Intolerance

Will you look at that? Will you just look at that?

This is one of my favorite images of all time. The scale of the Babylonian set is breathtaking, as is the pioneering "crane" shot Griffith created. (He had a scaffold built which contained an elevator, on which the camera was placed. The scaffold had wheels, so the cameraman cranked away while the elevator went down as the entire structure was slowly wheeled forward.)

I must say, I'm glad Griffith got huffy and self-pitying after the storm of protest following the release of The Birth of a Nation. If he hadn't gotten it into his head that he'd been dreadfully wronged, he might not have made Intolerance. And we wouldn't have this stunning spectacle to view.

What really gets me is that something this beautiful wasn't carefully maintained and preserved. Nope; it was just a movie set. Get rid of it. It stood at the studio on Prospect Street. Imagine walking past and just drinking in the sight of it! I showed a friend a clip from the movie, pointing out the wall where a chariot was driven. He was impressed - not as much as I am, though.

You just don't see sets like these anymore. CGI, eat your heart out.