D. W. Griffith’s Hearts of the World Hollywood joined in the government’s efforts to stir up rage against the Germans. In a film made by D. W. Griffith, a hulking German is about to whip a defenseless farm woman (played by Lillian Gish). When the film premiered in 1918, First Lady Edith Wilson, who sought to moderate the hate campaign, wrote to Griffith, pleading with him to cut or soften the violent whipping scene. Library of Congress.