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(January 23, 1895 - November 25,
1957)
 Griffith
was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost his voice at an early
age, causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse
whisper. Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to
scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a
child actor -- others have stated that a childhood disease was more
likely the cause.
Although a few comedy films of his are considered classics he is
almost totally forgotten today. Many of his starring feature films
have long since been lost, but probably the best known of his films
today is Hands Up!, a 1926 Civil War comedy feature directed by
Clarence G. Badger, and co-starring Mack Swain, which was entered
into the National Film Registry in 2005. Also considered a classic
is Badger's Paths to Paradise, a caper film that is in all
circulating prints missing its final reel. Like many silent
comedians, he had a traditional costume; his was a top hat, white
tie and tails, often augmented by a cape and/or walking stick.
The coming of sound ended Griffith's acting career, but he did have
one memorable role in a motion picture before retiring from the
screen, playing a French soldier killed by Lew Ayres in the 1930
Lewis Milestone film All Quiet on the Western Front. He then segued
into a writing/producing career at Twentieth Century Fox. |
