The Mother and the Law

To recoup losses from the extravagant roadshow presentations of Intolerance (1916), Griffith would revisit his epic film three years later by releasing two of the film's previously interlocked stories as standalone features, with additional footage and new title cards. The second of these was 'The Mother and the Law', which demonstrates how crime, moral puritanism, and conflicts between ruthless capitalists and striking workers cause ruin to the lives of marginal Americans.

Directed by D.W. Griffith, The Mother and the Law leans on a strong ensemble — Mae Marsh, Robert Harron, Miriam Cooper — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1919.