Watch Way Down East

Way Down East is a 1920 romantic drama from the silent era of film. D.W. Griffith directed and Lillian Gish stars in the film. Griffith was the superstar director of the day, and Gish was one of Hollywood’s first leading ladies. Several versions of Way Down East were made, but Griffith’s version is the most memorable. This is due in part to a famous scene in which Gish is rescued from an icy river. Gish play a poor country girl named Anna. She falls victim to a smooth talker named Lennox. Lennox convinces Anna to marry him, but he leaves her when she becomes pregnant. The baby dies and she struggles to survive as people scorn her because of her past. This was a cutting edge movie in its day. It does not shy away from serious and troubling issues.