Attempted Suicide

This short film depicts a young woman, driven to despair by poverty and the inability to provide for her family, who contemplates suicide by jumping into a river. She is ultimately saved by a man who witnesses her act and intervenes.

As a very early silent film from a pioneering director, "Attempted Suicide" is primarily of historical interest for its place in cinema's nascent development. Critical reception at the time was likely focused on its melodramatic themes and Griffith's emerging directorial style, rather than deep thematic analysis.

• A melodramatic depiction of desperation and rescue.

• An early example of D. W. Griffith's directorial work in narrative film.

• Highlights the social hardships faced by women in the early 20th century.

Google audience: Information on audience reception for this 1906 film is not available.

This film was part of a prolific output by D. W. Griffith during the early years of American cinema, where directors often churned out short films at a rapid pace for production companies like the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company.