Charlie Keil on D.W. Griffith's Intolerance

[@kelsowins]

About 20 years ago, I showed "Intolerance" to a group of about fifteen 7th-graders that were coming regularly to a movie-night event we had in our home. With intro comments about the structure of the movie, its individual stories, the history behind two of them, and some of the film techniques to look for, these kids were completely captivated and overwhelmed by the entire film. The suspense generated by the end, with all four independent stories coming together at once, visibly enthralled them. Even all these years later, some -- adults now -- who were there that evening remember it and have commented about its impact on them. (Between 5th-8th grades, this same group also watched other silent films, such as "The Birth of a Nation," "The General," "The Wind," "Metropolis," "Nosferatu," and "The Gold Rush.") Mr. Kiel has a particular perspective on "Intolerance" that seems at odds with how I have appreciated this film myself and the impression it has made on others that I have witnessed. Regardless, it is a film history artifact of such scope, innovation, and power that marginalizing its influence could diminish one's evaluation of many films for which "Intolerance" was a unique and influential antecedent.

[@danieljakubik3428]

Interesting film historian perspective. Greatly ambitious and historically important, "Intolerance" is about art and style triumphing over narrative effectiveness.

[@ironworksmultisport]

Just to add to my other comment, I actually watched the Cohen Blu-ray release of "Intolerance" and it was fantastic. The picture quality is truly stunning for a movie that's over 100 years old, and the movie it's is incredible. Ignore this video, go watch the movie!

[@MrTusmo]

I am absolutely astonished by his words. none of this makes any sense. did he actually watch intolerance? there is not a single thing that was said that even glances to match with reality. nothing but 6 minutes of pure bulllll! pay no attention to what he is saying... God these "movie experts" always pulling stuff like this up...

[@hillbilly5643]

I agree...pearls before swine.

[@ironworksmultisport]

I agree 100%! None of what Mr. Keil says bears even the slightest resemblance of the truth about this movie. Another case of the "movie experts" just plain getting it wrong!

[@ironworksmultisport]

I just watched "Intolerance" last night, and I'm really just plain confused by this video and Mr. Kiel's opinions. It's like he's literally talking about an entirely different movie. I didn't find "Intolerance" the least bit difficult to follow, in fact quite the opposite. Each time the movie shifts between the four interwoven stories, there's a card that tells you exactly what is happening. And as far as it being a triumph of style over substance, I guess that's a matter of opinion, but I just didn't see that at all. And as far as this movie being the end of D.W. Griffith's career, that's also completely wrong as he went on to direct many successful films for many years after this one. On top of that, Griffith's was one of the founders of United Artists along with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Charlie Chaplin. And to say that this movie wasn't influential? Well, the American Film Institute called it one of the most influential movies of all time. So in short, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but Mr. Kiel is simply wrong on the facts.

[@Sol-pc1jb]

Thank you! This was very helpful

[@jjbecause5741]

Don't care what you say. Intolerance bangs

[@twomindz79]

Bangs what ?

[@aayanshariff5474]

The video content is so excellent, congratulations

[@grapes481]

This "Failure" tripled it's budget

[@tonyscott1658]

Is this a professor of Cinema? or an activist? Stanley Kubrik and Martin Scorsese amongst others, praised D.W. Griffith for his contributions to cinema and providing a 'grammar' for narrative movie. I value the opinion of these true film makes more than those of some obscure professor at a Canadian University