Brute Force

Plot

At a formal modern-day party, a young man named Harry Faulkner is snubbed by a beautiful woman in favor of a more physically imposing suitor. Dejected and slightly intoxicated, he falls asleep while reading a book titled 'The Primitive Man,' and the film transitions into a vivid prehistoric dream sequence. In this ancient world, the protagonist's alter-ego, Weakhands, struggles to protect his mate, Lilywhite, from the predatory 'Bruteforce' tribe, who lack women of their own and resort to abduction. After losing Lilywhite to a rival, Weakhands uses his superior intellect to invent the stone club and later the bow and arrow, successfully leading his tribe to victory and reclaiming his love. The film concludes as Faulkner awakens in the modern day, realizing his dream of primitive triumph has given him the confidence to finally win over the woman who ignored him.

Historical Background

In 1914, the United States was on the cusp of entering the modern industrial age while still grappling with the social implications of Darwinism. The film was released just months before the outbreak of World War I, a time when 'brute force' was a topic of intense geopolitical discussion. Cinema was also transitioning from short 'nickelodeon' attractions to longer, more sophisticated narratives, and Griffith was at the forefront of this movement, pushing the boundaries of what a two-reel film could achieve technically and narratively.

Making Of

The production was marked by Griffith's growing ambition to move beyond simple one-reelers. Working with his legendary cinematographer Billy Bitzer, Griffith experimented with depth of field and cross-cutting to heighten the tension of the tribal battles. The 'monsters' were created using a mix of puppetry and live animals; for instance, a snake was used to represent a prehistoric serpent, and a mechanical dinosaur was constructed for certain shots, though it remained largely stationary. The cast, including Robert Harron and Mae Marsh, were part of Griffith's 'stock company' and were frequently subjected to the director's rigorous and often dangerous filming conditions in the California heat.

Visual Style

Billy Bitzer used innovative techniques such as the 'iris' shot to focus audience attention and experimented with backlighting to create a sense of depth in the rocky California landscapes. The film also features early examples of 'forced perspective' to make the live-animal 'dinosaurs' appear larger than the human actors.

Innovations

First live-action depiction of dinosaurs on film.,Innovative use of a modern-day framing narrative to bookend a historical/fantasy story.,Early use of 'slurpasaur' effects (magnified live animals).,Sophisticated cross-cutting between the modern and prehistoric worlds.,Use of picture-in-picture visual effects.

Music

As a silent film, it had no recorded soundtrack. Original screenings would have been accompanied by a live pianist or organist, often playing stock 'dramatic' or 'primitive' musical cues provided by the distributor.

Memorable Scenes

• The transition scene where the modern-day protagonist falls asleep and the party fades into the prehistoric cave setting.
• The battle between Weakhands and the 'winged lizard' (an alligator with a prosthetic fin).
• The moment Weakhands discovers how to create a club by wedging a stick into a stone.
• The final battle where the bow and arrow are used for the first time to defeat the Bruteforce tribe.

What Critics Said

At the time of its release, 'The Moving Picture World' praised the film for its novelty and the quality of its production, noting that it was an 'exceptionally good offering for all kinds of patrons.' Modern critics view it as a fascinating artifact of Griffith's developmental period, highlighting the effective cinematography of Billy Bitzer and the film's status as a pioneer of special effects, even if the 'monsters' appear primitive by today's standards.

What Audiences Thought

Audiences in 1914 were captivated by the film's 'monsters' and the action-packed tribal warfare. The comedic elements of the modern framing story provided a relatable entry point for viewers, making the prehistoric fantasy more accessible. It was successful enough to warrant a re-release in 1915 by the General Film Company.

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