Way Down East (United Artists, 1920). Very Fine+ on Linen. One Sheet (28.5" X 40.5").. ...

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Way Down East (United Artists, 1920). Very Fine+ on Linen. One Sheet (28.5" X 40.5").
Lillian Gish's performance in Way Down East is among the most transcendent in silent film. Gish moves flawlessly from fragile and innocent country girl, to ecstatic bride, to betrayed then bereaved unwed mother, and finally a matured woman all without uttering a single word. The wonderful art on this poster depicts the climax of the story where Gish is rescued from the icy precipice at the last possible instant by Richard Barthelmess. This scene, one of the best remembered silent film sequences ever, was shot on a constructed set, though it was still dangerous to film, and the icy water caused damage to Gish's left hand that she had for the rest of her life. Way Down East was the fourth-highest grossing silent film in history, with $4.5 million in revenue in 1920. Mark Adamo wrote in 1994 for the Washington Post, "What's amazing is that so much of Gish's tough, funny, intuitive performance, particularly in the film's middle section as she bears her illegitimate child, transcends time, place and technology. Equally amazing is Griffith's mighty striving, with his arty location shots, quirky close-ups and riskily staged set pieces, to forge a new and expressly cinematic style." Seamlessly restored, the poster needed only touchup to fold wear, tiny tears in folds, and small nicks to borders. There is faint bleed through to left border and poster was originally flat folded.


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