D. W. Griffith Books

Many books has been published about the silent movies era, from picture books to great actors to the eternal Chaplin and Pickford. This one is from one of Griffith cameramen's so for once, we stand behind the camera. What is different about Brown's account is the way the narration goes: his autobiographical experience of going through that time where everything was almost new and a lot had to be done. He states the important and not so important anecdotic facts while using a sometimes ironic tone and a semi-chronological pace of remembrance. He even explain, matter-of-factly, some technical aspects of the trend, etc... This book has a lot to offer for the silent movies or Griffith fans, especially if you have seen "Birth of a Nation" and "Intolerance". This is not the typical movie-related-good-for-the -fans-only book with Ohs! and Ahs! and Wow! to sustain you throughout your reading. It is a very specific moment in the life of a guy who was there when movies were at their beginning, a time long gone...

D W Griffith figures as the patron and idol of Karl Brown. There is no doubt that D W Griffith, the director of "Birth of a Nation" and "Intolerance". the supposed inventor of the "close-up" and discover of the Gish sisters, contributed immensely to the development of motion pictures as a distinct art form (perhaps THE art form of this century). Even so, the Griffith which emerges from these pages is half tyrant and "control freak" who ultimately is made obsolete by a public becoming increasingly sophisticated in its tastes. Karl Brown was taken on as a junior camera man by Griffith, and it is through his recollections that the early years of the American cinema comes alive. Still, this is an autobiography so we are treated to a Norman Rockwell account of the early years of this century that illuminates the millieu from which Griffith's work sprung. There is more than an element of defensiveness from Brown as he tries to reconcile Griffith's persona as a "gentleman" with his often reactionary views as exemplified in " A Birth of a Nation" ( afilm that was almost banned in Australia and parts of the US). Griffith does not emerge from this work unscathed. Worth reading for historical interest.

If you are interested in silent films or David Wark Griffith, then you won't be able to put this book down until you are finished! Karl Brown worked for the Kinemacolor company as a teenager in the 1910s. Just when this company went out of business, D.W. Griffith and his stock company arrived in Los Angeles. He quickly became a camera assistant to cameraman Billy Bitzer. He worked on Griffith's THE AVENGING CONSCIENCE, BIRTH OF A NATION, and INTOLERANCE, among other films. His book is funny, exciting, and informative. He is in awe of Griffith and actress Lillian Gish. He works his hardest to satisfy Griffith's demands on the job, but this sometimes makes Bitzer jealous of him. Brown is confused by many of the things that Griffith does while making these films, but he soon learns why Griffith works this way. The book also includes a chapter on Brown's stint in the Army during World War I, where he was given a one-week leave of absence to help Griffith with BROKEN BLOSSOMS. This is the finest memoir by any silent film vetran that I've read, and I've read quite a few.