875–1948)

AI overview

D. W. Griffith was an American filmmaker from 1875 to 1948 who played a major role in developing early cinema techniques and storytelling. His work was influential in shaping how films were made and told stories, though his legacy remains complex due to the controversial racial content in some of his films.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Film & TV

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…

Known for

Hollywood Black — Self (archive footage)2024
Mary Pickford a Blessing and a Curse — Self2023
Charlie Chaplin, The Genius of Liberty — archive footage2020
Flashback: The First World War — Self (archive footage)2014
Mary Pickford: The Muse of the Movies — Self (archive footage)2008
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema — Self (archive footage)2007
The Tramp and the Dictator — Self (archive footage) (uncredited)2002
Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists — Self (archive footage)1998
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies — Self (archive footage)1995
The Making of 'The Birth of a Nation' — Self (Archive footage)1993

via TMDB

Wikidata facts

Instance of: human
Family name: Griffith
Gender: male
Citizenship: United States
Place of birth: Crestwood
Place of death: Hollywood
Spouse: Linda Arvidson
Languages spoken: English language
Native language: English language
Award: star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Notable work: Intolerance
Field of work: silent film
Image: GriffithDW.jpg
Work location: United States

Show 16 more facts

writing language: English language
Commons category: David Wark Griffith
date of birth: 1875-01-22
date of death: 1948-07-23
topic's main category: Category:D. W. Griffith
birth name: David Llewelyn Wark Griffith
filmography: D. W. Griffith filmography
manner of death: natural causes
cause of death: cerebral hemorrhage
name in native language: David Llewelyn Wark Griffith
start of work period: 1895-00-00
related category: Category:Films directed by D. W. Griffith
has works in the collection: Museum of Modern Art
Commons Creator page: D. W. Griffith
on focus list of Wikimedia project: Wikipedia:Vital articles/Level/4
end of work period: 1931-00-00

Sources (10)

via Wikidata · CC0

~18 min read

Encyclopedic overview

David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the motion picture, he pioneered many aspects of film editing and expanded the art of the narrative film.

To modern audiences, Griffith is known primarily for directing the 1915 film The Birth of a Nation. One of the most financially successful films of all time and considered a landmark by film historians, it has also been denounced for its degrading portrayals of African Americans, its glorification of the Ku Klux Klan, and support for the Confederacy. The film led to riots in several major cities all over the United States and the NAACP attempted to have it banned. Griffith made his next film Intolerance (1916) as an answer to critics, who he felt unfairly maligned his work.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “D. W. Griffith” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

D. W. Griffith

Film & TV

Known for

Wikidata facts

Encyclopedic overview

Gallery (11)

Available in 76 languages

What links here1,936 pages

What links here1,936 pages