Broken Blossoms (1919) – Lillian Gish Silent Drama (Full Movie HD)

Описание: There is no doubt that D.W. Griffith was the most influential American filmmaker of the 1910s, his works literally changing the face of cinema forever. However, given the era in which Griffith operated, some of his most famous films now carry the burden of controversy, most notably in terms of the director's often racial subject matter. For example, Griffith's most famous film, 1915's 'The Birth of a Nation,' has long been both revered for its highly-innovative film-making techniques and reviled for its controversial promotion of white supremacy and glorification of the Ku Klux Klan. Likewise, his 'Broken Blossoms' has also been frowned upon as being racist an unjust label, I believe, since the director has obviously aimed to be quite the opposite, portraying the Chinese Cheng Huan as the most noble and sympathetic male character in the film.

Though the film is obviously on a smaller-scale than Griffith's previous works, it is no less emotionally-involving. The director has constructed a truly stellar romance, made all the more significant because it was among the first films to depict an interracial romance. The film does, however, require the viewer to suspend belief that an American actor is portraying a Chinese man; understand that this was not, in any way, trying to make any racial statements. It was merely the most feasible approach for the era in which the film was made, as I don't imagine that, during the late 1910s, it was customary or even possible for an Asian actor to have a starring role in a prominent Hollywood film. Adapted from Thomas Burke's unfortunately-named story, 'The Chink and the Child,' Griffith very much tried to clean up many of the racist portions of the story, re-enforcing Cheng Huan as the strongest character in the film. Though the subtitle of the film, 'The Yellow Man and the Girl,' today also sounds inherently offensive, it is best observed merely as a product of the era, and I also don't believe that Griffith meant anything evil by it.

The acting in the film is quite effective, though it varies between subtlety and exaggeration among the actors. Richard Barthelmess is very good in what must have been an awkward role, and we watch painfully as he pines for the woman he loves, knowing that he can never have her. Lillian Gish who famously collaborated with the director on many an occasion is a perfect picture of beauty and helplessness, the controlled studio environments allowing Griffith to evoke a strong sense of intimacy. Donald Crisp is a complete caricature as Lucy's abusive father, though, strangely, this performance somehow works very well. All in all, D.W. Griffith's 'Broken Blossoms' is a touching and poignant early romance, cementing the director's position as one of Hollywood's greatest early directors.

Chapters:
00:00 – Opening titles & London’s Limehouse
05:00 – Battling Burrows and his daughter Lucy
12:00 – Cheng Huan arrives with dreams of peace
22:00 – Lucy’s abuse and loneliness
32:00 – Lucy finds refuge in Cheng’s shop
45:00 – A fragile happiness grows
58:00 – Burrows discovers Lucy’s hiding place
01:08:00 – The violent confrontation
01:18:00 – Tragic climax
01:27:00 – Final scenes and closing titles

#BrokenBlossoms
#LillianGish
#silentfilms
#classiccinema
#FilmHistory
#restoredfilm

· Year: 1919
· Country: USA
· Format: black and white, silent
· Running time: 1h 30m
· Edit: Filmora
· Source: Internet Archive (copyright‑free print)

For silent‑film lovers
Perfect for fans of 1920s comedies, classic Hollywood, and silent‑era gems that deserve more attention.

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