D.W. Griffith's most infamous film was "Birth of a Nation". Why was it so famous for all the wrong reasons? Because this Southern director re-wrote history and in this film showed the South to be the victim in the Civil War and its aftermath--a victim of 'uppity' blacks intent on defiling white women as well as evil Yankees. Well, while "Swords and Hearts" isn't quite this bad (and doesn't feature the KKK as the heroes!), it does have many elements you'd later see in "Birth of a Nation". Slavery in this film is a good thing and blacks adore their masters. And, interestingly, the black men are played by whites in black makeup! This is possibly because no black would agree to work on such absurd projects! Still, in spite of all this, "Swords and Hearts" is a pretty good film.The film begins with rich Master Hugh going off to fight for his beloved South in the Civil War. He's in love with Miss Irene--not realizing that the poor girl, Jenny, also loves him. What he also doesn't know is that Jenny nearly gets herself killed saving his life. Later, when the war is over, Irene proves to be evil, as she now has a Yankee boyfriend (Oh, my!!). And, Hugh finally realizes that Jenny is one hot tamale.Well acted and with some nice action, if you can ignore all the happy 'blacks' and accept the movie on its own terms, you'll likely enjoy it.

Swords and Hearts (1911) *** (out of 4) A poor girl (Dorothy West) is secretly in love with her rich neighbor (Wilfred Lucas) but he's in love with another woman. He goes off to fight in the war but soon finds himself being chased by Union soldiers but the poor girl comes to his aid. After the war the boy returns home to see that his riches are now gone. Once again Griffith ventures into Civil War territory but at the same time he also gives his morality play about the rich. It's rather amazing to see how many of Griffith's shorts were attacking the rich but its done so with nice detail here. West delivers a very strong performance in the lead and Lucas comes off quite nice as well. There's no big battle scenes but most of the drama comes from one sequence where the Union soldiers burn down the house of the rich boy. Griffith was known for pushing his actors into dangerous situations and this looks like one of those cases. I'm not sure what type of safety procedures were taken but it looks like the two actors are in the burning house way too long and just barely escape. Also, as with His Trust and His Trust Fulfilled, Griffith shows the importance to the black servants helping their owners.

How did Griffiths pack so much into such a short wee film? This is a tale of a beautiful poor white girl, a Confederate officer, an opportunistic upper class woman, and of the perspicacious and cunning loyal black retainer (sadly played in black-face) who is the real hero of the piece. In a mere quarter of an hour the story of class consciousness and its stupidities, of reversal of fortunes, or true love and of the destruction of the Old South is told with skill and artistry. Topped by the wonderful acting of Dorothy West and even more so by the writing of Emmett C. Hall, this is a wonderful, action packed love and war story. Filmed only 47 years after the end of the War Between the States, it is filled with exquisite touches: the utterly "un-Hollywood" homely slouch hat; the chickens running to escape; the corn cob pipe; the use of black powder with all its attendant smoke in the firearms. There is a genuine attempt at some historical accuracy in this piece. The looting of the mansion by the "poor white trash" foreshadows the Russian Revolution which followed close upon the release of "Swords and Hearts". At heart a sentimental romance but one with a courageous and determined woman at its centre.

"Swords and Hearts" is the last and the best of the seven Civil War shorts Griffith directed over a three-year period. This group nicely illustrates his tracking along a very steep learning curve as he becomes ever more technically and creatively proficient with the new art form of film-making. "Swords and Hearts" is billed as a wartime story in old Virginia and entertainingly alternates between domestic and battle sequences.The chapter captions pretty much tell the story: 1. Hugh Frazier (Wilfred Lucas) son of a wealthy tobacco planter 2. His neighbor-Irene Lambert (Claire McDowell) beautiful but calculating 3. Jennie Baker (Dorothy West) and her father (Francis J. Grandon) of the "poor white class" 4. Promise me you will be mine 5. To join his company in the confederate army 6. We shall marry when you return 7. Months later, unknown to Hugh, Jennie's chance to prove her love 8. To steal a visit with Irene 9. Old Ben (William J. Butler) anticipates the bushwhackers' attack 10. Defeated in war, rejected in love 11. Hugh realizes her loyalty and worth. The story incorporates Griffith's favorite themes, the superior virtues of the poor white class and the loyalty of good Negro slaves to their masters. It is quite ambitious as at times Griffith cross-cuts between three different events occurring simultaneously. Unfortunately the use of white actors in black-face in several scenes is disconcerting.Dorothy West was arguably the most contemporary looking and natural of all the silent film stars. Consequently her films from 1910-1917 have held up better even than stuff made years later at the end of the silent film era. West combines the seemingly contradictory qualities of adolescent femininity that fascinated Griffith; a virginal unworldliness and a plucky practicality. In the film's best action sequence Jennie demonstrates her practicality by taking Hugh's uniform and horse, then leading the Yankee cavalry away from her love (during his liaison with Irene). An accomplished rider, West does her own stunts and even shoots a Yankee from horseback. Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.