User Reviews

"Enoch Arden" is a re-working of director D.W. Griffith's previous "The Unchanging Sea". It is very strange that Mr. Griffith would re-work such a recent film; but, early silent films came and went very quickly. Even stranger, the film doesn't really improve on the earlier version. Here are the main differences: A "love triangle" is added; which ultimately has Ms. Arvidson marrying the other man, after her first husband is lost at sea. There are more children. And, instead of amnesia, our hero is stranded on a dessert island. The ending is quite different.

Lost is the image of the lonely wife staring out at the sea; the subsequent scene's poignancy, with Arvidson carrying her newborn, is not possible. The "Unchanging" element is gone. Robert Harron and Florence La Badie are good additional children, but they don't have a lot to do; and, the leads actors aren't quite as good in "Enoch Arden" as they were in "The Unchanging Sea".

A good film, but less was a little more.

****** Enoch Arden (6/12-15/11) D.W. Griffith ~ Wilfred Lucas, Linda Arvidson, Francis J. Grandon

Based on a poem by Tennyson, Enoch Arden was one of the many short dramas D. W. Griffith made for the American Biograph Company between 1908 and 1913. This particular film was something of a milestone, however, for it was designed by its director as a two-reel featurette running over twenty minutes, twice the standard running time of the day. But the gentlemen who ran Biograph apparently felt that this was impractical, and insisted over Griffith's objections that the movie should be released in two parts, to be shown on successive days. When the two separate reels were released and exhibited, however, audiences who saw the first reel prevailed upon exhibitors to show the second immediately afterward. Griffith's instincts as a showman were confirmed, and the two-reel drama was born.

Viewing the complete film today it's hard to believe that Biograph executives really believed anyone would be willing to wait a day to find out how the story ends. Part One, by itself, creates a suspenseful situation but ends abruptly, and leaves us unsatisfied until we can see the conclusion. Part Two, seen alone, plays better as an independent entity because the 'back story' becomes clear within a minute or so, after which the story plays itself out. Still, for best results one should watch the two parts together, for in its entirety Enoch Arden stands as one of Griffith's strongest early works, well acted and beautifully filmed.

NOTE: if you haven't read Tennyson and want the ending to come as a surprise, read no further -- "spoilers" ahead!

In Part Two we learn that years have passed since Enoch was shipwrecked alone on an island. His wife Annie Lee has continued to watch for his return, while their two children have grown to adolescence. (One little mystery: in Part One the couple clearly had three children, but we can only assume that one has died in the interim.) Enoch's rival, Philip Ray, gently tries to persuade Annie Lee that he won't be coming home, and that she should consider remarriage. With the children urging her along, she is eventually persuaded to wed Philip Ray, to close the little cottage she shared with Enoch, and to move with the children into her new husband's more spacious home.

Enoch, now living on his island like a miserable Robinson Crusoe, is finally rescued. He comes home to find his cottage deserted. Taking a room at an inn he learns of the marriage of Annie Lee and Philip Ray from a local gossip who doesn't recognize him. Enoch goes to Philip Ray's house, gazes into a window, and sees his grown children with their stepfather and Annie Lee, the latter holding a newborn baby. Realizing that his presence could only cause more grief, Enoch goes back to the inn where he dies of a broken heart.

Compared with the films most other companies were making at the time, Enoch Arden stands as a model of understated dramatic intensity. Instead of aiming for the balconies, the actors scale their performances to the close proximity of the camera. Griffith allows the story to unfold at a steady, unhurried pace, and it's difficult to imagine a one-reel rendition of this story being as moving or effective. For those interested in good silent drama the two-reel version of Enoch Arden is a fine example of the form.

If you were stranded on a deserted island for twenty years and your wife moved on because she thought you were dead, would you let her know you're still alive once you were rescued, or would you allow her to keep thinking you're dead?

That's what dilemma Enoch (Wilfred Lucas) was facing and it was a doozy. I loved it.

I wish I could've rated Enoch Arden in its entirety. Part I was just a set up for the real drama which was in Part II. Part II begins with Philip Ray (Francis Grandon) courting Annie Lee (Linda Arvidson), Enoch's wife. She'd been waiting for months for Enoch's return and he hadn't shown up. Philip was there to help her "move on."

I'm sure if you watched Enoch Arden you watched both parts together as one film like I did. But just to refresh; in Part I Philip lost out to Enoch in a bid for Annie's hand in marriage. What I don't get is why Philip lingered for years waiting for another opportunity to get with Annie. When Enoch was first lost at sea Annie already had a couple of little children, which meant that Philip remained single and lurking for that entire time.

Then, Part II skips ahead roughly fifteen years or more and Philip was STILL single and lurking. Again he asked Annie to marry him--ostensibly for the children. Annie finally relented, but I couldn't help but think, "Who waits around twenty years or so to ask a woman to marry him?" He couldn't find anyone else? Was no other woman worthy? It was a sad look.

At any rate, he married Annie shortly before Enoch was rescued. Enoch came back home to see his wife and children happily living under Philip's care. I'm sure every part of him was screaming for him to barge in on them and take Annie in his arms. Annie and his kids had to be the first and last things on his mind once he returned home.

Instead, Enoch peered in the window and just watched. After witnessing that his family moved on he decided to stay silent about his return and die in anonymity.

What a tough decision. I don't know if I could have done the same thing, but I think it may have been the right thing to do. Why upset your wife twice? She already went through hell not knowing if you were dead or alive, then she moves on and is finally getting over losing you just for you to come back and put her through another difficult ordeal. Now she has to make a painful decision of either staying with her current husband or leaving him for you.

Enoch decided that he wouldn't do such a thing. It was heartbreaking, it was saddening, it was noble.

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