Way Down East

Way Down East
Theatrical release poster
Directed byD. W. Griffith
Written by
  • Anthony Paul Kelly
  • D. W. Griffith (uncredited)
  • Joseph R. Grismer (adaptation)
Based onWay Down East
by Lottie Blair Parker
Produced byD. W. Griffith (uncredited)
Starring
CinematographyG.W. Bitzer
Edited by
Music by
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • September 3, 1920 (1920-09-03)
Running time
148 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)
Budget$800,000[1] or $635,000[2]
Box office$7,500,000[2]
PLAY full film; runtime 02:27:58

Way Down East is a 1920 American silent romantic drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. It is one of four film adaptations of the melodramatic 19th century play of the same name by Lottie Blair Parker. There were two earlier silent versions and one sound version in 1935 starring Henry Fonda.[3] Griffith's version is particularly remembered for its climax in which Gish's character is rescued from doom on an icy river.

  1. ^ "Big Picture Costs and Road Show Profits". Variety. March 18, 1925. p. 27. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Griffith's 20 Year Record". Variety. September 5, 1928. p. 12. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  3. ^ Way Down East at IMDb.