Judith of Bethulia (1914) 

Considered by some sources to be Griffith's first feature. He made this film in open defiance of Biograph's demand that his films shouldn't be longer than two reels. Griffith ignored this and made a four reel historical spectacle. Utilizing a 12 mile backdrop, he meticulously recreated ancient Jerusalem and proceeded to make an update of this legend of a recently widowed woman who is believed to be justified in her murder of her people's enemy. Watching the film I wonder if it needed to be four reels. Much of the film simply consists of fighting, and done in such a chaotic way that its hard to even tell who's who. The film is certainly rich in historical significance. It was considered something of an American Quo Vadis, just as Intolerance was considered Griffith's answer to Cabiria. However the film feels much more like one of DeMille's religious epics. Lots of flash, but not a great deal of substance. The ensuing anger Biograph had at Griffith resulted in his leaving the studio and becoming an independent filmmaker, and led directly to his making Birth of a Nation.