The Voice of Conscience (1912) Directed by: D. W. Griffith Produced by: Biograph Company Written by: George Hennessy Starring: Lionel Barrymore, Claire McDowell, Robert Harron Release Date: April 11, 1912 Country: United States Language: Silent (English intertitles) Runtime: Approx. 17 minutes (1 reel) Genres: Drama, Silent Short, Moral Tale, Psychological --- Plot Summary: The Voice of Conscience explores a man's moral struggle between personal ambition and doing what’s right. The story follows a man who commits a grave act in his youth, only to be haunted by his conscience as he rises in social stature. Years later, with his success growing and his past buried, he is confronted with the very people and consequences he tried to leave behind. A silent yet potent representation of guilt and redemption, the film ends with the character making a redemptive choice after his conscience manifests metaphorically and emotionally. --- Key Cast: Lionel Barrymore – The main protagonist (Young Man) Claire McDowell – The Woman / Moral center of the story Robert Harron – Supporting role, possibly the son or younger character Mae Marsh & Lillian Gish – Uncredited background roles in some versions --- Themes & Analysis: Conscience vs. Ambition: A deeply moral tale about how guilt can follow even the most successful. Psychological Drama: Among the earlier examples of silent films dealing with internal struggle. Redemption: Reinforces the idea that one’s better nature can still triumph despite mistakes. Griffith’s Direction: His use of close-ups and emotional pacing was influential in evolving cinematic language. --- Cinematic Significance: Early Moral Allegory: Common in silent shorts, but executed with subtlety here. Performance: Lionel Barrymore delivers a layered performance, foreshadowing his later fame. Technical Direction: Griffith used cross-cutting and emotional framing to convey the internal conflict. --- Preservation Status: The film is in the public domain and has survived in decent condition. It appears in many silent film compilations and archives. Various versions exist with different music scores. --- Curated Hashtags: #TheVoiceOfConscience #LionelBarrymore #DWGriffith #SilentDrama #BiographFilm #1912Cinema #SilentFilmClassic #MoralTale #PsychologicalDrama #PublicDomainMovie #RedemptionStory #EarlyHollywood #VintageFilm #SilentEra #FilmHistory