His Trust Fulfilled (1911) Directed by: D. W. Griffith Produced by: Biograph Company Written by: Emmett C. Hall Cinematography: G. W. Bitzer Release Date: January 20, 1911 Country: United States Language: Silent (English intertitles) Runtime: Approx. 17 minutes Genres: Historical Drama, Silent Short, Civil War --- Plot Summary: A direct sequel to His Trust (1911), His Trust Fulfilled continues the story of George, a formerly enslaved Black man who remains loyal to the white family that once enslaved him. In this installment, George dutifully raises the daughter of his former master after the master's death during the American Civil War. Despite poverty and social pressures, George remains faithful, eventually returning the daughter to her biological family in the North. --- Key Cast: Wilfred Lucas – The Union Officer Claire McDowell – The Widow Madame Sul-Te-Wan – (uncredited) possibly appearing as a servant George Nichols – Wealthy Relative G. W. Bitzer – (as cinematographer) Note: Griffith often used white actors in blackface, and the portrayal of Black characters in both His Trust films is controversial today. --- Themes & Analysis: The film attempts to portray Black loyalty to former white slaveholders, a trope now widely recognized as racist and revisionist. It reflects early 20th-century white attitudes about the Civil War and Reconstruction, not historical realities. The narrative frames loyalty to the white family as noble and righteous, without critically addressing slavery's moral horrors. --- Cinematic Significance: A key example of D. W. Griffith’s melodramatic storytelling and his role in shaping American film narrative. Part of Biograph’s early Civil War shorts, which would culminate in The Birth of a Nation (1915). Shows the early development of cross-cutting and continuity editing. --- Criticism & Legacy: Widely condemned today for its racist subtext and glorification of the Lost Cause mythology. Often studied in film history courses to examine the role of cinema in promoting cultural narratives—both good and bad. Important as a historical artifact, not as an accurate or moral depiction of history. --- Preservation Status: The film is in the public domain and survives in various archives. It’s often packaged alongside His Trust for context. --- Curated Hashtags: #HisTrustFulfilled #SilentFilm #DWGriffith #BiographCompany #CivilWarCinema #SilentDrama #PublicDomainFilm #ControversialClassics #EarlyAmericanFilm #FilmHistory #RacialRepresentation #LostCauseMyth #GWBItzer #HistoricalDrama #1911Cinema