The Birth Of A Nation (1915)
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A sprawling epic drama chronicles the intertwined fates of two families during the American Civil War and Reconstruction eras.
The story
The Birth of a Nation is a sprawling epic drama that chronicles the relationship of two families—the pro-Union Stonemans and the pro-Confederacy Camerons—over the course of several years during the American Civil War and Reconstruction eras. The narrative weaves together elements of fiction and history, depicting the tumultuous period of the late 19th century. The film also includes a depiction of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth, setting the stage for a grand historical narrative that explores the deep divisions and cultural shifts of the post-war United States.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film chronicles the relationship of two families in the American Civil War and Reconstruction eras over the course of several years—the pro-Union (Northern) Stonemans and the pro-Confederacy (Southern) Camerons. The narrative is part fiction and part history, and it includes a depiction of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth. The film features a variety of characters, including the Stoneman family (Elsie, Austin, and Phil) and the Cameron family (Colonel Benjamin, Margaret, and the children). It portrays the Ku Klux Klan as a heroic force that protects white women and maintains white supremacy, while depicting African Americans as unintelligent and sexually aggressive. The film was a massive commercial success and is noted for its technical innovations, such as the use of closeups, fadeouts, and a musical score for an orchestra.
- First release year
- 1915
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- Silent film; English intertitles
- Directors
- D. W. Griffith
- Writers
- D. W. Griffith · screenplay; Frank E. Woods · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Lillian Gish · Elsie Stoneman; Mae Marsh · Flora Cameron, the pet (baby) sister; Henry B. Walthall · Colonel Benjamin Cameron ("The Little Colonel"); Miriam Cooper · Margaret Cameron, elder sister; Ralph Lewis · Austin Stoneman, Leader of the House; George Siegmann · Silas Lynch; Walter Long · Gus, the renegade; Wallace Reid · Jeff, the blacksmith
- Genres
- epic drama
- Themes
- Civil War; Reconstruction; Racism
- Tone and mood
- Epic; Controversial
- Premise and plot tags
- Historical Drama; Epic
- Source material / true-story basis
- Thomas Dixon Jr.'s 1905 novel and play The Clansman: A Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan
- Reception
- The film was a massive commercial success and a landmark of film history, lauded for its technical virtuosity. However, it has been widely condemned for its racist depictions and has been called the most controversial film ever made in the United States.
- Production trivia
- It was the first non-serial American 12-reel film ever made.; It was the first American-made film to have a musical score for an orchestra.; It was screened inside the White House, where it was watched by President Woodrow Wilson.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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