The Narrow Road
Plot
Two convicts are released from prison after serving their sentences. One man, played by Elmer Booth, is determined to reform and live an honest life, finding employment and attempting to rebuild his reputation. His fellow ex-convict, however, immediately returns to his criminal ways and attempts to drag his former cellmate back into a life of crime. When the reformed man refuses to participate in a planned robbery, the criminal ex-con seeks revenge, leading to a dramatic confrontation that tests the reformed man's commitment to his new path. The film explores themes of redemption, temptation, and the difficulty of escaping one's past in a society that often refuses to forgive former criminals.
Director
About the Production
This was one of many short films D.W. Griffith directed for the Biograph Company during their most productive period. The film was shot on location in New York and at Biograph's studio in Fort Lee, New Jersey, which was the center of American film production before the industry moved to Hollywood. Like many Biograph productions of this era, it was filmed quickly on a tight schedule, with Griffith often directing multiple films simultaneously.
Historical Background
1912 was a pivotal year in American cinema, marking the transition from short novelty films to more sophisticated storytelling. The film industry was rapidly professionalizing, with New York and New Jersey still the centers of American film production. This period saw the rise of the feature film and the star system, with actors like Mary Pickford becoming major draws. Social issues, including crime and urban poverty, were becoming common subjects for filmmakers as America grappled with rapid industrialization and immigration. The Progressive Era's focus on social reform influenced many films of this period, including 'The Narrow Road,' which reflects contemporary debates about criminal rehabilitation and second chances.
Why This Film Matters
As an early example of the crime genre, 'The Narrow Road' helped establish narrative conventions that would influence countless later films. The film's exploration of moral choice and redemption reflects the didactic nature of early American cinema, which often sought to educate as well as entertain. The movie represents an important stage in D.W. Griffith's development as a filmmaker, showing his growing mastery of cinematic language just before he would revolutionize the industry with longer, more ambitious works. The film also demonstrates the emerging star power of Mary Pickford, who would soon become one of the most famous and influential women in the world.
Making Of
D.W. Griffith was known for his demanding directing style during his Biograph period, often pushing actors to deliver naturalistic performances that were revolutionary for the time. For 'The Narrow Road,' Griffith likely employed his innovative techniques of cross-cutting and close-ups to build emotional tension, though these techniques were still in their early development. The film was probably shot in just a few days, as was typical for Biograph productions. Mary Pickford, even at this early stage of her career, was known to be meticulous about her performances and would often work closely with Griffith to develop her character's motivations. The urban setting allowed Griffith to incorporate real locations, adding authenticity to the story of urban crime and redemption that was becoming increasingly popular in American cinema.
Visual Style
The cinematography for 'The Narrow Road' was typical of Biograph productions of 1912, featuring static camera positions with occasional movement to follow action. The film was shot by Billy Bitzer or G.W. Bitzer, Griffith's regular cinematographer, who was pioneering techniques such as soft focus and selective lighting. The urban exteriors would have been filmed in natural light, while interior scenes used artificial lighting that was still relatively primitive. The film likely employed medium shots more than close-ups, as the latter was still considered somewhat experimental, though Griffith was among the directors helping to establish close-ups as a legitimate cinematic tool.
Innovations
While 'The Narrow Road' does not represent a major technical breakthrough, it showcases D.W. Griffith's growing sophistication in film grammar. The film likely employed cross-cutting to build tension between parallel actions, a technique Griffith was helping to perfect. The use of location shooting in urban settings was still relatively innovative for 1912, adding authenticity to the production. The film's narrative structure, with its clear character development and moral complexity, represented an advancement beyond the simpler plots common in earlier cinema. These elements, while individually modest, collectively contributed to the evolution of cinematic storytelling.
Music
As a silent film, 'The Narrow Road' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during theatrical exhibition. Theaters typically employed pianists or small ensembles to provide appropriate music for each film. For a crime drama like this, the musical accompaniment would have included dramatic, suspenseful pieces during tense moments and more melancholic themes during scenes of moral struggle. The exact musical selections would have varied by theater and musician, with popular classical pieces and original compositions often used to enhance the emotional impact of the narrative.
Famous Quotes
I'm going straight this time, no more trouble for me.
Once a crook, always a crook - that's what they say, but I'll prove them wrong.
The straight and narrow path is harder to walk than they tell you.
Memorable Scenes
- The prison release scene where the two men part ways with different intentions
- The confrontation scene where the reformed ex-convict refuses to participate in the planned crime
- The dramatic climax where loyalty and morality are tested
Did You Know?
- This film was released during D.W. Griffith's most prolific period at Biograph, where he directed over 450 short films between 1908 and 1913.
- Mary Pickford was already becoming a major star by 1912, though she would soon leave Biograph for better pay and more creative control.
- Elmer Booth was a regular collaborator with Griffith and appeared in many of his Biograph films before his tragic death in a car accident in 1915 at age 32.
- The film's themes of redemption and the difficulty of reforming criminals were recurring motifs in Griffith's work.
- Like most films of this era, 'The Narrow Road' was shot on 35mm film at approximately 16 frames per second.
- The Biograph Company insisted on keeping their films under 20 minutes to maximize the number of showings per day in theaters.
- This film was released just months before Griffith would begin work on his controversial masterpiece 'The Birth of a Nation'.
- Charles Hill Mailes was a prolific character actor who appeared in over 300 films between 1909 and 1935.
- The film's title refers to the difficult path of righteousness, a common metaphor in early moralistic cinema.
- No original screenplay exists for this film, as was common practice; actors often improvised from detailed scenarios written by Griffith.
What Critics Said
Contemporary reviews of 'The Narrow Road' are scarce, as film criticism was still in its infancy in 1912. However, Biograph films were generally well-regarded by trade publications for their technical quality and storytelling sophistication. Modern film historians view this film as a solid example of Griffith's Biograph period, demonstrating his developing narrative skills and his ability to extract strong performances from his actors. The film is noted for its relatively complex moral ambiguity for the period, presenting characters who struggle with genuine ethical dilemmas rather than simple good versus evil scenarios.
What Audiences Thought
Audiences in 1912 typically consumed short films as part of varied programs that included newsreels, comedies, and other one-reelers. Crime films like 'The Narrow Road' were popular with urban audiences who could relate to the settings and themes. The presence of Mary Pickford, already a rising star, would have been a significant draw. While specific audience reactions to this particular film are not documented, Biograph productions generally enjoyed strong attendance during this period, particularly in larger cities where the themes of urban crime and redemption resonated with recent immigrants and working-class viewers.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Contemporary social reform movements
- Progressive Era literature
- Earlier Biograph crime dramas
- Stage melodramas of the period
- Realist fiction about urban life
This Film Influenced
- Later gangster films of the 1920s and 1930s
- Social problem films of the 1930s
- Film noir themes of the 1940s
- Prison drama genre
- Redemption narratives in cinema
You Might Also Like
Film Restoration
The preservation status of 'The Narrow Road' is unclear, as is common with many Biograph films from this period. Some Biograph shorts survive in archives like the Library of Congress and the Museum of Modern Art, while others are lost or exist only in fragmentary form. Given the film's historical significance as a D.W. Griffith work starring Mary Pickford, it is likely that at least one copy survives in film archives, though it may not be readily available for public viewing.