The Birth of a Nation (1915)

VHS CASE/SIDE

Length of film:  195 Minutes (Alternate Version: 190 Minutes)  (DVD: 187 Minutes)

Rated: PG   

Genre:  Drama, War, History

Director: D.W. Griffith

Starring: Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, Mary Alden, Ralph Lewis, George Siegmann

IMDB Rank: 6.3/10

Part 1 Time:  91 Minutes  (Alternate Version: 87 Minutes) (DVD: N/A)

Part 2 Time:  104 Minutes (Alternate Version: 103 Minutes) (DVD: N/A)

*** As a silent film, there is no dialogue, but there are times where dialogue is presented in titles. For this entry the dialouge presented in the titles will be used.

Where does the first part end?  The Cameron family read the newspaper headlines outlining the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “Our best friend is gone. What is to become of us now!” states Col. Ben Cameron (Henry B. Walthall) to members of the Cameron family.

First line of dialogue on the second part: Second part opens with the title “Second part-Reconstruction.” Below the tile is explanation of the current situation facing the American south following the Civil War. This is later followed by a quote from the current President (Woodrow Wilson) at the time of this films release.  

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Minimal/Somewhat as the feeling of this intermission point can vary depending on ones knowledge of history. Those who have researched American history will not be surprised by the events following post civil war, including the creation of the Ku Klux Klan and the devastation it causes for the African American populations living in the American south.

Which part is better? The film is clearly spilt into two separate sections, with part one focusing on the events of the American Civil War, whereas part two addresses reconstruction and the creation of the Ku Klux Klan. Part one is better as we are able to see many of the new cinematic techniques used by D.W. Griffth, including the close-up shot, scenic long shot, and cross-cutting. Part two on the other hand, can be difficult to follow at times and his factionally inaccurate, portraying the south as victims and highlighting Ku Klux Klan and many of their activities in a positive light.

Academy Awards: None- event not established

National Film Registry: 1992