What the Daisy Said (1910)

Intro to "What the Daisy Said"
"What the Daisy Said" is a quiet brief movie from the early 20th century, released in 1910. The movie was directed by D. W. Griffith, a pioneering figure in early movie theater who is typically remembered for his contributions to film narrative and strategy, despite his controversial legacy due to material such as "The Birth of a Nation". The movie, which is normal of its era, is a drama that centres on feelings and relationships, concentrating on styles of love, commitment, and decisions that can alter the course of lives.

Plot Overview
The film's story unfolds around two siblings residing in the countryside, whose tranquil presence is disrupted by the arrival of a young man. The narrative checks out the emotional journey and the relational dynamics that emerge amongst these three characters. The title "What the Daisy Said" is believed to reference the act of looking for responses or forecasting love by means of the childhood game of petal plucking, known by the phrase "He enjoys me, he enjoys me not".

The siblings, though close, are shown to have contrasting characters; one is more reserved and contemplative, while the other is outbound and vivacious. When the man arrives in their pastoral world, he forms a connection with both females. Nevertheless, it is the more reserved sibling that catches his attention, leading to a shared love that appears set to flower into romance.

Themes and Symbolism
In line with Griffith's design, the film looks into human feelings and interactions, using silent cinema methods to stimulate compassion and understanding from the audience. "What the Daisy Said" may appear easy by today's requirements, but it manages to convey intricate emotional narratives through gesture and expression, hallmarks of the silent film medium.

The symbolism of the daisy in the film could be analyzed in different ways. On the one hand, the daisy, with its innocent and simple appearance, might represent the pureness and simplicity of rural life and love. On the other hand, it may symbolize the randomness of love and the fragile nature of relationships, as each plucked petal represents a fluctuation between hope and despair.

Cinematic Techniques and Performances
The efficiencies in the film were common for the period, extremely meaningful and somewhat theatrical, as actors had to rely solely on body language and facial expressions to convey their emotions. The instructions by Griffith demonstrates his capability to tell a story visually, with cautious attention to structure and pacing. Using close-ups, though not as often employed as in modern movie theater, was a technique Griffith helped popularize and is evident in the movie to develop character introspection and highlight essential narrative moments.

Significance and Legacy
Thinking about the year of its development, "What the Daisy Said" represents a period of filmmaking when narrative movie theater was still in its infancy. Although the particular information and technical elements of this specific movie may not have actually been as groundbreaking as a few of Griffith's other works, it contributed to the continuous development of his storytelling abilities and strengthened the psychological possibilities of the medium.

The movie's legacy lies in its contribution to silent movie theater as an entire, a canvas upon which directors, including Griffith, explored and sharpened the craft that would ultimately become the language of contemporary filmmaking. Audiences of the time might have been captivated by the film's representation of pastoral life and the significant entanglements in between the characters-- styles that, regardless of the technological improvements in filmmaking, stay appropriate to audiences today.

Conclusion
"What the Daisy Said" is a movie that exemplifies early movie theater's expedition of storytelling through moving images. Regardless of its age and the minimal information available about its production and reception, its thematic focus on love and decision-making resonates beyond its silent, black-and-white representation. As a piece of Griffith's early filmography, it stays a historical file of the development of narrative film and the universal nature of human feelings.

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