A social drama contrasting the harsh existence of the poor with the opulent life of their rich exploiters. The story focuses on wheat speculators, whose shady financial dealings cause a sharp increase in the price of bread. Every time D.W. Griffith tackles a political theme (like racism in "The Birth Of A Nation" or class warfare here), the result is always very demagogic, but stylistically, this film is certainly very impressive, and its montage techniques definitely inspired the Soviet filmmakers in the 1920's.
January 9, 1970
Corner In Wheat (1909) ***
A social drama contrasting the harsh existence of the poor with the opulent life of their rich exploiters. The story focuses on wheat speculators, whose shady financial dealings cause a sharp increase in the price of bread. Every time D.W. Griffith tackles a political theme (like racism in "The Birth Of A Nation" or class warfare here), the result is always very demagogic, but stylistically, this film is certainly very impressive, and its montage techniques definitely inspired the Soviet filmmakers in the 1920's.
