Coeurs du monde

This is a superb telling of war and how it affects the "common people." It begins with life in a small French village and how people go about their daily lives. This is the story of two Americans (Lillian Gish and Robert Harron) who meet and fall in love. But during their courtship Lillian's sister (Dorothy) takes a liking to Robert (called The Boy on the movie title cards) and tries to take him which leads to some interesting scenes. She finally realizes she can't have him and decides to take what she can have.

There are good action battle scenes that very well show the chaos that is a battle. Chaos reigns supreme again when the town is bombed and the citizens have to flee. They have to try and pack then get out and still survive the bombing. Then there are those that don't want to leave. The movie does a good job of showing the horrors of death and the impact that has on people.

War is about people. We tend to forget that (today's news refers to the impact on non-soldiers as 'collateral damage'). D.W. Griffith shows that impact. And yet, when it is over, how quickly we again look for the bright side of life and that is how it should be.

One of the great features of this film is the limited use of title cards. They are used mostly as background filler and very little for conversations (much like Sunrise). Yet you know what is going on and the emotions of the moment. There is nothing mechanical about the acting. 8/10

This film from D.W. Griffith chronicles the relationship between a guy and lady (called 'the boy' and 'the girl' throughout the film). Unfortunately for them, WWI begins and instead of marrying, they are separated. He goes off to war, she is stuck behind enemy lines after the Germans take over that portion of France where she lives. Will they lovers be reunited?

As long as you don't take this film as a factual representation of WWI, you should watch it. However, please understand that it was a piece of blatant propaganda financed by the British government--designed to get the Americans to commit to the war. However, by the time the film was released, the Americans had declared war on the Central Powers (including Germany). Just keep in mind that the one-dimensional view of the war is historical nonsense. And, while folks in 1918 wouldn't agree, the US really had no reason to get involved in this as EVERYONE involved was responsible for this long and senseless war. But in the film, the Germans are mostly murderous guys bent on despoiling women and the French are 100% pure and virtuous--which clearly makes the film propaganda. Want some more examples? How about the intertitle card that reads "German militarists plan the dastardly blow against France and civilization"! Heck, the Germans in this one even want to blow up baby geese!! Overall, technically well made (with a few amazing battle scenes) and highly inaccurate and inflammatory.

Hearts of the World (1917)

*** (out of 4)

D.W. Griffith's WW1 epic has two Americans (Robert Harron, Lillian Gish) living in France and falling in love. When the German's attack the man goes off to fight, which ends with devastating results. The actual making of this film is somewhat more interesting than the final product, although the movie is still good but several notches below The Birth of a Nation and Intolerance. After that epic 1916 film Griffith wanted to try something bigger and found that the British government was willing to give him full access to anything he wanted. Griffith wanted to shoot real battle scenes and that's what he did for the film and he nearly once again was killed doing so. The British paid for the film to be made in hopes that it would inspire America to join the war effert. As for the film, it has some brilliant moments but sadly the love story really brings things down, which was somewhat surprising since Griffith is usually good with the melodrama. Harron is decent in his role but not strong enough to carry the film. Gish on the other hands is terrific as usual as is her sister Dorothy. Erich von Stroheim plays one of the German's in charge. The battle scenes, a lot of them real WW1 footage, is the highlight of the film and like Griffith's previous two films, it's rather amazing to see everything play out. This is certainly some of the greatest battlefield scenes I've ever watched. There's also another terrific scene where Gish, fearing her love is dead, tries to find him in the trenches. Gish's walk mixed with the beautiful cinematography makes this an unforgettable scene. In the end the film is certainly flawed but the battle scenes make it worth at least one viewing.

'Hearts of the World' was another "wanted to like a lot more" sort of film. Do really like to love a vast majority of the films directed by DW Griffith (one of the most important directors in silent film, if not quite one of my favourites). Have liked Robert Harron in other things and the subject matter sounded great, but one of my biggest main reasons was the chance of seeing the immensely gifted Gish sisters Dorothy and especially Lillian in the same film.

While it is definitely worth seeing, 'Hearts of the World' is not a Griffith essential and other films of his represent him a good deal better. Harron has also been better in other roles. The film is well intentioned, well made and has emotional impact and the Gish sisters while not at their very peak both fare very well. 'Hearts of the World' falls well short of being a masterpiece and fares a lot better in the war scenes than the love story, but there are also a lot of things that work very well in its favour.

Beginning with the good things, 'Hearts of the World' looks wonderful. It is a beautifully shot film with the documentary-like war scenes footage fitted seamlessly and remarkably evocatively. The rural scenery is lovingly idyllic and juxtaposes very well with the brutality of the war scenes. Griffith's direction does have glimpses of creative brilliance (if not as much as in a number of his other films), especially in the scenes centering around the war. Which is where 'Hearts of the World' is at its strongest.

The war scenes are far from small in scale and are immensely harrowing, one really does see and feel what the war was really like without being beaten around the head with that fact, staged with searing intensity and still has the ability to shock and bring a lump to the throat. Most of the acting is fine, both Gish sisters coming off brilliantly. Lillian, who excelled more in drama and was better known and more versatile in my view, is deeply moving, her trench scene wrenches the gut. Dorothy, who fared stronger in comedy, is appealingly free spirited. Erich Von Stroheim is interesting in his role.

On the other hand, Harron has given far better performances elsewhere. This is actually the kind of role he did well, but here somehow he came over as rather bland and stiff in a particularly one-dimensionally written role. In a film where all the characters lack depth and are little more than surface cliches. The pace doesn't fully ignite, there is momentum in the war scenes but the love story is dull.

And it is with the romance where 'Hearts of the World' most fails. It is excessively melodramatic and is riddled with contrivances. There is nothing surprising about it either, with so much of it having a lifted out of another film vibe.

In conclusion, watchable for fans of Griffith and the Gish sisters but all did better before and since. 6/10

A scene in the Anne book, Rilla of Ingleside, had a mention of the principal characters going to see this movie in 1918, in a theater in Prince Edward Island, Canada.