DW Griffith was a rather comedy-challenged filmmaker, but every now and then, even he could cut a comic gem. THE CARDINAL'S CONSPIRACY is a cute little costume movie about a headstrong princess who refuses a suitor, so a cardinal, her father, and the rejected prince all conspire up a swashbuckling, forbidden love scenario to whet her appetite. It's kooky and goofy, presented with a light touch that seems entirely foreign to the usually heavy-handed Griffith, who preferred his bosom-heaving melodrama or socially conscious tragedies. The cast standout is easily Florence Lawrence as the princess: even in 2020, she is a beauty and has a charisma that makes her leap out on the screen.