The Greatest Question
| The Greatest Question | |
|---|---|
 Robert Harron and Lillian Gish | |
| Directed by | D. W. Griffith |
| Written by | Stanner E.V. Taylor |
| Based on | A novel by William Hale |
| Produced by | D. W. Griffith |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | G. W. Bitzer |
| Edited by | James Smith |
| Music by | Albert Pesce |
| Distributed by | First National Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
The Greatest Question is a 1919 American drama film directed by D. W. Griffith.[1][2] Based upon a novel by William Hale, the film has a plot involving spiritualism.
Plot
[edit]As described in a film magazine,[3] Nellie Jarvis (Gish), daughter of a wandering couple, when very young witnesses the murder of a woman by a man and his wife. Years later, "Little Miss Yes'm," as Nellie is known, returns to the scene of the crime as an orphan. Mr. Hilton (Fawcett) and his wife (Besserer), though poverty stricken, take her into their family. Finding the Hiltons are in financial straits, she goes to a nearby farmhouse and gets employment from Martin Cain (Nichols) and his wife (Crowell). Here she is persecuted, beaten and tormented. The farmer seeks to assault her and she recognizes in him the man who murdered the woman years before. In the meantime, Mrs. Hilton has appealed to her dead son and God to relieve the family from poverty. The spirit of the dead son returns and on the following day oil is found on the land. Jimmie Hilton (Harron), Little Miss Yes'm's sweetheart, rushes to the Cain's to get her. He reaches her in time to save her from torture by the depraved Cains. The Hiltons become wealthy and there is a happy ending.
Cast
[edit]- Lillian Gish as Nellie Jarvis
- Robert Harron as Jimmie Hilton
- Ralph Graves as John Hilton Jr.
- Eugenie Besserer as Mrs. Hilton
- George Fawcett as Mr. Hilton
- Tom Wilson as Uncle Zeke (*in blackface)
- George Nichols as Martin Cain
- Josephine Crowell as Mrs. Cain
References
[edit]- ^ "Progressive Silent Film List: The Greatest Question". Silent Era. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The Greatest Question
- ^ "Reviews: The Greatest Question". Exhibitors Herald. 10 (11). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 57. March 13, 1920.
External links
[edit]
- The Greatest Question at IMDb
- The Greatest Question at AllMovie
- The Greatest Question is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive