The Birth of a Nation (1916 film)
 Theatrical release poster | ||
| Starring |
| |
| Directed by | D. W. Griffith | |
| Produced by | D. W. Griffith
Harry Aitken | |
| Editing by | D. W. Griffith | |
| Studio | David W. Griffith Corp. | |
| Based on | The Clansman: An Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan (The Clansman) by Thomas Dixon Jr. | |
| Music by | Joseph Carl Breil | |
| Cinematography | Billy Bitzer | |
| Distributed by | Epoch Producing Co. | |
| Released | Feb 08, 1915 in US | |
| Runtime | 12 reels (133–193 minutes) Runtime depends on projection speed ranging 16 to 24 frames per second | |
| Country | United States | |
| language | Silent film with English intertitles | |
| Budget | $100,000+ | |
| Gross | $50–100 million | |
The Birth of a Nation is a 1915 American silent epic drama film Directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish, the film's screenplay is adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr.'s 1905 novel and play, The Clansman: A Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan. Griffith co-wrote the script with Frank E. Woods and produced the film along with Harry Aitken.
The Birth of a Nation stands as a milestone in film history, celebrated for its technical mastery. It was the first non-serial American 12-reel film ever produced. Its storyline, blending fiction with history, depicts the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth and follows the intertwined lives of two families during the Civil War and Reconstruction— the pro-Union (Northern) Stonemans and the pro-Confederacy (Southern) Camerons— over several years. Originally shown in two parts with an intermission, it was also the first American film to feature a musical score played by an orchestra. The film pioneered techniques such as closeups and fadeouts, and it includes a meticulously staged battle scene with hundreds of extras made to resemble thousands. It also came with a 13-page Souvenir Program. Notably, it was the first motion picture to be screened inside the White House, viewed there by President Woodrow Wilson, his family, and members of his cabinet.
The film was controversial even before its release and has remained so since; it has been called "the most controversial film ever made in the United States," as well as "the most reprehensibly racist film in Hollywood history." The film has been condemned for its racist portrayal of African Americans. It depicts black characters—many of whom are played by white actors in blackface—as unintelligent and sexually aggressive toward white women. The Ku Klux Klan (KKK), a white supremacist hate group, is shown as a heroic force that protects white women and upholds white supremacy.
Popular among white audiences nationwide upon its release, the film's success was both a result of and a factor in racial segregation across the U.S. In response to its portrayals of black people and Civil War history, African Americans nationwide organized protests. In Boston and other cities, black leaders and the NAACP led efforts to ban the film, arguing it fueled racial tensions and could incite violence. It was also barred from release in Ohio and in the cities of Chicago, Denver, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Minneapolis. Griffith's outrage over censorship efforts motivated him to produce *Intolerance* the following year.
Despite its divisiveness, The Birth of a Nation was a massive commercial success nationwide—earning far more than any previous film—and it had a profound impact on both the film industry and American culture. Adjusted for inflation, it remains one of the highest-grossing films ever made. The film has been recognized as an inspiration for the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan, which occurred only a few months after its debut. In 1992, the Library of Congress named it 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant' and included it in the National Film Registry.
Plot
Part 1: Civil War of United States
The film's portrayal of the Siege of Petersburg, led by Ben Cameron. Phil, the elder son of the Stonemans, a Northern family, falls in love with Margaret Cameron, the daughter of a Southern family, during a visit to the Cameron estate in South Carolina. There, Margaret's brother Ben idolizes a picture of Elsie Stoneman, Phil's sister. When the Civil War begins, young men from both families enlist in their respective armies. The younger Stoneman and two Cameron brothers die in combat. Meanwhile, a Black militia attacks the Cameron home but is routed by Confederate soldiers who save the women. Leading the final charge at the Siege of Petersburg, Ben Cameron earns the nickname of "the Little Colonel" but is also wounded and captured. He is then taken to a Union military hospital in Washington, D.C.
Part 2: Reconstruction
Stoneman and his protégé, Silas Lynch, a psychopathic mulatto, head to South Carolina to observe the implementation of Reconstruction policies. During the election, in which Lynch is elected lieutenant governor, black voters stuff the ballot boxes while many white people are prevented from voting. The newly elected members of the South Carolina legislature are primarily black.
Hooded Klansmen catch Gus, portrayed in blackface by white actor Walter Long.
Ben fights back by forming the Ku Klux Klan. As a result, Elsie breaks up with him. While going alone into the woods to fetch water, Flora Cameron is followed by Gus, a freedman who is now a captain. Gus says that he desires to marry Flora. She rejects him, but he insists. Frightened, she flees into the forest, pursued by Gus. Trapped on a precipice, Flora threatens to jump if he comes any closer. When he advances, she leaps to her death. While searching for Flora, Ben sees her jump. He holds her as she dies and carries her body to the Cameron home. Gus then hides in a saloon, which Jeff the blacksmith enters. A brawl ensues and Gus shoots Jeff then flees. In response, the Klan hunts down Gus, tries him, finds him guilty, lynches him, and delivers his corpse to Silas Lynch's house.
After discovering Gus's murder, Lynch orders a crackdown on the Klan. He also pushes through legislation to allow mixed-race marriages. Dr. Cameron is arrested for possessing Ben's Klan uniform, now considered a capital offense. He is rescued by Phil Stoneman and some of his Black servants. Together with Margaret Cameron, they flee. When their wagon breaks down, they head through the woods to a small hut inhabited by two former Union soldiers who agree to hide them.
Congressman Stoneman, Elsie's father, leaves to avoid being linked to Lynch's crackdown. Elsie, upon learning of Dr. Cameron's arrest, visits Lynch to plead for his release. Lynch, who has an eye on Elsie, tries to force her into marriage, causing her to faint. Stoneman returns, prompting Elsie to be moved to another room. Although initially glad when Lynch says he wants to marry a white woman, Stoneman becomes angry when Lynch states he wants to marry Elsie. She breaks a window and screams for help, attracting the attention of undercover Klansman spies. The Klan, led by Ben, rides in to take control of the town. When Elsie's plight reaches Ben, he and others go to rescue her. Lynch is captured as his militia attacks the hut where the Camerons are hiding, but the Klansmen, with Ben leading, save them. On election day, Black men face intimidation by a line of armed, mounted Klansmen outside their homes, forcing them to stay home instead of voting. Margaret Cameron marries Phil Stoneman, and Elsie Stoneman marries Ben Cameron.
Cinematic Innovations
Griffith pioneered or perfected many film techniques that shaped modern cinema: Cross-cutting (parallel editing to show simultaneous action)
- Close-ups and medium shots
- Epic scale battle sequences
- Large-scale set pieces and crowd scenes
- Narrative structure that influenced decades of filmmaking
Because of this, The Birth of a Nation is often regarded as the first true feature-length film and a cornerstone of cinematic storytelling.
Notes
This article has been abridged and edited using Grammarly to make it more user-friendly, and to standardize spelling and text formatting. R/
External links
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:The_Birth_of_a_Nation_(1916_film) ]
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