First film with parallel storylines in different timelines (as in Godfather Part II)?

MakeEmLaugh

Does anyone know what the first film was to have two separate, parallel storylines à la The Godfather Part II? I don't mean a shuffled chronology as in Citizen Kane, I mean two storylines, set in different time periods, which did not overlap at any stage (arguably The Godfather Part II does in its final scene, but let's leave that aside for the moment).

My first thought was D.W. Griffith's 1916 Intolerance, which intercuts four parallel timelines, but are there any others between then and The Godfather Part II?

brian_t

The Hours from 2002 would be another example. I don't think there are that many such films though.

Lots with stories told in flashback but that's not what you are looking for.

bnt

I know The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) has multiple flashbacks to a main character at different times, none of which overlap with time of the main story. Kirk Douglas stars as film producer Jonathan Shields in flashbacks only, which show how he got his allegedly negative reputation in the eyes of three other characters who have been advised to work with him. (Alleged, because the characters have nevertheless, ironically, profited from his actions. They apparently up calling him, but that's not shown in the film, it seems.)

There's an extensive essay on the film, here.