Film Details

D. W. Griffith’s great silent epic—an impassioned plea for universal peace, justice, love, and understanding—was made partly in response to the accusations of racism leveled at his previous heartfelt spectacle, Birth of a Nation. Intolerance tells four parallel stories set in four distinct historical periods. The most famous of the four threads recounts the fall of ancient Babylon, which takes place on colossal sets. Another thread focuses on Jesus and the Pharisees. A third exposes the 16^th century persecution of French Huguenots, and the last details the conflict between American capital and labor during the early 20^th century. Griffith intercuts among the four storylines in virtuosic fashion, building to a frenetic, thrilling climax. The all-star cast includes Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Erich von Stroheim, Constance Talmadge, and Tod Browning. We will show a new color-tinted 2K digital restoration of this masterpiece, which critic Pauline Kael once called “perhaps the greatest movie ever made.” Newly recorded orchestral score by Carl Davis. Cleveland revival premiere. DCP. 168 min.