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D. W. Griffith was born on January 22, 1875, in Oldham County, Kentucky.
Answer: True
Explanation: David Wark Griffith was born on January 22, 1875, on a farm in Oldham County, Kentucky.
Clarify the military affiliation and rank of D. W. Griffith's father, Jacob Wark Griffith, during the American Civil War.
Answer: False
Explanation: Contrary to the assertion, Jacob Wark Griffith served as a colonel in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, not the Union Army.
Before entering the film industry, D. W. Griffith achieved significant success as a playwright.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Griffith attempted to establish himself as a playwright before his film career, his efforts met with little success, leading him to pursue acting and eventually filmmaking.
D. W. Griffith's entry into the film industry began when Edwin Porter rejected his script but offered him an acting role.
Answer: True
Explanation: Griffith's film career commenced in 1907 when Edwin Porter, impressed by his script submission to Edison Studios, offered him an acting role in 'Rescued from an Eagle's Nest,' marking his entry into the nascent film industry.
Griffith began directing for the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company in 1908, with his first directorial effort being 'The Adventures of Dollie.'
Answer: True
Explanation: In 1908, D. W. Griffith commenced his directing career at the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, undertaking his inaugural directorial project with the short film 'The Adventures of Dollie'.
Griffith's early work at Biograph was crucial for developing his skills in directing short films and experimenting with cinematic techniques.
Answer: True
Explanation: The extensive period Griffith spent directing numerous short films for Biograph provided an invaluable training ground, enabling him to experiment extensively and refine the narrative and visual techniques that would later define his feature films.
D. W. Griffith was married to Linda Arvidson from 1906 until her death in 1936.
Answer: True
Explanation: D. W. Griffith's first marriage was to actress Linda Arvidson, which lasted from 1906 until her passing in 1936.
Griffith's family experienced poverty after his father's death, leading his mother to open an unsuccessful boarding house in Louisville.
Answer: True
Explanation: Following the death of his father, Griffith's family faced financial hardship, prompting his mother to establish a boarding house in Louisville, Kentucky, which unfortunately proved unsuccessful.
In which U.S. state was D. W. Griffith born?
Answer: Kentucky
Explanation: D. W. Griffith was born in Kentucky, specifically on a farm in Oldham County.
Specify the rank and military affiliation of D. W. Griffith's father during the American Civil War.
Answer: Confederate Army Colonel
Explanation: D. W. Griffith's father, Jacob Wark Griffith, served with distinction as a colonel in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.
Which of the following was NOT an early career endeavor for D. W. Griffith before directing films?
Answer: Working as a film critic
Explanation: Before directing films, Griffith engaged in various pursuits including acting in touring companies, attempting playwriting, and working in retail. There is no indication he worked as a film critic.
How did D. W. Griffith first get involved in the film industry?
Answer: He sold a script to Edison Studios, leading to an acting role.
Explanation: Griffith's initial foray into filmmaking occurred when Edwin Porter offered him an acting role after rejecting his submitted script for Edison Studios.
For which company did D. W. Griffith begin directing in 1908?
Answer: American Mutoscope and Biograph Company
Explanation: D. W. Griffith commenced his directing career in 1908 with the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company.
How did Griffith's extensive work directing short films at Biograph contribute to his career?
Answer: It allowed him to experiment and refine techniques foundational to narrative filmmaking.
Explanation: The extensive period Griffith spent directing numerous short films for Biograph provided an invaluable training ground, enabling him to experiment extensively and refine the narrative and visual techniques that would define modern narrative filmmaking.
D. W. Griffith's primary contributions to early cinema are recognized for his innovations in narrative structure and editing techniques, not sound synchronization.
Answer: True
Explanation: While D. W. Griffith was a pivotal figure in developing cinematic language, his groundbreaking work focused on visual storytelling, editing, and narrative structure, rather than the synchronization of sound, which became prominent later in cinema history.
In 'The Cricket on the Hearth,' Griffith utilized parallel editing, a technique also characteristic of Charles Dickens's novel writing.
Answer: True
Explanation: Griffith's 1909 adaptation of 'The Cricket on the Hearth' featured cross-cutting (a form of parallel editing), a technique that mirrors the narrative structure found in Charles Dickens's novels, such as 'Oliver Twist'.
Griffith's first feature-length film produced in the United States was 'Judith of Bethulia' (1914), which Biograph initially resisted due to its length.
Answer: True
Explanation: 'Judith of Bethulia' (1914) marked D. W. Griffith's first feature-length production in the United States. Biograph's initial reluctance stemmed from the prevailing industry skepticism regarding the commercial viability of longer films.
D. W. Griffith directed approximately 520 films, the vast majority of which were feature-length productions.
Answer: False
Explanation: D. W. Griffith directed nearly 520 films in his career, but the overwhelming majority, approximately 480, were short films, reflecting the dominant format of early cinema.
Griffith's contribution to film language involved static camera work and minimal editing.
Answer: False
Explanation: Griffith's seminal contributions involved dynamic camera placement, expressive lighting, and innovative editing techniques, which moved filmmaking away from static, theatrical presentations towards a more sophisticated visual narrative.
Griffith's filmmaking approach was characterized by static shots and dialogue-heavy scenes, similar to early theatrical productions.
Answer: False
Explanation: Griffith's approach fundamentally departed from static, theatrical styles by employing dynamic camera movement, varied shot composition, and sophisticated editing to create a powerful visual narrative, emphasizing cinematic expression over dialogue.
The term 'Gesamtkunstwerk,' meaning 'total work of art,' is explicitly linked in the source to Griffith's ambition to synthesize various art forms in his films.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Griffith's ambition to create immersive and emotionally resonant cinematic experiences aligns with the concept of a 'total work of art' ('Gesamtkunstwerk'), the term itself is not explicitly linked to his work in the provided source material.
Billy Bitzer, a key collaborator, worked with Griffith at Biograph, helping to develop his visual style and techniques.
Answer: True
Explanation: Billy Bitzer, a pivotal cinematographer, collaborated closely with D. W. Griffith during their tenure at Biograph, significantly contributing to the development and refinement of Griffith's distinctive visual style and innovative filmmaking techniques.
Griffith's prolific output of nearly 480 short films highlights his early experimentation and refinement of cinematic techniques.
Answer: True
Explanation: The sheer volume of short films directed by Griffith during the early years of cinema provided him with ample opportunity to experiment and hone the narrative and technical innovations that would characterize his later work.
Identify the individual most widely recognized for pioneering film editing and narrative techniques, thereby shaping early cinema.
Answer: D. W. Griffith
Explanation: D. W. Griffith is universally acknowledged as a foundational figure in cinema history, credited with developing and popularizing many of the editing and narrative techniques that define modern filmmaking.
What narrative technique, influenced by Charles Dickens, did Griffith employ in his 1909 adaptation of 'The Cricket on the Hearth'?
Answer: Cross-cutting
Explanation: In his adaptation of 'The Cricket on the Hearth,' Griffith employed cross-cutting, a technique mirroring Dickens's method of interweaving parallel plotlines within his novels to build narrative tension and complexity.
What was the primary reason Biograph initially resisted Griffith's feature-length film 'Judith of Bethulia'?
Answer: Belief that longer films were not commercially viable.
Explanation: Biograph's resistance to 'Judith of Bethulia' stemmed from a prevailing industry belief at the time that feature-length films were not commercially viable, a perspective Griffith would later challenge.
Approximately how many films did D. W. Griffith direct in his career, and what was the proportion of short films?
Answer: Nearly 520 films, with about 480 being shorts.
Explanation: D. W. Griffith directed approximately 520 films throughout his career, with the vast majority, around 480, being short films, reflecting the dominant format of early cinema.
What aspect of filmmaking did Griffith focus on to develop an expressive 'film language'?
Answer: Camera placement, lighting, and editing techniques
Explanation: Griffith's development of an expressive cinematic language centered on mastering techniques such as camera placement, lighting for mood and tension, and sophisticated editing to convey narrative and emotion.
The primary controversy surrounding 'The Birth of a Nation' stemmed from its positive portrayal of African Americans and its criticism of the Ku Klux Klan.
Answer: False
Explanation: The profound controversy surrounding 'The Birth of a Nation' originated from its deeply racist depictions of African Americans and its glorification of the Ku Klux Klan, rather than positive portrayals or criticism of the Klan.
Despite riots and NAACP attempts to ban it, 'The Birth of a Nation' was a significant box-office success.
Answer: True
Explanation: Notwithstanding widespread protests and efforts by the NAACP to prohibit its exhibition, 'The Birth of a Nation' achieved unprecedented commercial success, solidifying its status as one of cinema's earliest blockbusters.
Griffith directed 'Intolerance' (1916) as a celebration of the Confederacy and a defense of its historical narrative.
Answer: False
Explanation: 'Intolerance' was conceived by Griffith primarily as a response to the intense criticism and censorship campaigns directed at 'The Birth of a Nation,' aiming to explore the destructive nature of intolerance across different historical epochs.
Griffith's film 'Intolerance' was a major financial success, covering its high production costs.
Answer: False
Explanation: Despite its artistic ambition and scale, 'Intolerance' proved to be a significant financial failure, failing to recoup its substantial production and marketing expenses and contributing to Griffith's subsequent financial difficulties.
The massive cost of producing and promoting 'Intolerance' led to financial ruin for Griffith.
Answer: True
Explanation: The extraordinary expense associated with the production and promotion of 'Intolerance' resulted in significant financial losses for Griffith, profoundly impacting his financial stability for the remainder of his career.
Griffith famously used massive sets, such as the 'Belshazzar's feast' set for 'Intolerance,' to create grand cinematic scale.
Answer: True
Explanation: Griffith's commitment to cinematic spectacle is exemplified by the construction of monumental sets, such as the elaborate 'Belshazzar's feast' set for 'Intolerance,' which contributed to the film's grand scale and visual impact.
Griffith's film 'The Birth of a Nation' was based on Thomas Dixon Jr.'s novel 'The Clansman,' which portrayed the Ku Klux Klan heroically.
Answer: True
Explanation: 'The Birth of a Nation' was adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr.'s novel 'The Clansman,' which indeed presented a heroic and sympathetic view of the Ku Klux Klan during the Reconstruction era.
'The Birth of a Nation' is considered a film that had no impact on the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan.
Answer: False
Explanation: Historical consensus indicates that 'The Birth of a Nation' played a significant role in the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in the 20th century due to its sympathetic portrayal of the organization.
'The Birth of a Nation' is considered one of the first 'blockbusters' due to its unprecedented box-office success.
Answer: True
Explanation: Due to its extraordinary financial returns and widespread popularity, 'The Birth of a Nation' is widely recognized as one of the earliest examples of a cinematic 'blockbuster'.
What was the original title of the 1915 film that later became known as 'The Birth of a Nation'?
Answer: The Clansman
Explanation: The film originally titled 'The Clansman,' directed and produced by Griffith through Reliance-Majestic Studios in 1915, later became known as 'The Birth of a Nation'.
Which of the following was a major point of controversy surrounding 'The Birth of a Nation'?
Answer: Its glorification of the Ku Klux Klan and degrading portrayal of African Americans.
Explanation: The film's profound controversy arose from its overtly racist depictions of African Americans and its sympathetic, even heroic, portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan during the Reconstruction era.
What was the NAACP's response to 'The Birth of a Nation'?
Answer: They attempted to have the film banned.
Explanation: In response to the film's racist content, the NAACP actively campaigned against 'The Birth of a Nation,' attempting to have it banned in numerous cities across the United States.
Griffith created the film 'Intolerance' primarily as a response to what?
Answer: Criticism and censorship attempts following 'The Birth of a Nation.'
Explanation: 'Intolerance' was conceived by Griffith primarily as a response to the intense criticism and censorship campaigns directed at 'The Birth of a Nation,' aiming to explore the destructive nature of intolerance across different historical epochs.
What was the financial outcome of Griffith's ambitious film 'Intolerance'?
Answer: It was not a financial success and contributed to his financial difficulties.
Explanation: Despite its artistic ambition and scale, 'Intolerance' proved to be a significant financial failure, failing to recoup its substantial production and marketing expenses and contributing to Griffith's subsequent financial difficulties.
What does the term 'blockbuster' signify in relation to 'The Birth of a Nation'?
Answer: Its immense popularity and unprecedented box-office success.
Explanation: The term 'blockbuster' denotes a film of immense popularity and unprecedented box-office success. 'The Birth of a Nation' is considered one of the earliest examples of such a film due to its record-breaking financial returns.
'In Old California' (1910) was the first film shot entirely in New York City by D. W. Griffith.
Answer: False
Explanation: D. W. Griffith's 1910 film 'In Old California' holds the distinction of being the first film shot in Hollywood, California, not New York City.
D. W. Griffith left Biograph Company because they supported his ambitious creative visions and increased budgets.
Answer: False
Explanation: Griffith departed from Biograph due to the company's resistance to his increasingly ambitious creative projects and budget demands, not their support.
In 1919, D. W. Griffith co-founded United Artists with Cecil B. DeMille and Charlie Chaplin.
Answer: False
Explanation: D. W. Griffith was a co-founder of United Artists in 1919, but his partners were Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, not Cecil B. DeMille.
Griffith's production company was a partner in the Triangle Film Corporation alongside Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios.
Answer: True
Explanation: Griffith's involvement with the Triangle Film Corporation, established in 1915, positioned his production entity as a key partner alongside Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios and Thomas H. Ince's New York Motion Picture Company.
The stated goal behind the founding of United Artists was to create a centralized studio system controlled by major distributors.
Answer: False
Explanation: The primary objective in establishing United Artists was to empower filmmakers like Griffith, Chaplin, Pickford, and Fairbanks by granting them independent control over their productions, thereby circumventing the dominance of established studios and distributors.
Griffith's film 'In Old California' played a role in establishing Hollywood as a major filmmaking center.
Answer: True
Explanation: The filming of 'In Old California' in 1910 marked a significant moment, being the first film shot in the area that would become Hollywood, thereby contributing to its eventual rise as a global center for filmmaking.
The D.W. Griffith House is a significant film studio co-founded by Griffith in the 1920s.
Answer: False
Explanation: There is no record of Griffith co-founding a film studio named 'D.W. Griffith House' in the 1920s. His significant business ventures included co-founding United Artists and being a partner in Triangle Film Corporation.
Griffith's association with United Artists ended when his film 'The Birth of a Nation' failed at the box office.
Answer: False
Explanation: Griffith's association with United Artists concluded due to the financial underperformance of later films, notably 'Isn't Life Wonderful' (1924), not because 'The Birth of a Nation' failed.
Which D. W. Griffith film is recognized as the first to be shot in Hollywood, California?
Answer: In Old California
Explanation: 'In Old California,' directed by D. W. Griffith in 1910, holds the distinction of being the first film production shot in the geographical area that would become Hollywood.
Why did D. W. Griffith leave the Biograph Company?
Answer: He sought better opportunities with Mutual Film Corporation due to Biograph's resistance to his goals.
Explanation: Griffith departed from Biograph due to the company's resistance to his increasingly ambitious creative projects and budget demands, seeking greater creative freedom with Mutual Film Corporation.
Who were Griffith's partners when he co-founded the United Artists studio in 1919?
Answer: Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks
Explanation: D. W. Griffith was a co-founder of United Artists in 1919, alongside Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, aiming to create a distribution company that empowered artists.
What was the primary purpose of the Triangle Film Corporation, in which Griffith was a partner?
Answer: To consolidate production resources for directors like Griffith, Ince, and Sennett.
Explanation: The Triangle Film Corporation was established to pool the production resources and talents of prominent directors such as D. W. Griffith, Thomas H. Ince, and Mack Sennett, aiming for greater efficiency and artistic output.
What significant event marked the end of Griffith's association with the United Artists studio?
Answer: The financial failure of his 1924 film 'Isn't Life Wonderful.'
Explanation: Griffith's association with United Artists concluded after the significant financial underperformance of his 1924 film 'Isn't Life Wonderful,' which led to his departure from the studio he helped found.
Films like 'Broken Blossoms' (1919), 'Way Down East' (1920), and 'Orphans of the Storm' (1921) were among Griffith's later successful works.
Answer: True
Explanation: While 'Way Down East' was released in 1920 (not 2020 as erroneously stated in the original prompt's data), 'Broken Blossoms' (1919) and 'Orphans of the Storm' (1921) are indeed recognized as significant and relatively successful works from Griffith's later career.
Griffith's final feature films, 'Abraham Lincoln' (1930) and 'The Struggle' (1931), were commercially successful.
Answer: False
Explanation: Griffith's final feature films, 'Abraham Lincoln' (1930) and 'The Struggle' (1931), both released during the advent of sound cinema, failed to achieve commercial success, marking the end of his directorial career.
During an impromptu visit to the set of 'Duel in the Sun,' veteran actors found Griffith's presence helpful and sought his directorial advice.
Answer: False
Explanation: During an unannounced visit to the set of 'Duel in the Sun,' Griffith's presence was reportedly distracting to some veteran actors, leading him to withdraw discreetly.
Hal Roach hired Griffith to supervise the production of 'Of Mice and Men' and 'One Million B.C.' but Griffith later left due to creative differences.
Answer: True
Explanation: In the late 1930s, Hal Roach engaged Griffith to supervise productions such as 'Of Mice and Men' and 'One Million B.C.'; however, Griffith departed from these projects due to creative disagreements.
The critical reception of Griffith's film 'America' (1924) is described in the source as a major box office success.
Answer: False
Explanation: While 'America' (1924) is noted as a film from Griffith's later period, the source does not describe it as a major box office success; indeed, many of his post-United Artists films struggled commercially.
Which of the following films is NOT mentioned in the source as one of Griffith's later successful works?
Answer: The Struggle
Explanation: While 'Broken Blossoms' (1919), 'Way Down East' (1920), and 'Orphans of the Storm' (1921) are cited as relatively successful later works, 'The Struggle' (1931) is identified as one of his final, commercially unsuccessful films.
What was the commercial fate of Griffith's final sound films, 'Abraham Lincoln' and 'The Struggle'?
Answer: They did not achieve commercial success.
Explanation: Griffith's final feature films, 'Abraham Lincoln' (1930) and 'The Struggle' (1931), both released during the advent of sound cinema, failed to achieve commercial success, marking the end of his directorial career.
Griffith provided uncredited assistance on which film's earthquake sequence?
Answer: San Francisco (1936)
Explanation: Although D. W. Griffith provided uncredited assistance on the earthquake sequence for the 1936 film 'San Francisco,' he did not receive any screen credit for his contribution.
D. W. Griffith received screen credit for his assistance on the earthquake sequence in the 1936 film 'San Francisco.'
Answer: False
Explanation: Although D. W. Griffith provided uncredited assistance on the earthquake sequence for the 1936 film 'San Francisco,' he did not receive any screen credit for his contribution.
Determine the correct year and cause of D. W. Griffith's death.
Answer: False
Explanation: D. W. Griffith passed away in 1948, but the cause was a cerebral hemorrhage, not pneumonia.
D. W. Griffith is buried in Hollywood, California, near the Walk of Fame.
Answer: False
Explanation: D. W. Griffith is interred at the Mount Tabor Methodist Church Graveyard in Centerfield, Kentucky, not in Hollywood, California.
D. W. Griffith's legacy is solely celebrated for his technical innovations in filmmaking.
Answer: False
Explanation: D. W. Griffith's legacy is complex and controversial; while his technical innovations are widely acknowledged, his work is also critically examined for its racist content and societal impact.
Filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick expressed admiration for D. W. Griffith's work.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source material confirms that prominent filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick, among others, expressed admiration for D. W. Griffith's cinematic innovations, acknowledging his foundational role in the art form.
Griffith received an honorary Academy Award in 1936 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
Answer: True
Explanation: Posthumously, D. W. Griffith was honored with an honorary Academy Award in 1936 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960, recognizing his significant contributions to cinema.
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) renamed its highest honor in 1999 due to concerns about 'The Birth of a Nation' promoting racial stereotypes.
Answer: True
Explanation: In 1999, the DGA renamed its Lifetime Achievement Award (formerly the D. W. Griffith Award) due to concerns that 'The Birth of a Nation' promoted intolerable racial stereotypes, necessitating a revised acknowledgment of Griffith's legacy.
Six of D. W. Griffith's films, including 'The Birth of a Nation' and 'Intolerance,' are preserved in the National Film Registry.
Answer: True
Explanation: Six of D. W. Griffith's films, recognized for their historical and cultural significance, have been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, including 'The Birth of a Nation' and 'Intolerance'.
D. W. Griffith's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located at 6535 Hollywood Boulevard.
Answer: True
Explanation: D. W. Griffith was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, situated at 6535 Hollywood Boulevard, acknowledging his enduring impact on the film industry.
The DGA renamed its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 because Griffith's film 'The Birth of a Nation' promoted positive racial stereotypes.
Answer: False
Explanation: The DGA renamed its award due to concerns that 'The Birth of a Nation' promoted *intolerable* racial stereotypes, not positive ones. The statement is false due to this critical mischaracterization.
When did D. W. Griffith die, and what was the cause?
Answer: July 23, 1948, from a cerebral hemorrhage
Explanation: D. W. Griffith passed away on July 23, 1948, from a cerebral hemorrhage.
Where is D. W. Griffith laid to rest?
Answer: Mount Tabor Methodist Church Graveyard, Kentucky
Explanation: D. W. Griffith is interred at the Mount Tabor Methodist Church Graveyard in Centerfield, Kentucky.
How is D. W. Griffith's legacy described, considering both his technical achievements and criticisms?
Answer: Considered controversial, recognized for techniques but criticized for racist content.
Explanation: D. W. Griffith's legacy is widely considered controversial. While he is lauded for his profound technical innovations and contributions to narrative filmmaking, his work, particularly 'The Birth of a Nation,' is critically condemned for its racist ideologies and its role in perpetuating harmful stereotypes and influencing historical events.
Which filmmaker referred to D. W. Griffith as 'The Teacher of Us All'?
Answer: Charlie Chaplin
Explanation: Charlie Chaplin, a contemporary and fellow co-founder of United Artists, referred to D. W. Griffith as 'The Teacher of Us All,' acknowledging his profound influence on filmmaking.
What honor did D. W. Griffith receive in 1936?
Answer: An honorary Academy Award
Explanation: In 1936, D. W. Griffith was presented with an honorary Academy Award, recognizing his pioneering contributions to the art and technique of filmmaking.
Why did the Directors Guild of America (DGA) rename the D. W. Griffith Award in 1999?
Answer: Concerns that 'The Birth of a Nation' promoted intolerable racial stereotypes.
Explanation: In 1999, the DGA renamed its Lifetime Achievement Award (formerly the D. W. Griffith Award) due to concerns that 'The Birth of a Nation' promoted intolerable racial stereotypes, necessitating a revised acknowledgment of Griffith's legacy.
Which of the following films is preserved in the National Film Registry?
Answer: The Musketeers of Pig Alley
Explanation: Among the films listed, 'The Musketeers of Pig Alley' is one of the six D. W. Griffith films preserved in the United States National Film Registry for their cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.