Having turned the creaky old stage melodrama Way Down East into a money-spinning film, director D.W. Griffith set about to perform the same magic with the barnstorming theatrical piece The Two Orphans. Adolphe Philippe Dennery's play told the story of two orphaned girls, one blind, who are separated early on and undergo innumerable deprivations before their tearful reunion. Though the play took place in France, it had nothing whatsoever to do with the French Revolution; this didn't stop Griffith from plunking the storyline ...
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Having turned the creaky old stage melodrama Way Down East into a money-spinning film, director D.W. Griffith set about to perform the same magic with the barnstorming theatrical piece The Two Orphans. Adolphe Philippe Dennery's play told the story of two orphaned girls, one blind, who are separated early on and undergo innumerable deprivations before their tearful reunion. Though the play took place in France, it had nothing whatsoever to do with the French Revolution; this didn't stop Griffith from plunking the storyline smack dab in the middle of that late-18th-century maelstrom, allowing him full scope for the spectacular scenes which had brought him worldwide fame. Lillian Gish plays Henriette, the sighted sister, while Dorothy Gish is cast as the visually impaired Louise. Henriette brings Louise to Paris, in search of a surgeon who might be able to restore her sister's sight. Henriette is kidnapped by a lascivious nobleman, leaving Louise to wander helplessly about until she too is "stolen" by a family of beggars. Rescued by kindhearted aristocrat Chevalier de Vaudrey (Joseph Schildkraut), Henriette begins the arduous search for her lost sister. Just before the film's intermission, Henriette hears Louise begging on the streets. Before they can be reunited, Henriette is arrested by minions of the evil nobleman who'd earlier tried to seduce her. Released from the Bastille by the revolutionaries, Henriette resumes her search, only to be arrested again--this time because she has consorted with the aristocracy, and is therefore a candidate for the guillotine. The stage is thus set for a thrilling "race to the rescue" climax, and of course the reuniting of the two orphans. Orphans of the Storm was filmed at Griffith's east coast studio in Mamaroneck, New York, which explains why the exteriors are always so overcast. In an effort to be topical, Griffith took every opportunity possible to equate the French revolution with the recent Bolshevik rebellion in Russia, and to warn his audience of the dangers of mob rule (this from a man who glorified the Ku Klux Klan in Birth of a Nation!) The film opened to excellent reviews and great business; Griffith, who always placed art above commerce, poured virtually every penny of profit into his "smaller" project, Isn't Life Wonderful, which died at the box office. Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Add this copy of Orphans of the Storm to cart. $2.93, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Carrollton, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Alpha Video.
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Creighton Hale, Frank Puglia, Sheldon Lewis, Lucille La Verne, Morgan Wallace, Katherine Emmet, Frank Losee, Joseph... Very good. 1921 Run time: 118. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Orphans of the Storm to cart. $2.93, good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Carrollton, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Alpha Video.
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Seller's Description:
Creighton Hale, Frank Puglia, Sheldon Lewis, Lucille La Verne, Morgan Wallace, Katherine Emmet, Frank Losee, Joseph... Good. 1921 Run time: 118. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Orphans of the Storm (Silent) to cart. $2.99, very good condition, Sold by Orbit Music rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Mishawaka, IN, UNITED STATES, published 2003.
Add this copy of Orphans of the Storm to cart. $3.00, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Carrollton, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Alpha Video.
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Seller's Description:
Creighton Hale, Frank Puglia, Sheldon Lewis, Lucille La Verne, Morgan Wallace, Katherine Emmet, Frank Losee, Joseph... Very good. 1921 Run time: 118. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Orphans of the Storm to cart. $3.24, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Carrollton, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Alpha Video.
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Seller's Description:
Creighton Hale, Frank Puglia, Sheldon Lewis, Lucille La Verne, Morgan Wallace, Katherine Emmet, Frank Losee, Joseph... Very good. 1921 Run time: 118. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Orphans of the Storm to cart. $3.99, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Carrollton, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Alpha Video.
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Seller's Description:
Creighton Hale, Frank Puglia, Sheldon Lewis, Lucille La Verne, Morgan Wallace, Katherine Emmet, Frank Losee, Joseph... Very good. 1921 Run time: 118. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Orphans of the Storm to cart. $5.00, very good condition, Sold by Salzer's Records rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from ventura, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1998 by IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT.
Add this copy of Orphans of the Storm to cart. $9.74, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Carrollton, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1998.
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Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Orphans of the Storm (1921) to cart. $11.78, new condition, Sold by Books From California rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Simi Valley, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2002 by Kino Lorber.
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Creighton Hale, Frank Puglia, Sheldon Lewis, Lucille La Verne, Morgan Wallace, Katherine Emmet, Frank Losee, Joseph... New. 1921 Run time: 150. Buy with confidence-Satisfaction Guaranteed!
Add this copy of Orphans of the Storm to cart. $14.12, like new condition, Sold by Streetlight_Records rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Cruz, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2002 by Kino Lorber.
Nothing more can be written and nothing more should be. This is a must see for any film enthusiast or anyone who enjoys romance, adventure, tragedy - during the French revolution. A must see.
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