The Greatest Thing in Life is a 1918 American silent drama film about World War I, directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish, Robert Harron, and David Butler.

The Greatest Thing in Life was renowned for two main aspects: the groundbreaking portrait photography style of Henrik Sartov,[5] and a "new and daring" interracial kiss between a white officer and a black soldier (both male).

Edward Livingston (Harron), a wealthy young clubman and man-about-town, comes in frequently ostensibly to buy cigarettes but in reality to talk to the daughter Jeannette (Gish), and he is soon in love with the little shop girl.

The French soldiers are driven from the town by the Germans and Jeannette, her father and aunt, and little Peaches (Jackson) seek safety in the cellar.

[9] The chief production was Hearts of the World, with The Great Love and The Greatest Thing in Life made with the leftover battlefield footage.

There is some speculation, however, as to whether some of the shots originated in the Salisbury Plain Training Area, in the United Kingdom, or was footage purchased by Griffith from Franz Kleinschmidt.

Previously, the Cohen Media Group listed this film as part of their holdings from Raymond Rohauer collection, but this turned out to be an error.