Orphans of the Storm

D. W. Griffith once again showcases his directorial mastery when perfectly capturing the essence and atmosphere of each scene. This applies to both the violent scenes, perpetrated primarily on two sisters, and scenes involving the aristocracy. The topic of a great revolution generally does not interest me, but the film fairly accurately portrays the time and place, including both exteriors and interiors, as well as the characters' attire. Griffith once again demonstrates how he can work with what he wants to present and how diligently he strives for accurate portrayal. The actresses, actually sisters Lilian and Dorothy Gish, are once again the film's highlight. All of Griffith's films are simply astonishing for their time. Additionally, this one is thematically less controversial. (12/02/2014)