Way Down East | 1920 | Drama Romance

Title: Way Down East | 1920 | Drama Romance Director: D.W. Griffith Studio: D.W. Griffith Corporation Starring: Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess, Lowell Sherman Release Date: October 17, 1920 Runtime: 141 Format: Silent, Black and White, 35mm Country: United States Language: Silent (English intertitles) Genres: Drama, Romance --- Summary: Way Down East follows the story of Anna Moore, a naive country girl who is deceived by a wealthy man and abandoned when she becomes pregnant. After suffering ostracism and hardship, she finds refuge with a kind family and eventually falls in love with their son, leading to dramatic conflicts centered on forgiveness and social stigma. The film explores themes of innocence, redemption, and the rigid moral codes of rural society. --- Background: Way Down East is based on a popular 1897 play by Lottie Blair Parker and adapted for the screen by D.W. Griffith, known for his innovative techniques in silent cinema. The film is notable for its dramatic ice-floe sequence, which was shot on location and involved considerable risk. It became one of the highest-grossing silent films of its time and solidified Lillian Gish’s status as a leading actress in American cinema. --- Trivia: The iconic ice-floe rescue scene was filmed at the partially frozen Hudson River and used real ice, leading to dangerous working conditions for the cast and crew. Lillian Gish performed many of her own stunts in the film, including the perilous scenes on the ice breakup. The film’s success helped establish D.W. Griffith's reputation after the mixed reception of his previous work, Intolerance. Way Down East was later remade in 1935 as a sound film, showing the lasting impact of the story in American popular culture. --- Hashtags: WayDownEast SilentFilm ClassicDrama LillianGish DWGriffith 1920Film