Enoch Arden (1911 film)

Enoch Arden is a 1911 American silent short drama film directed by D. W. Griffith, based on the 1864 poem of the same name by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The film tells the story of Enoch Arden, a sailor who is shipwrecked and presumed dead by his family, who then returns years later to find his wife remarried to his childhood friend. Upon discovering this, and desiring not to disrupt their happiness, he chooses to remain silent about his survival, living out his remaining days in obscurity. The film is notable for its early use of cinematic techniques to portray emotion and tell a complex narrative. It features Wilfred Lucas, Linda Arvidson, and Francis Grandon in the main roles. Enoch Arden is considered an early example of Griffith's dramatic storytelling ability and his adaptation of literary works for the screen. It was released in two parts, reflecting the length of the narrative and the limitations of film reel capacity at the time.