The Battle of the Sexes

Forget Birth of a Nation and Intolerance - The Battle of the Sexes is the true Griffith masterpiece. The opening of the film absolutely radiates with sheer brilliance. There are three people in a barbershop getting their hair trimmed. Focusing on people's legs, Griffith's camera moves across the room, resting on a different character, revealing vital information about each of their personalities through their clothing, their behavior on screen, and the way in which they are edited. This may sound bland, but trust me, for a film made in 1914, the type of discourse Griffith creates between the audience and the screen is amazing. The movie continues to tell the story of a traditional upper class, white nuclear family torn apart by a father lusting over a gorgeous gold-digger. Filled with near-expressionist and symbolic (one of which is EXTREMELY Freudian) shots, Griffith creates a true masterpiece that, I believe, engages the audience more than The Birth of a Nation or Intolerance. I HIGHLY recommend this film to anyone, especially if they are serious about the cinema.