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Greatest Films of the Pre-1920s
1902 | 1903 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1919
Title Screen Film Genre(s), Title, Year, (Country), Length, Director, Description 
Intolerance (1916), 183 minutes (original 238 minutes), D: D. W. Griffith
One of the greatest epic films of all time. A film with a multiple-storyline drama, set in ancient Babylon, Rome at the time of the crucifixion of Christ, 16th century France, and 1916 America. The themes of man's inhumanity to man, human struggle and intolerance united all four stories, resolved simultaneously in one great climax. Another great contribution by D.W. Griffith to the art of cinema, following The Birth of A Nation (1915). For many years, it was the most expensive film ever made, at $1.9 million. The film is known for monumental sets (especially in the Babylon segments), huge casts of extras, and innovative cinematic techniques, including long shots, closeups, and cross-cutting.
Judex (1916, Fr.), 300 minutes, D: Louis Feuillade
A fantastic adventure film by French silent film director Feuillade - a serial in twelve episodes, recounting the exploits of a black caped-crusader, vigilante avenger, or super-hero named Judex (short for Justice, aka Jacques de Tremeuse), portrayed by René Cresté.
