The Day After

About the production

This was one of many short comedies D.W. Griffith directed for Biograph during his prolific early period. The film was likely shot in just one or two days, as was typical for Biograph productions of this era. The production would have used natural lighting and simple sets, reflecting the constraints of early filmmaking. The theme of drunkenness and its consequences was a popular subject in early cinema, often used for both comedic and moralistic purposes.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Photography and projected motion were still experimental in 1909, when short actualities and staged scenes competed for public curiosity.

Why this film matters

Early works like The Day After help map how filmmakers, exhibitors, and viewers developed the visual language of cinema during the medium's first decades. Later revivals, archive screenings, and digitization have kept such titles accessible to researchers and dedicated viewers long after their first commercial runs.

Making of

The making of this film reflected the rapid-fire production methods of the Biograph studio in 1909. Griffith was directing multiple films simultaneously, often completing one short per day. The cast and crew worked long hours under primitive conditions, with no artificial lighting or sound recording equipment. Actors had to exaggerate their performances to compensate for the limitations of silent film technology. The drunken scenes would have required physical comedy skills from the actors, who had to convincingly portray intoxication without the benefit of dialogue. Marion Leonard and Arthur V. Johnson were part of Griffith's regular stock company, developing a professional shorthand that allowed for efficient filming. The party setting allowed for multiple extras and background action, adding visual interest to the simple narrative.

What critics said

Trade and newspaper reviews from the silent period for The Day After survive only in fragments, making precise reception history difficult to reconstruct. Modern assessment tends to emphasize historical value, craft, and cultural context rather than box-office performance.

Did you know?

• This film was released during D.W. Griffith's most productive period at Biograph, where he directed over 450 short films between 1908 and 1913.
• Arthur V. Johnson was one of Griffith's most frequently used actors during this period, appearing in dozens of Biograph shorts.
• Blanche Sweet was only 13 years old when she appeared in this film, though she often played more mature roles.
• The film was shot on 35mm film and would have been shown on hand-cranked projectors, with projectionists determining the actual running time.
• Like many Biograph films of this era, individual prints were often tinted by hand for color effects, particularly for party scenes.
• The theme of temperance was common in early American cinema, reflecting the ongoing social debates about alcohol consumption.
• This film predates the Motion Picture Production Code by over 20 years, allowing for more direct depiction of drunken behavior.
• The film was likely shown in nickelodeons, charging five cents admission for a program of several short films.
• D.W. Griffith was developing his innovative editing techniques during this period, including cross-cutting and parallel action.
• The film's title 'The Day After' refers to the morning following the party, emphasizing the consequences of the previous night's behavior.

Visual style

The cinematography by G.W. Bitzer (Griffith's regular cameraman) would have been straightforward and functional, typical of Biograph productions of this era. The film likely used stationary camera positions with minimal movement, focusing on capturing the actors' performances. Natural lighting from studio windows would have illuminated the scenes, creating high contrast that was characteristic of early film. The party scenes would have featured wider shots to include multiple characters, while intimate moments between the couple would have used medium shots. Bitzer was experimenting with lighting techniques during this period, so the film might show early attempts at creating mood through lighting.

Innovations

While not technically groundbreaking, this film demonstrates the standard production techniques of the Biograph studio in 1909. The film was shot on 35mm stock at approximately 16 frames per second. Griffith was developing his editing techniques during this period, so the film likely shows more sophisticated scene transitions than earlier films. The use of multiple locations within the story (the party room and the morning-after bedroom) shows the growing complexity of narrative filmmaking. The film may feature early examples of continuity editing, ensuring smooth transitions between scenes.

Music

As a silent film, 'The Day After' would have been accompanied by live music during exhibition. The exact musical accompaniment would have varied by theater, ranging from a single piano player in smaller nickelodeons to small orchestras in larger venues. The music would have been selected to match the mood of each scene - upbeat tunes for the party scenes, more somber music for the morning-after sequences. Popular songs of 1909 might have been incorporated, along with classical pieces. The score would have emphasized the comedic elements and helped convey the characters' emotional states, particularly their guilt and remorse.

Memorable scenes

• The opening scene where Mr. and Mrs. Hilton make their pact not to drink the punch, showing their initial resolve
• The escalating drunken behavior at the party as both spouses increasingly lose control
• Mr. Hilton's painful morning-after scene as he confronts his hangover and guilt
• The final reconciliation scene where both spouses discover their mutual remorse and forgive each other

What audiences thought

Audiences in 1909 would have found this film entertaining and relatable, as themes of drunken behavior and marital discord were familiar topics. The physical comedy and exaggerated performances typical of silent film era would have elicited laughter from nickelodeon audiences. The moral lesson about the consequences of excessive drinking would have resonated with contemporary viewers, many of whom were familiar with temperance movement arguments. The short length and simple narrative made it accessible to the increasingly diverse immigrant audiences who frequented nickelodeons. The film's focus on middle-class characters would have appealed to audiences aspiring to upward mobility.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Stage melodramas of the late 19th century
• Temperance movement literature
• Domestic comedy plays
• Vaudeville sketches

This film influenced

• Later temperance-themed films
• Domestic comedy shorts of the 1910s
• Early feature films dealing with moral consequences

Film restoration

The film is preserved in the Library of Congress collection as part of the Paper Print collection. Early Biograph films were copyrighted on paper prints, which has allowed many of them to survive. The film has been restored and is available for archival viewing and research.

Where to watch

• Library of Congress (archival viewing)
• Museum of Modern Art film collection
• UCLA Film & Television Archive
• Various DVD collections of D.W. Griffith's early works
• Online streaming platforms specializing in classic cinema