BRUTALITY (1912) - ♦♦♦
Directed by - D.W. Griffith
Written by - D.W. Griffith
Starring - Walter Miller, Mae Marsh, Joseph Graybill
"GRIFFITH turns his attention to domestic violence in his 1912 short BRUTALITY. Here, he tells the story of a newlywed couple. The wife, played by an excellent MAE MARSH, fails to notice the alarm bells pointing to her beloved's anger and violent outbursts, and once locked in marriage, she becomes the victim to this abuse.
The performances in BRUTALITY are excellent. WALTER MILLER is always a powerful presence, and his versatility is clearly shown as he plays the double role ala Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in the form of loving husband disturbed by remorseless and incontrollable violent fits.
In the end, however, GRIFFITH fits one of his driving inspirations and elements - the power of the arts - into his film's ending as the man experiences an awakening during a theatre show.
While one can absolutely admire MILLER's responses to the actions on stage as they happen, the ending is far too quick, too sudden and because of the lengthy build up to the portrayal of the titular brutality, it doesn't seem to give a satisfactory resolve."
Drama, USA