The Better Way (1909) watch online HD

In this charming idyll of Puritan life the Biograph Company make a welcome return to their best vein, for they give us a simple story, well acted and photographed. The poet tells us that "crabb'd age and youth cannot live together," but the Biograph dramatist conclusively proves the contrary. To ease her mother's position in life a young girl consents to marry an old farmer in preference to a young swain. It is a Puritan rendering of "Auld Robin Gray." After the marriage, however, she discovers that she does not love the Squire, and as the young lover is persistent, the Squire in order to assure her happiness, releases his bride. A somewhat improbable course for a Puritan to take. She has not gone far with her young lover before his somewhat too demonstrative attentions cause her to turn from him in horror and make her way back to her mother's home. The old Squire has not ceased to love the girl, and so reconciliation is possible. It is brought about by willing agents. In a very tender final scene we see the girl on her knees to the old man, who lovingly forgives her, and so it is to be supposed happiness is in sight. What we liked about the story was the clear and convincing manner in which it was told. The acting, too, was something superb. The four leading characters, the girl, her mother, the old man, the lover, played their parts with such earnestness that all illusions seemed lost to us, and the thing itself looked like life. The staging and the photography of the piece were exceptionally fine, and altogether we look upon "The Better Way" as another Biograph triumph, which will enhance the company's growing reputation as producers of American film drama par excellence. - The Moving Picture World, August 21, 1909

This eleven minute offering was successful in detaching itself from its audience. The 34 year old D.W. Griffith just does not have the ability to allow viewers to invest their interests in the protagonists. You don't feel any concern for the characters whatsoever, primarily on the basis of the fact that they are an extension of his own personality rather than discovering their soul through performance. The actors certainly don't have a voice in this piece, and I felt cheated that there wasn't a story to tell. The camera tends to be too passive in its observations of events. It doesn't intrude or trespass in order to engage the audience. Not my cup of tea at all.