description Way Down East Overview
Way Down East is a 1920 silent drama-romance film directed by D.W. Griffith. Starring Lillian Gish, it’s notable for its dramatic climax centered around a perilous river rescue. The movie adapts Lottie Blair Parker's stage play and reflects the popularity of similar productions from the era.
It primarily appeals to viewers interested in early American cinema, silent film history, and stories of romance and suspense.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
info Way Down East Specifications
| Country | United States |
| Year | 1920 |
help Way Down East FAQ
What happens in Way Down East's famous ice scene?
Lillian Gish's character Anna is carried away on floating ice while Richard Barthelmess's David races to rescue her. The 1920 D. W. Griffith sequence is one of silent cinema's best-known action climaxes.
Was Way Down East based on a play?
Yes, Griffith's film adapts Lottie Blair Parker's stage melodrama Way Down East. The story had already been filmed before 1920, and a later sound version appeared in 1935 with Henry Fonda.
Is Way Down East a silent film with intertitles?
Yes, it is a silent American melodrama with English intertitles. The commonly cited runtime for Griffith's version is about 148 minutes.
Why is Lillian Gish's performance discussed so much?
Gish carries the film's emotional arc as Anna, a wronged woman rejected by a rural community. Her physical work in the ice-floe climax helped make Way Down East one of Griffith's major commercial successes after The Birth of a Nation and Intolerance.
explore Explore More
Similar to Way Down East
See all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
