Steineded How sad is this?

GazerRise Fantastic!

Humbersi The first must-see film of the year.

Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Ian (Flash Review)Kicking off a romantic relationship as WWI erupts is certainly inconvenient. This scenario was done more convincingly than during the movie Pearl Harbor. ZING! In this film, the female lead and her love interest kick off the film as wartime events slowly move in and interfere. Her man is called into action throwing a wrench into their wedding plans. Will they ever marry? Will they both survive the war? There were many solid tense moments, which were probably very tense for the time period. Director Griffith doesn't shy away from highlighting the evils of war complimented by the honor of those who fought in the trenches and the honor many of the village locals have for their homeland. This film may have been Griffith's response to WWI as this came out as it was winding down. Overall, the film felt long despite being peppered with many early battle scenes with tanks, explosions, combat and tragedy. Another solid film for the Griffith resume.

MartinHafer 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.

FerdinandVonGalitzien The relationship between this Herr Graf and Herr D. W. Griffith has been always complicated, even tumultuous through the years due to artistic considerations and differences. These disputes don't of course lessen the Amerikan director's fundamental importance in cinema history for this German count. The basic problem with Herr Griffith is that he is sometimes simplistic in his stories and often paternalistic combining religion and conservative values that make some of his work seem very dated. "Hearts Of The World" has many of those irreconcilable artistic differences for this German count. The film depicts the loves and sorrows of two American citizens in France ( Why do they have to be Americans? Surely there were lovers in France) and their families in a little town during WWI.During the first part of the film, Herr Griffith depicts the idealized and tranquil lives of the two sweethearts, their families and their neighbours, all in the typical and sentimental Herr Griffith style. There is so much sweetness in the air that this Herr Graf found himself looking forward anxiously to the arrival of Germans. Arrive they finally do, invading the village and poisoning the idyllic life with their brutality and bad manners."Hearts Of The World" it is not a pacifist film; it is true that in 1918, the date of the film's release, the world was still licking its wounds after such a big disaster but the end of the war was in sight and new perspectives were emerging making the film's lopsided and patriotic approach seem out of date. Obviously "Heart Of The World" is a fictional film not a documentary ( although the film includes real war sequences besides a prologue for the British release in which Herr Griffith himself appears in the war trenches and at 10 Downing Street; a good example of Griffith's sense of self importance ) nor does it need to be one but the story lacks interesting and realistic characters.As this Herr Graf mentioned before, the typical Herr Griffith mannerisms don't reduce his artistic accomplishments and there is much narrative vigor in this film, especially during the war sequences. It has a number of strong scenes, including one wherein our hero is paying a visit to his sweetie ( well, he's on some sort of secret mission while his comrades are being killed trying to retake the village). There is also a beautiful sequence showing our suffering heroine, temporarily deranged, and wandering in the field camp looking for her fiancée. Also outstanding are the decors and the skillful combination of fictional and real war sequences; splendid editing gives motion and emotion to those scenes.The actors do their best within the limits of Herr Griffith's particular artistic interests; Herr Douglas Gordon Hamilton does well as the handsome hero, a promising bourgeoisie writer before the war. Frau Lillian Gish and her curls, is the typical Herr Griffith heroine, conservative and candid. She will lose her innocence during wartime but emerge the stronger for it. Meanwhile Frau Lillian Gish's sister, Frau Dorothy, playing the Little Disturber overacts painfully while the German actors play their characters as America saw Germans, brutal and ruthless, utterly indifferent to the pain of others."Hearts Of The World" is a Herr Griffith film that devotees of the Amerikan film director will enjoy a lot and those who have many differences with the Griffith style, will still appreciate it to some extent if they put aside the Amerikan director's conventional and dated approach to the story and characters.And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must attend a soirée full of heartless Teutonic aristocrats.Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com

sppny I just returned from a screening of Hearts of the World at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. This screening showed a restored version of the film with live piano accompaniment by the brilliant pianist, Donald Sosin. The film itself was quite spectacular but it was made even more so by the incredible artistry of Donald Sosin. He played for the entire 2 1/2 hours, without a break, and with just a few notated markings. He presented a very operatic treatment of the story, which suited the plot perfectly. I was fascinated by his ability to improvise many musical themes and leitmotivs-all with such great flare and virtuosity. I must admit that these silent films can have very fragile plots but with the right kind of music accompanying them, they take on real substance and even nuance. MOMA should be congratulated for taking silent films so seriously and making sure that they all receive live musical accompaniment