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Directed By
D.W. Griffith, D.W. Griffith
Written By:
Thomas F. Dixon Jr.
Cast:
Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall, Walter Long, Joseph Henabery, Elmer Clifton, George Beranger, Robert Harron, Mary Alden, Miriam Cooper, Ralph Lewis, Spottiswoode Aitken, Josephine Crowell, George Siegmann, Wallace Reid
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The Birth of a Nation (1915)
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America's Racist History
Probably the first epic film ever made, D.W. Griffith's masterpiece is the story of the Civil War and its aftermath in South Carolina.
Watching this three hour silent film is one of the most aggravating, offensive and undoubtedly historical film experiences I have ever had. It is an often painful film to watch because it is trying to convince the audience that black people are better off being slaves.
The theme of this movie is that without the Ku Klux Klan, America would have been run down by drunk, idiotic, power-hungry black men. These men would have raped all the white women, killed all the white men and left America a sad wreck of what it once was.
The film gives the worst depiction of black people I have ever seen. Any black character with any action, lines or significance is played by a white actor or actress in blackface. The only time we actually see real black actors in the film is when they are dancing or drinking.
Yes, I know this film was made in 1915. But there is simply no excuse for such a blatantly racist re-writing of history. Griffith wants us to feel like the Civil War almost ruined America, that without it the South would be serene and peaceful. Our hero is the man who invents the KKK!
As a film, the acting is bad, even for a silent movie. The war scenes are very good and the crowd scenes set the standard for years to come. It is a well constructed drama that is far too long and lags in the last 2 hours. The white characters all look the same and thus the love stories get very confusing.
I can't give a high grade to such a racist movie, I simply cannot.
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 | Andy
May 4, 2007 1:25 AM
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| I understand the discussion of the influence, but it's not a great movie. Too racist |
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