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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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Flawed Film Classic.
The Birth of a Nation
The film is great. The film is an outstanding technical achievement for the time. And the modern techniques used to tell story on film where first displayed here. The usage of transitioning shots inter cut with action which today is now call a jump cut (especially the actions scenes) was a technique never.. I repeat never done before this film. It was the first film to use deep-focus. It was the first feature to be over 100 minutes long. Those are the reasons why it's great and important. Most old films have objectionable things in them but it doesn't take away from there greatness.
I don't have that much of a problem with anyone taking offense to the fact that the actors portraying blacks are all white in black face. But it is 1915 and this should be expected unless you've been living in historical fantasy land. When Bing Crosby sings that Christmas classic White Christmas (which should have told you something righ there) in "Holiday Inn" every ignores the fact that there is a black face routine in that film.
I love to hear white reviewers criticize "Birth of a Nation" but give films like "Gone with the Wind" a pass. Now you could try to argue that the racism is more in your face in this film, but then I would say that you are full of it. "Gone with the Wind" is a great film but you still have to disregard the fact that it's romanticizing the Old South in ways that are actually more offensive because of the mindset and attitude that the characters in that movie have. The film has the same exact mindset of "Birth of a Nation" in that in directly or indirectly portrays blacks as being better of as slaves or maybe even preferring it.
There is a scene in 1989's Glory starring Matthew Broderick and Denzel Washington where they meet up with another black regiment and the other black regiment does the same exact thing that the black union soldiers portrayed in "Birth of a Nation" do when they raid and pillage the white township! Why would they show this? Because it happened! I suppose the only difference is that in "Glory" when one of the black soilders tried to rape a white woman he gets shot by the Union soilder who just let him burn her house, but technically saves her. In "Birth of Nation" the KKK actually rescues the white woman.
Or how about the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King where all of a sudden Sauran sends African men riding giant African elephants to battle! Do I think all of those films are great? Yes. Do I think those films have flaws? Sure but it doesn't take away from their achievement. If you can't be objective and judge a film on its merits that fine, but be consistent.
Birth of a Nation is told from a racist slant, but it does not take away from the technical achievements of the film.
Will I ever call D.W. Griffith a master? Nope.
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 | Jessica Film Junkie
May 13, 2007 4:34 PM
also wrote a review of The Birth of a Nation 
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Yes there are a lot of technical advances, but there are other Griffith films that show this as well, and I cannot separate from the themes of this film. There will black actors playing black characters in harold lloyd movies a few years after this, what would have been the greatest achievement griffith could have made would be casting black actors, then maybe it would be viewable. Instead he chose to be doubly offensive.
You can lambast me all you want for my review, feel free to call me silly, but I was offended by this movie. I don't appreciate you implying that it is because of white guilt, 'Gone With The Wind' is racist surely, many films are sexist and racist and offensive and still considered great, 'Birth of a Nation' makes a caricature of human sacrifice, of any humanity that is not white humanity. It offended me and made me feel sick and I will not apologize for that. |
 | Bobby B
Apr 3, 2008 11:56 PM
also wrote a review of The Birth of a Nation 
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| "Technical achievements" do not a great film make. Let's say we take race out of the equation: the characters are woefully two-dimensional and have nothing whatsoever to do with reality -- even reality in 1915. Not only is there no trace of moral ambiguity in the movie, the bad guys (i.e. Black people and Northeners) do everything but twirl their goddamn mustaches. It consistently sets up ridiculously unrealistic situations and follows through with them to a ridiculous conclusion. It's history is shoddy, it's intent diabolical AND it's virulently and deliberately racist! Why does this movie get a pass on that crap? f*ck, step out of film school for a second and look at what's in front of you. Bullsh*t! And no I don't have time for f*cking Gone with the Wind either! |
 | Andy
May 13, 2007 12:54 PM
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| Birth of a Nation has it's place in film history, but I can't call a movie that pushes the KKK as heroes great. |
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May 13, 2007 5:13 PM
I didn't imply "white guilt" because if I felt that way then trust me I would have said it.
Plus you haven't addressed any of the points I made in my review about say a scene in 'Glory' thats similar to a scene in 'Birth of a Nation'.
And as far as film making a caricature of any humanity that isn't white humanity there are plenty of films that do this. Why don't I hear you complaining about the use of white actors in 'West Side Story'. Isn't that more offensive because it suggests that only white humanity can best tell stories of drama, love, etc..
I just want people to be consistant when they judge films.
May 14, 2007 1:16 AM
As for 'Glory', I haven't seen that, so I can't comment.
As for 'West Side Story', there is a lot wrong with the casting of that film, but the themes of the film deal with how Latin Americans are treated in the USA. Also, I love the work Natalie Wood does in that movie, her acting is good and her character sympathetic and layered.
You certainly know a lot about my reviews. Thanks for the comments. It is a great thing to be able to debate about films like this and 'Birth' is certainly one of the most controversial films of all time.