Sally of the Sawdust (1925)

D.W. Griffith's "Sally of the Sawdust"


In 1925, D.W. Griffith adapted the 1923 stage musical "Poppy" into a feature length film. 

The film centers on an orphan girl, Sally, who is raised in a circus with her parental guardian that she calls 'poppy.' The girl is the daughter of a woman who was kicked out of her father's home for marrying a circus performer. One day, while visiting a wealthy town, Judge Foster (the girl's grandfather) arranges to have her and 'poppy' arrested for gambling. In discovering that she is actually his granddaughter, he sets them free. 

What is important to note about this film is the comedic stylings Griffith has arranged. In the vien of Charlie Chaplin, Griffith constructs a circus-like tone to match the circus-like environment. 'Poppy,' who is played by W.C. Fields exhibits all of the physical comedy of the piece. The lighter tone creates a far different atmosphere than Griffith's other works.

Overall, the film is a decent enough film. However, Griffith's classic tricks don't pull the same amount of weight he is used to. For example, in the final scene, Poppy is pursued by police as he rushes to the courthouse to save Sally's life. In the meantime, Griffith cuts to the scenes of her being judged before the court. Like with the attempted rescue of Gish's execution in "Orphans of the Storm," Griffith attempts to draw out the tension by intercutting between the pursuit of rescue and the imminent doom of the protagonist. However, the stakes are incredibly low for Sally, who will only be sent away to an all-girls boarding school. Once Poppy arrives and informs the judge of her lineage, he drops all charges. The result appears anti-climactic. Despite the film's light demeanor, it presents as only an echo of what Griffith used to be. 



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