Judith of Bethulia

Since it is Easter time, Herr Graf's curiosity about strange Christians' pious habits led to a decision to watch a film inspired lightly by or based on religious scenes ( although aristocrats don't share any Christian feelings about their fellow... Full review

Some striking images and an intriguing performance from Blanche Sweet highlight this 1913 D.W. Griffith biblical film. This film also features very early performances from the Gish sisters.The story is the biblical tale of a virgin who gives up her... Full review

The first feature-length film from DW Griffith, JUDITH OF BETHULIA tells the story of a young widow who saves her city (Bethulia) from the Assyrians by an act of treachery.It's a warm-up for Griffith's masterpiece, INTOLERANCE, a few years later... Full review

From the Apocrypha story, a poetical tragedy by Thomas Bailey Aldrich and the theatrical version, Holofernes (played by Henry Walthall) leads his Assyrian army against the walled Judean city of Bethulia. The Assyrians decide, after failing to penetrate the wall,... Full review

With a good cast, an interesting story, and settings that are generally convincing, "Judith of Bethulia" is a worthwhile and enjoyable dramatization of the semi-historical story of Judith (from the Old Testament Apocrypha). It fits together pretty well, and tells... Full review

D.W. Griffith fuses Thomas Bailey Aldrich's long poem of Judith's story with its basis in the Apocrypha to derive this somewhat austere and powerful film of the widow's noble sacrifice to save her besieged city and its inhabitants from an... Full review

Ignoring this edict, Griffith permitted his Biblical epic Judith of Bethulia to stretch to four reels; Biograph's reprimands were so blistering that the director quit the studio, setting up his own independent operation. While of great historical value, Judith of Bethulia is, truth to tell, not one of Griffith's best efforts. ... Full Review