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1915. Silent. Bethulia stands outside ancient Jerusalem, guarding its gate. The Assyrian king, Nebuchodonosor, sends his son Holfernes and his army west to conquer Judea. The army captures all the territory to the gates of Bethulia, including its well and the women who were outside the city walls. Then, Holfernes is content to lay a patient siege and wait until lack of water and food forces the surrender of Bethulia. As the town’s plight worsens and prayers don’t seem to work, Judith, a well-loved widow of Bethulia, hatches a plan. After ritual cleansing, she dresses elegantly and seductively to infiltrate Holfernes’ camp. B/W 1913Silent Biblical epic directed by DW Griffith. The citizens ofBethulia, in Judea, are attacked by an army of Assyrian warriorsled by the evil, bearded pagan prince Holofernes. They take refugein their walled city, but are cut off from their water supply. Oneof the besieged Judeans is the beautiful and revered widow Judith,who hatches a plan to save the city by contacting the enemy andseducing their leader. Holofernes is indeed smitten with her, andkeeps her as his mistress. One night she arranges to be alone withhim, and after getting him drunk on wine, she cuts his head offwith a dagger [offscreen]. The leaderless pagans are promptlydefeated by the Bethulians. The story opens with a romanticsubplot, in which farm worker Nathan ardently pursues the peasantgirl Naomi; she is captured by the Assyrians as a slave, but herescues her at the end. The film is remarkable for its elaboratecostumes and scenes of primitive warfare, but it is stronglyfocused on character and is altogether quite gripping. Holofernes’eunuch servant is effeminate and is interesting as a homosexualstereotype. Directed by DW Griffith; photographed by GW Bitzer;starring Blanche Sweet (Judith), Henry B Walthall (Holofernes),Kate Bruce, Charles Hill Mailes, Mae Marsh (Naomi), Robert Harron(Nathan), Alfred Paget, Lillian Gish, JJ Lanoe, Harry Hyde. Textof the film (intertitles): From the apocryphal chapters of theBible and the poetical tragedy of Thomas Bailey Aldrich bypermission of Houghton, Mifflin and Company. Now in those days thewalled city of Bethulia in the hill country guarded the passages toJerusalem. And outside the city walls were the wells where theinhabitants went for water, among them Naomi, beloved by Nathan,son of Eliab. Nathan, son of Eliab, at the threshing. And thestout walls of Bethulia were fifty cubits thick. The market-placewithin the walls of Bethulia. Now in Bethulia in those days dweltJudith, the devout, widow of the dead Manasses, and held in greatreverence by all the inhabitants. At the great gate, Naomi partedfrom Nathan, the son of Eliab, and repaired to the well for water.Now Nebuchadanazar, King of the Assyrians, in the 18th year of hisreign sent forth Prince Holofernes with the army of Assur to laywaste all the countries of the West. And the army of Assur, bycommand of Holofernes, took the wells wherefrom the inhabitants ofBethulia had all their water. And Nathan, son of Eliab, couldscarce be restrained from going to the succor of Naomi. Not oneAssyrian had gained entrance within the walls. Then theinhabitants armed themselves for defense. And they pitched thetent of Holofernes in the midst of his army. Naomi, she who wasbeloved by Nathan the son of Eliab, was among the captives thatday. And the army of Assur stormed the walls by night and by day,whilst Judith watched and prayed by her window and Holoferneswaited within his tent. Yet Holofernes could not batter down thebrazen gates nor make a single breach. Then Holofernes tookcounsel of his captains, and sat down with his army to wait forfamine to reduce the city. For water and food within the wallswere all but spent. And Judith’s heart bled at the distress of herpeople for they were perishing of hunger and thirst. AndHolofernes visited vengeance of all cowards within his camp. And avision came from the Lord. Then said Judith unto them: “”Hear meand I will do a thing which shall go throughout all generations.”"Then Judith put on sackcloth and fell upon her face and put ashesupon her head. And she put on her garment of gladness and deckedherself bravely to allure the eyes of all men that should see her.So Judith, with her handmaid Marah, went forth to overcomeHolofernes, the dread Bull of Asshar. “”For I am Holofernes.”" AndJudith spoke cunningly unto Holofernes, promising to deliver allJudea into his hands. And his heart was ravished with her so thathe gave her free passage in the camp and a tent for her abode andhis chief eunuch to wait upon her. Then did Judith wrestle withher heart, for Holofernes now seemed noble in her eyes. Then ayoung captain of Bethulia led a brave dash for water at the wells.Then the Assyrians taunted the famished city for its lack of water.But the crafty guards of Assur lay by in ambush and fell upon themwith chariot and horse. Now Holofernes in his tent had thoughtsonly for Judith…and he gave no heed unto the Dance of the Fishes,by the artful women from the great Temple of Nin. Again Judithfaltered for the love of Holofernes—yet struggled to cast awaythe sinful passion. “”Strengthen me, O, Lord God of Israel.”" “”Comewith me to Nineveh, the city of the Gods.”" “”Let me by thy handmaidalone for to-night.”" And Judith pressed wine upon Holofernes sothat he drank deeply. Now they within the city cried aloud to giveit up for many were dying of thirst and famine. And the captainsof Assur without their prince were as men bereft00:00:34:00 B/W 1913ws, ms Woman drawing water from a primitive well; women carrywater jugs.00:03:30:00 B/W 1913ms Street scene in ancient Jerusalem: bearded, befuddledJewish man walks down narrow crowded street, greets another.(Jewish stereotype, but not offensive.)00:06:03:00 B/W 1913ms Two old Jews greet one another; one kisses the other’sbeard.00:06:45:00 B/W 1913ws, ms Battle scene, Biblical times: bearded, helmeted warriors onhorseback and chariots; swords, spears and shields; warriors attackpeasants in hay field; excellent scenes of massacre and slaughter.(Could work for Genghis Khan or any war of ancient times.)00:08:26:00 B/W 1913ws Battle continues, good shots of siege of ancient walledcity or fortress. Also at 0:12:08. Battering ram at 0:14:32.00:16:22:00 B/W 1913ms Bearded man in helmet ladles water rations to raggedpeasants. Good image of rationing, “”running low”", “”not enough togo around”".00:20:28:00 B/W 1913ms, cu Woman (Blanche Sweet) in state of despair crouches on theground, sprinkles dirt in her hair. Good example of melodramaticacting.00:22:24:00 B/W 1913ms Man tied to cross is brought to see pagan king;crucifixion, but not Jesus Christ (suggests Christianity, though).00:23:47:00 B/W 1913ms Good Biblical seduction scene: beautiful woman in ornatecostume with headdress presents herself to evil-looking, beardedpagan king. More scenes with these two follow (Judith andHolofernes).00:27:48:00 B/W 1913ws Battle scene: warriors fight with bow and arrow, swords andshields; they rush into a fortress; siege.00:31:08:00 B/W 1913ws Pagan decadence and debauchery: scantily-clad dancing girlswave their arms around while bearded king sits gloomily on throne.00:32:17:00 B/W 1913ms Great melodramatic acting: woman (Blanche Sweet) in ornatepagan costume changes facial expression, from lust to despair.Then she tucks a dagger into her cloak.00:36:17:00 B/W 1913ms Biblical seduction scene, as above. Bearded pagan kingpasses out from drinking wine; woman kills him with sword[offscreen].00:39:43:00 B/W 1913ws, ms Brief montage showing the aftermath of war, destruction:dead soldiers on battlefield, with arrows in them; starving peoplelying in dusty street; dead girl in street with her eyes open.00:43:00:00 B/W 1913ws More battle scenes from ancient times.00:45:46:00 B/W 1913ws People dancing in the streets in ancient Jerusalem