Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages Review

Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916): Griffith’s Cinematic Masterpiece of Redemption and Spectacle

D.W. Griffith’s Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Throughout the Ages stands as one of the grandest and most ambitious films in the history of cinema. Released in 1916 as a response to the controversy surrounding his earlier film The Birth of a Nation, Intolerance is both a defense of his artistry and a monumental exploration of humanity’s enduring conflicts. With its staggering scale, innovative storytelling, and unprecedented production design, Intolerance is widely regarded as Griffith’s finest work—a triumph of silent cinema and a cornerstone of cinematic history.

A Story of Love and Struggle Across Four Ages

The film weaves together four parallel stories set in different historical periods, all connected by the theme of intolerance and the destructive consequences it brings. The narratives are:

The Modern Story: Set in the contemporary United States, it follows a young couple torn apart by societal reform movements and judicial injustice.

The French Story: Depicts the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of 1572, a brutal episode of religious intolerance between Catholics and Protestants.

The Judean Story: Recounts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, presenting it as the ultimate act of intolerance.

The Babylonian Story: The most visually extravagant, it chronicles the fall of Babylon to Persian invaders, symbolizing intolerance between empires.

Each narrative is intercut with the recurring image of a mother (played by Lillian Gish) rocking a cradle—a symbol of continuity, innocence, and hope. This innovative use of cross-cutting creates a thematic resonance across the stories, emphasizing the universal and timeless nature of the film’s message.

The Babylonian Epic: A Triumph of Production Design

The Babylonian story is the most iconic and visually stunning section of the film. Griffith’s depiction of ancient Babylon is nothing short of breathtaking, with massive sets, elaborate costumes, and intricately choreographed crowd scenes. The city was brought to life with towering gates, expansive streets, and monumental architecture, including the famed "Temple of Bel" with its soaring pillars and terraces.

The scale of the production was unprecedented. Griffith employed thousands of extras, many dressed in ornate costumes that reflected meticulous research into ancient Babylonian culture. The sets were built on an enormous scale, with the walls of Babylon towering over 300 feet high. The film's climax, showing the Persian siege and the collapse of the city, required extensive coordination, combining practical effects with intricate set destruction to create a sense of realism.

The massive scale and attention to detail in the Babylonian sequences set a new standard for epic filmmaking, influencing directors like Cecil B. DeMille and paving the way for modern blockbusters.

Technical Innovation and Storytelling Mastery

Griffith’s use of parallel editing (cross-cutting) in Intolerance was groundbreaking. By interweaving the four stories, he created a dynamic and rhythmic structure that heightened tension and emphasized the universality of the film’s themes. The technique not only showcased Griffith’s narrative ambition but also demonstrated the potential of cinema as a medium for complex storytelling.

The pacing of the film builds to a powerful crescendo, with the climactic moments of each story intercut in rapid succession. The modern story’s race against time, the fall of Babylon, the massacre in France, and the crucifixion converge in a symphony of action and emotion, leaving the audience breathless.

Griffith also employed advanced techniques such as close-ups, tracking shots, and elaborate set pieces to draw viewers into the drama. His ability to blend intimate character moments with grand historical spectacle is a testament to his mastery of the medium.

A Personal and Artistic Statement

Intolerance was Griffith’s attempt to defend himself against accusations of racism and glorification of the Ku Klux Klan in The Birth of a Nation. By focusing on love and the destructive power of prejudice, he sought to present himself as an artist driven by universal themes of compassion and justice. While the film’s message is clear and powerful, some critics argue that it reflects Griffith’s idealized worldview rather than grappling with the systemic nature of intolerance.

Reception and Legacy

Upon its release, Intolerance received critical acclaim for its ambition and artistry, but it struggled at the box office due to its complex structure and staggering production costs. The film’s financial failure marked a turning point in Griffith’s career, leading him to take fewer risks in subsequent projects.

Despite its initial commercial struggles, Intolerance has become one of the most celebrated films in cinema history. It influenced generations of filmmakers, from Sergei Eisenstein to Orson Welles, and its techniques are studied in film schools to this day.

The film’s legacy is also evident in its enduring cultural impact. The Babylonian sets, in particular, have become iconic images of early Hollywood’s ability to create worlds of awe-inspiring grandeur.

Critical Reflection

Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Throughout the Ages is a film of immense ambition and artistic vision. While its message of universal love and the dangers of prejudice remains relevant, its true achievement lies in its ability to push the boundaries of what cinema could achieve. Griffith’s use of scale, technique, and storytelling cemented his place as a pioneer of filmmaking, even as his personal legacy remains complicated by the controversies surrounding his earlier work.

For modern audiences, Intolerance serves as both a masterpiece of early cinema and a reminder of the power of film to explore profound and timeless themes. It is a testament to Griffith’s genius and a cornerstone of cinematic history.