Judith of Bethulia | 1913 | Historical drama

Title: Judith of Bethulia | 1913 | Historical drama Director: D. W. Griffith Studio: Biograph Company Starring: Blanche Sweet, Henry B. Walthall, Mae Marsh, Robert Harron, Lillian Gish Based on: The play by Thomas Bailey Aldrich, adapted from the Book of Judith Release Date: March 8, 1914 Runtime: 61 Format: Silent; black-and-white; 4 reels; English intertitles Country: United States Language: Silent Genres: Historical drama, biblical --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Siege of Bethulia 00:12:30 Council in Crisis 00:24:00 Judith’s Resolve 00:35:00 In Holofernes’ Camp 00:47:00 The Beheading and Escape 00:55:00 Return and Victory --- Summary: During the Assyrian siege of the Jewish city of Bethulia, starvation and despair push the citizens toward surrender. Judith, a wealthy young widow, crafts a daring plan: she infiltrates the enemy camp to get close to the general Holofernes. Using wit and courage, Judith gains the general’s trust, then kills him and brings his head back to Bethulia. Her act breaks the siege and restores hope, framing a narrative of sacrifice, resolve, and communal deliverance. --- Background: Filmed in 1913 and released in 1914, this was D. W. Griffith’s final production for the Biograph Company and among the earliest American feature-length historical epics. Exterior scenes were photographed in Chatsworth Park, California, with interiors at Biograph’s studios. Reported to have cost approximately $36,000, the film reflected the industry’s transition from shorts to multi-reel features and showcased large-scale sets and crowd scenes typical of Griffith’s expanding ambitions. --- Trivia: The cinematography by G. W. “Billy” Bitzer emphasizes large battle tableaux and deep staging, hallmarks of Griffith’s collaborations with Bitzer. Biograph delayed the release until after Griffith’s departure from the company, reflecting tensions over his push toward feature-length production. The film was distributed in four reels, and some early engagements reportedly presented it one reel at a time. A revised, expanded reissue appeared in 1917 under the title Her Condoned Sin, incorporating additional intertitles and footage. Lillian Gish appears in a small role as a young mother, alongside principal players Blanche Sweet and Henry B. Walthall. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: March 8, 1914 Original Studio / Distributor: Biograph Company / General Film Company Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: No --- Hashtags: JudithOfBethulia DWGriffith BlancheSweet SilentFilm Biograph PublicDomain ClassicCinema 1910sCinema Source page: https: //www.loc.gov/item/2012601204/ Direct media URL: https: //tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/mbrs/ntscrm/00047566/00047566.mp4