IMDb > The Birth of a Nation (1915)
The Birth of a Nation
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Birth of a Nation (1915) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 32 | slideshow) Videos
The Birth of a Nation (1915) -- The Civil War divides friends and destroys families, but that's nothing compared to the anarchy in the black-ruled South after the war.

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   8,243 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Contact:
View company contact information for The Birth of a Nation on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 March 1915 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Mighty Spectacle more
Plot:
The Civil War divides friends and destroys families, but that's nothing compared to the anarchy in the black-ruled South after the war. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
NewsDesk:
(11 articles)
Review: TCM's "Gigantic World Of Epics"
 (From CinemaRetro. 21 December 2009, 2:40 AM, PST)

Diamond of Hollywood
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 7 December 2009, 2:46 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Good start but degrades into lurid melodrama more (255 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Lillian Gish ... Elsie Stoneman

Mae Marsh ... Flora Cameron
Henry B. Walthall ... Col. Ben Cameron (as Henry Walthall)
Miriam Cooper ... Margaret Cameron
Mary Alden ... Lydia Brown
Ralph Lewis ... Austin Stoneman
George Siegmann ... Silas Lynch (as George Seigmann)
Walter Long ... Gus
Robert Harron ... Tod Stoneman
Wallace Reid ... Jeff (blacksmith) (as Wallace Reed)
Joseph Henabery ... Abraham Lincoln / 13 other bits (as Jos. Henabery)
Elmer Clifton ... Phil Stoneman
Josephine Crowell ... Mrs. Cameron
Spottiswoode Aitken ... Dr. Cameron
George Beranger ... Wade Cameron (as J.A. Beringer)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
In the Clutches of the Ku Klux Klan (USA) (cut version)
The Birth of the Nation; Or The Clansman (second copyright title)
The Clansman (USA) (Los Angeles première title)
more
Runtime:
190 min (16 fps) | USA:125 min (video version) | USA:187 min (DVD) | Argentina:165 min
Country:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Argentina:Atp | South Korea:15 (2002) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | UK:15 (video rating) | UK:U (original rating) | Sweden:15 | Canada:G (Quebec)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The excessive use of smoke-bombs in the battle scenes were to obscure the mostly empty battlefield. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The position of the window in the small cabin changes. more
Quotes:
intertitle: The white men were roused by a mere instinct of self-preservation... until at last there had sprung into existence a great Ku Klux Klan, a veritable empire of the South, to protect the Southern country. WOODROW WILSON more
Movie Connections:
Edited into Coonskin (1975) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
46 out of 67 people found the following comment useful.
Good start but degrades into lurid melodrama, 7 July 2004
Author: gkbazalo from Scottsdale, AZ

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.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (255 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Birth of a Nation (1915)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Q U E S T I O N.... please help! BhmnRhaps124
LONGEST + MOST BORING FILM I'VE EVER SEEN runawayloveruk
How is this movie not in the top 250 fish_stix03
Did Griffith know he was lying? MnemonicDevice
nat turner and kkk ashkanpashakola
'The first feature length....'(!) Bad-Show
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Gone with the Wind Abraham Lincoln Giant Cracker Crazy: Invisible Histories of the Sunshine State Major Dundee
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.