...incredibly dated and corny. Thing was, it was dated and corny when it was made.
"Quit whining. I evaded your vital organs." --Motoko Aoyama
Yeah, I read that in DW's biography. I still like it though.
"Tessie" is the Royal Rooters rally cry.
"Tessie" is the tune they always sung.
To an extent that's certainly true. Remember, though, that this was one of Griffith's biggest box office hits. Therefore we should be more understanding as to why Griffith was convinced that this was still the formula the movie-going public wanted. Apparently for a large portion of the country (especially smaller towns and rural areas and maybe even most of America between the two coasts) still DID respond to the older melodramatic formulas and Victorian morals. The years 1919-1921 saw the balance really swing from the old style to the newer, more sophisticated and risque films of DeMille, von Streoheim, etc. and apparently audience expectation began to change with them.
shareDated and Corny; not to me.
Unwed mothers even being hinted at in 1920 was rare to say the least.
I remember in Gone With The Wind (1939) when Scarlett and Cathleen are discussing Rhett at Twelve Oaks. In the book, Scarlett asks "did she have a baby" but in the movie she whispers the question to Cathleen who replies "no, but she was ruined just the same."
Way Down East was ahead of it's time in a lot of ways. I'm so glad it was made and that I have it on DVD.
By the way: Lillian ROCKS!