Volume III: Biographies

GRIFFITH, D.W.

Advisor (1913-1914)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: David Wark Griffith, America's most famous motion picture director, joined the Mutual Film Corporation in the autumn of 1913, at which time it was announced that he would supervise pictures in script form and would act as an advisor to all Mutual companies. It is believed that he was involved only peripherally with Thanhouser activities.

Biographical Notes: David Wark Griffith, who used the stage name "Larry," was born in LaGrange, Kentucky on January 22, 1875. His early career was on the stage, after which he joined the American Biograph Company in 1907. His directing there, commencing in 1909 with The Adventures of Dollie, became legendary, and during his tenure with Biograph, which lasted until 1913, many classic films were produced. In 1915 his epic and controversial production of The Birth of A Nation became the topic of conversation everywhere and was acknowledged to be a great success. This was followed by Intolerance (1916) and numerous other memorable films.

In later years, scholars utilized the Biograph records, preserved at the Museum of Modern Art, New York City, and otherwise researched Griffith's career, which led to the publication of several studies of his life, career, and films; thus he is mentioned only briefly here. D.W. Griffith died of a stroke in Los Angeles, California on July 23, 1948.

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