America (1924)

Synopsis: Director D.W. Griffith brings the American Revolution to life in this silent classic. Patriot Nathan Holden (Neil Hamilton) is a courier--ala Paul Revere--who finds himself at the forefront of events when the Revolutionary War breaks out. He loves the aristocratic Nancy Montague (Carol... Director D.W. Griffith brings the American Revolution to life in this silent classic. Patriot Nathan Holden (Neil Hamilton) is a courier--ala Paul Revere--who finds himself at the forefront of events when the Revolutionary War breaks out. He loves the aristocratic Nancy Montague (Carol Dempster) but her Tory father (Erville Anderson) disapproves. The villain is Walter Butler (Lionel Barrymore), a savage British captain who allies his troops with bands of murderous Mohicans and conducts the infamous Cherry Valley massacre. He also plans on marrying Nancy once he completes further pillaging, and it's up to Holden to rally the troops and save the day. Griffith's film features many historical recreations (Paul Revere's midnight ride, Washington at Valley Forge, the Battle of Bunker Hill, the signing of the Declaration of Independence) and a lurid sensationalism (rape is threatened, a minuteman is tortured) in the successful style of his BIRTH OF A NATION. Barrymore is nicely florid as Butler, and Hamilton a believable, handsome hero. With tinted scenes and a musical score, this is an often-overlooked Griffith classic, full of vast spectacle, and real thrills. [More]