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The Birth of a Nation

  • 1915
  • TV-PG
  • 3h 15m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
26K
YOUR RATING
The Birth of a Nation (1915)
DramaHistoryWar

The Stoneman family finds its friendship with the Camerons affected by the Civil War, both fighting in opposite armies. The development of the war in their lives plays through to Lincoln's a... Read allThe Stoneman family finds its friendship with the Camerons affected by the Civil War, both fighting in opposite armies. The development of the war in their lives plays through to Lincoln's assassination and the birth of the Ku Klux Klan.The Stoneman family finds its friendship with the Camerons affected by the Civil War, both fighting in opposite armies. The development of the war in their lives plays through to Lincoln's assassination and the birth of the Ku Klux Klan.

  • Director
    • D.W. Griffith
  • Writers
    • Thomas Dixon Jr.
    • D.W. Griffith
    • Frank E. Woods
  • Stars
    • Lillian Gish
    • Mae Marsh
    • Henry B. Walthall
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    26K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • D.W. Griffith
    • Writers
      • Thomas Dixon Jr.
      • D.W. Griffith
      • Frank E. Woods
    • Stars
      • Lillian Gish
      • Mae Marsh
      • Henry B. Walthall
    • 386User reviews
    • 76Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Videos1

    How 'Antebellum' Began as a Timely Nightmare of the Present Day
    Interview 3:49
    Watch How 'Antebellum' Began as a Timely Nightmare of the Present Day

    Photos92

    The Birth of a Nation (1915)
    The Birth of a Nation (1915)
    The Birth of a Nation (1915)
    The Birth of a Nation (1915)
    Joseph Henabery, Alberta Lee, and Raoul Walsh in The Birth of a Nation (1915)
    Lillian Gish, Elmer Clifton, Miriam Cooper, and Henry B. Walthall in The Birth of a Nation (1915)
    The Birth of a Nation (1915)
    Lillian Gish, Josephine Crowell, and Henry B. Walthall in The Birth of a Nation (1915)
    The Birth of a Nation (1915)
    The Birth of a Nation (1915)
    The Birth of a Nation (1915)
    The Birth of a Nation (1915)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lillian Gish
    Lillian Gish
    • Elsie - Stoneman's Daughter
    Mae Marsh
    Mae Marsh
    • Flora Cameron - The Pet Sister
    Henry B. Walthall
    Henry B. Walthall
    • Col. Ben Cameron aka The Little Colonel
    • (as Henry Walthall)
    Miriam Cooper
    Miriam Cooper
    • Margaret Cameron - The Elder Sister
    Mary Alden
    Mary Alden
    • Lydia Brown - Stoneman's Mulatto Housekeeper
    Ralph Lewis
    Ralph Lewis
    • Hon. Austin Stoneman - Leader of the House
    George Siegmann
    George Siegmann
    • Silas Lynch - Mulatto Lieut. Governor
    • (as George Seigmann)
    Walter Long
    Walter Long
    • Gus - A Renegade Negro
    Robert Harron
    Robert Harron
    • Tod - Stoneman's Younger Son
    Wallace Reid
    Wallace Reid
    • Jeff - The Blacksmith
    • (as Wallace Reed)
    Joseph Henabery
    Joseph Henabery
    • Abraham Lincoln
    • (as Jos. Henabery)
    Elmer Clifton
    Elmer Clifton
    • Phil - Stoneman's Elder Son
    Josephine Crowell
    Josephine Crowell
    • Mrs. Cameron
    Spottiswoode Aitken
    Spottiswoode Aitken
    • Dr. Cameron
    George Beranger
    George Beranger
    • Wade Cameron - The Second Son
    • (as J.A. Beringer)
    Maxfield Stanley
    • Duke Cameron - The Youngest Son
    • (as John French)
    Jennie Lee
    Jennie Lee
    • Mammy - The Faithful Servant
    Donald Crisp
    Donald Crisp
    • Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
    • Director
      • D.W. Griffith
    • Writers
      • Thomas Dixon Jr.
      • D.W. Griffith
      • Frank E. Woods
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      President Woodrow Wilson is famously rumored to have responded to the film with the remark: "It is like writing history with lightning. And my only regret is that it is all so terribly true." After the film became subject of controversy due to its heroic portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan, Wilson denied through his press secretary as to having known about the nature of the film before screening it at the White House, or having ever endorsed it. Nevertheless, Wilson's published works as a historian are closely aligned with the film's negative portrayal of Reconstruction (some of his writings are even quoted onscreen in certain prints of the film). Wilson was also notably a consistent pro-segregationist as President.
    • Goofs
      Car tire tracks are visible in the KKK segment.
    • Quotes

      intertitle: This is an historical presentation of the Civil War and Reconstruction Period, and is not meant to reflect on any race or people of today.

    • Crazy credits
      The following was listed in the opening credits: A PLEA FOR THE ART OF THE MOTION PICTURE: We do not fear censorship, for we have no wish to offend with improprieties or obscenities, but we do demand, as a right, the liberty to show the dark side of wrong, that we may illuminate the bright side of virtue - the same liberty that is conceeded to the art of the written word - that art to which we owe the Bible and the works of Shakespeare.
    • Alternate versions
      In both 1921 and 1927, edited versions of the film were released to reflect current political viewpoints.
    • Connections
      Edited into Coonskin (1974)

    User reviews386

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Good start but degrades into lurid melodrama
    I have watched this film several times over the years, and I find the second half dealing with reconstruction a little harder to watch each time. Although its racist viewpoint may have mirrored much of America in 1915, it obviously was not the only viewpoint, since America had its abolitionists in the early 1800s. Griffith endorses just about every wretched stereotype put forth by the south during and after reconstruction, namely the venality of all northerners and the baseness of all blacks who did not completely bow to whites. A good example is that the disdainful depiction of the black-run state legislature is based on a cartoon, not an actual photograph or contemporary description. Griffith's portrayal of northerners and blacks is completely from the point of view of a white southern racist. Although I greatly admire much of his work, he deserved the criticism he got for this film. Aside from the political racism, much of the second half of the film is just silly melodrama, even based on 1915 standards and other Griffith work.
    helpful•82
    64
    • gkbazalo
    • Jul 7, 2004

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    • Wallace Reid---What Happened to Him?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 21, 1915 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • In the Clutches of the Ku Klux Klan
    • Filming locations
      • Calexico, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • David W. Griffith Corp.
      • Epoch Producing Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $110,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      3 hours 15 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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