Title: The Birth of a NationGenre: Drama, History, Romance, War, Western
IMDB User Score: 7.1/10 Stars
Year: 1915
Language: English
Format: Black & White, Silent
Length: 190 minutes
Director: D.W. Griffith
Producer: D.W. Griffith
Screenplay: D.W. Griffith
Photography: G.W. Bitzer
Music: Joseph Carl Breil
Cast: Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, Mary Alden, Ralph Lewis, George Siegmann, Walter Long, Robert Harron, Wallace Reid, Joseph Henabery, Elmer Clifton, Josephine Crowell, Spottiswoode Aitken, George Beranger
Oscar: No
Oscar Nomination: No
Budget: $110,000
Revenue: $10,000,000
Reason it’s Significant:
- Simultaneously one of the most revered and reviled films ever made
- The first really important film by D.W. Griffith, signaling an end to an era of cinema, and the start of the “Griffith period”
- Is directly responsible for the re-formation of the KKK, and caused the KKK to have it’s largest estimated membership in history the year of the movie’s release
- The first historical epic ever made
- Features the first use of dramatic close-ups in history
- Features the first use of a tracking shot
- Features the very first orchestral score in a movie
- First use of parallel action scenes
- First use of crosscutting
- Features the first scene ever filmed at night
- One of the most controversial American films ever created, both for its message and the fact that it was so commercially successful. Upon release it sparked riots, one of the earliest NAACP protests, and was banned in many places.
- The first successful “feature length” film
- The highest grossing film of it’s day
- Has been chosen for preservation in the National Film Registry
- First film containing the iconic Lillian Gish/G.W. Griffith actor/director combination
- First film to be shown in the White House
- Had the largest budget of any film up to that time
- Launched a massive counter-culture of African American filmmakers
- One of the most powerful pieces of confederate propaganda (and, propaganda in general) ever created.
- Considered by many to mark the birth of modern American cinema
OH WOW. There is not enough room within this blog to discuss all that deserves to be discussed about this movie. Simply put: this movie will make your jaw drop. First, a preface: I have seen a lot of racist things in my life. I have met a lot of racist people, and I have heard a lot of outrageous racist remarks. And typically, racism doesn’t faze me. In fact, I have a tendency to get annoyed with those who overreact about racism, as I believe the reaction is what gives racism such power.
That being said, this film is RIDICULOUS. I always knew KKK members did what they did under the belief that they were performing a holy duty, but the level of delusion seen in this movie is hands down one of the most eye-opening things I’ve ever beheld. I lack the vocabulary to properly convey just how warped this movie is. It is truly something that needs to be seen to be believed. The movie essentially shows the civil war and the following abolitionist movement from the point of view of the deep southerners. It exists within its own bastardized version of history in which black people were crazed animals who took over the house of representatives, the military, and society in general after the conclusion of the civil war. Of course, the KKK is formed and rides in LITTERALLY portrayed as white knight cavaliers to save the oppressed white people who are being raped, lynched, and murdered in the streets by the crazed niggers. There is a special kind of insanity portrayed here that you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else, especially in a venue as mainstream as this. By the end of this thing, I was beginning to sympathize with the KKK. Yes, an 18 year old boy living in the 21st century, in the northern-most tip of America, with liberal political leanings was beginning to see the point of view of the KKK. I think that speaks volumes about the power of propaganda like this. I can only imagine the reassurance felt by southerners after this seeing this movie at the time of its release, especially when you keep in mind that most civil war veterans were still alive when this film came out. And the powerful effect this film did have on that audience is plainly evident in the massive boom of KKK membership that occurred that very same year. It is no coincidence. This movie is a look into the delusion of unbridled evil that may never be equaled again. The level of understanding that one gains about the nature of evil by watching this film is an enlightening experience that NEEDS to be experienced by all. You will be absolutely floored, I guarantee it.
But as ridiculous as this movie is in its message, it’s equally ridiculous in its technical and artistic merit. This movie is BEAUTIFUL. As a film student, it was a huge thrill to see dozens of some of the most common film techniques being utilized for the first time here. The budget for this film was astronomical for the time period, and it shows. The action scenes are massive, and the acting is intense. Of particular note would be the massive civil war battle scene that happens towards the end of the first act. Griffith staged this scene masterfully. With the use of hundreds of explosions and smoke bombs he is able to make a few hundred extras look like a few thousand. The pan shots are breathtaking to behold. One shot in particular that stands out in my mind is the shot of one of the protagonists rushing across the front line of the battlefield and clogging an enemy cannon by shoving a confederate flag down the barrel of it. Come on, that is just epic. Basically, this movie needs to be experienced on every level. Just, do it, see this movie. If you sit through it, you’ll come out the other end a more enlightened human being. Just don’t let the culture shock kick your ass in the process.
Producer: D.W. Griffith
Screenplay: D.W. Griffith
Photography: G.W. Bitzer
Music: Joseph Carl Breil
Cast: Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, Mary Alden, Ralph Lewis, George Siegmann, Walter Long, Robert Harron, Wallace Reid, Joseph Henabery, Elmer Clifton, Josephine Crowell, Spottiswoode Aitken, George Beranger
Oscar: No
Oscar Nomination: No
Budget: $110,000
Revenue: $10,000,000
Reason it’s Significant:
- Simultaneously one of the most revered and reviled films ever made
- The first really important film by D.W. Griffith, signaling an end to an era of cinema, and the start of the “Griffith period”
- Is directly responsible for the re-formation of the KKK, and caused the KKK to have it’s largest estimated membership in history the year of the movie’s release
- The first historical epic ever made
- Features the first use of dramatic close-ups in history
- Features the first use of a tracking shot
- Features the very first orchestral score in a movie
- First use of parallel action scenes
- First use of crosscutting
- Features the first scene ever filmed at night
- One of the most controversial American films ever created, both for its message and the fact that it was so commercially successful. Upon release it sparked riots, one of the earliest NAACP protests, and was banned in many places.
- The first successful “feature length” film
- The highest grossing film of it’s day
- Has been chosen for preservation in the National Film Registry
- First film containing the iconic Lillian Gish/G.W. Griffith actor/director combination
- First film to be shown in the White House
- Had the largest budget of any film up to that time
- Launched a massive counter-culture of African American filmmakers
- One of the most powerful pieces of confederate propaganda (and, propaganda in general) ever created.
- Considered by many to mark the birth of modern American cinema
OH WOW. There is not enough room within this blog to discuss all that deserves to be discussed about this movie. Simply put: this movie will make your jaw drop. First, a preface: I have seen a lot of racist things in my life. I have met a lot of racist people, and I have heard a lot of outrageous racist remarks. And typically, racism doesn’t faze me. In fact, I have a tendency to get annoyed with those who overreact about racism, as I believe the reaction is what gives racism such power.
That being said, this film is RIDICULOUS. I always knew KKK members did what they did under the belief that they were performing a holy duty, but the level of delusion seen in this movie is hands down one of the most eye-opening things I’ve ever beheld. I lack the vocabulary to properly convey just how warped this movie is. It is truly something that needs to be seen to be believed. The movie essentially shows the civil war and the following abolitionist movement from the point of view of the deep southerners. It exists within its own bastardized version of history in which black people were crazed animals who took over the house of representatives, the military, and society in general after the conclusion of the civil war. Of course, the KKK is formed and rides in LITTERALLY portrayed as white knight cavaliers to save the oppressed white people who are being raped, lynched, and murdered in the streets by the crazed niggers. There is a special kind of insanity portrayed here that you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else, especially in a venue as mainstream as this. By the end of this thing, I was beginning to sympathize with the KKK. Yes, an 18 year old boy living in the 21st century, in the northern-most tip of America, with liberal political leanings was beginning to see the point of view of the KKK. I think that speaks volumes about the power of propaganda like this. I can only imagine the reassurance felt by southerners after this seeing this movie at the time of its release, especially when you keep in mind that most civil war veterans were still alive when this film came out. And the powerful effect this film did have on that audience is plainly evident in the massive boom of KKK membership that occurred that very same year. It is no coincidence. This movie is a look into the delusion of unbridled evil that may never be equaled again. The level of understanding that one gains about the nature of evil by watching this film is an enlightening experience that NEEDS to be experienced by all. You will be absolutely floored, I guarantee it.
But as ridiculous as this movie is in its message, it’s equally ridiculous in its technical and artistic merit. This movie is BEAUTIFUL. As a film student, it was a huge thrill to see dozens of some of the most common film techniques being utilized for the first time here. The budget for this film was astronomical for the time period, and it shows. The action scenes are massive, and the acting is intense. Of particular note would be the massive civil war battle scene that happens towards the end of the first act. Griffith staged this scene masterfully. With the use of hundreds of explosions and smoke bombs he is able to make a few hundred extras look like a few thousand. The pan shots are breathtaking to behold. One shot in particular that stands out in my mind is the shot of one of the protagonists rushing across the front line of the battlefield and clogging an enemy cannon by shoving a confederate flag down the barrel of it. Come on, that is just epic. Basically, this movie needs to be experienced on every level. Just, do it, see this movie. If you sit through it, you’ll come out the other end a more enlightened human being. Just don’t let the culture shock kick your ass in the process.
One quick question: where do you get that list of facts for your 'reasons it's worth watching'? I'm asking because there are a few things I think might be somewhat inaccurate in there. For one, it's not really the first historical epic, if you count the Italian Cabiria (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0003740/), which came out a full year before this one. Second, Lilian Gish and D.W. Griffith had been working together since An Unseen Enemy (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0002553/) in 1912.
ReplyDeleteI hope I don't come across as a jerk, or something bad, though. I find this whole endeavour to be quite interesting and your writing does a good job of showing how you felt about the movie without trying too hard. Even if I don't really agree with you on this particular movie. Frankly, I thought it was mind-numbingly boring, controversial content or not. The best part of the movie is how, for the next few years, Griffith seemingly made movies to show he isn't a racist (i.e. Intolerance and Broken Blossoms).
Anyway, keep it up, I'll definitely be following this.
Thank you for the feedback. For the list of facts, I write them in my own words after doing a small bit of research from both the book and some internet pages such as IMDB.
ReplyDeleteWhenever you say that a movie was the "first" to do something you sometimes have to take it with a grain of salt, especially when it comes to genres. Genres can be somewhat nebulous in definition, especially when you're referring to this time period where boundaries were still being established and guidelines being set for what the medium could do. So, you do make a fair point. I suppose it should read "considered by many to be the first historical epic"
Good point about the time period. Especially when one keeps in mind that so many movies from that period are still lost and that some of them may be even earlier examples of historical epics or first uses of techniques. And maybe some people even consider The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0132134/) as the very first historical epic.
ReplyDelete