Hearts of the World
| Hearts of the World | |
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Hearts of the World lobby poster
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| Directed by | D.W. Griffith |
| Produced by | D.W. Griffith |
| Written by | D.W. Griffith (credited as Capt. Victor Marier and M. Gaston de Tolignac) |
| Starring |
Lillian Gish Dorothy Gish Ben Alexander Robert Harron |
| Cinematography |
Billy Bitzer Alfred Machin Hendrik Sartov |
| Edited by | James Smith Rose Smith |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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117 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
Hearts of the World (also known as Love's Struggle) is a 1918 American silent World War I propaganda film written, produced and directed by D. W. Griffith. In an effort to change the American public's neutral stance regarding the war, the British government contacted Griffith due to his stature and reputation for dramatic filmmaking.
Hearts of the World stars Lillian and Dorothy Gish and Robert Harron. The film was produced by D.W. Griffith Productions, Famous Players-Lasky Corporation and the War Office Committee was distributed by Paramount Pictures under the Artcraft Pictures Corporation banner.
Two families live next to one another in a French village on the eve of World War I. The Boy in one of the families falls for the only daughter in the other family. As they make preparations for marriage, World War I breaks out, and, although the Boy is American, he feels he should fight for the country in which he lives.
When the French retreat, the village is shelled. The Boy's father and the Girl's mother and grandfather are killed. The Girl, deranged, wanders aimlessly through the battlefield and comes upon the Boy badly wounded and unconscious. She finds her way back to the village where she is nursed back to health by The Little Disturber who had previously been a rival for the Boy's affections. The Boy is carried off by the Red Cross. Von Strohm, a German officer, lusts after the Girl and attempts to rape her, but she narrowly escapes when he is called away by his commanding officer.
Upon his recovery, the Boy, disguised as a German officer, infiltrates the enemy-occupied village, finds the Girl. The two of them are forced to kill a German sergeant who discovers them. Von Strohm finds the dead sergeant and locates the Boy and Girl who are locked in an upper room at the inn. It is a race against time with the Germans trying to break the door down as the French return to retake the village.
* Note 1: Appears in archival footage
The British Government gave D.W. Griffith unprecedented access to film in locations that were otherwise restricted from journalists. After being presented to George V and Queen Mary, Griffith was introduced to members of London's aristocracy who agreed to appear in the film. Among them were Lady Lavery, Elizabeth Asquith, Diana Manners. Playwright Noël Coward also appeared as an extra.
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Wikipedia