The Birth of a Nation

Year:

1915

Duration:

190 min (16 fps) | USA:125 min (video version) | USA:187 min (DVD) | Argentina:165 min | 193 min (2011 Blu-ray Restoration Edition)

Genres:

Drama | History | Romance | War

IMDB rate:

6.9

Director:

D.W. Griffith

Awards:

2 wins

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1915-03-03

Filming Locations: Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Earnings

Budget: $110,000

Gross: $10,000,000 (USA)$11,000,000 (worldwide)

Cast

Actor

Character

Alma Rubens

Lillian Gish

Elsie - Stoneman's Daughter

Mae Marsh

Flora Cameron - The Pet Sister

Henry B. Walthall

Col. Ben Cameron

Miriam Cooper

Margaret Cameron - Elder Sister

Mary Alden

Lydia - Stoneman's Mulatto Housekeeper

Ralph Lewis

Hon. Austin Stoneman - Leader of the House

George Siegmann

Silas Lynch - Mulatto Lieut. Governor

Walter Long

Gus - A Renegade Negro

Robert Harron

Tod - Stoneman's Younger Son

Wallace Reid

Jeff - The Blacksmith (as Wallace Reed)

Joseph Henabery

Abraham Lincoln

Elmer Clifton

Phil - Stoneman's Elder Son

Josephine Crowell

Mrs. Cameron

Spottiswoode Aitken

Dr. Cameron

George Beranger

Wade Cameron - Second Son

Maxfield Stanley

Duke Cameron - Youngest Son

Jennie Lee

Mammy - The Faithful Servant

Donald Crisp

Gen. U.S. Grant

Howard Gaye

Gen. Robert E. Lee

Monte Blue

Minor Role (uncredited)

Harry Braham

Cameron's Male Servant

Bob Burns

Klan Leader

Edmund Burns

Klansman (uncredited)

Edward Burns

Klansman (uncredited)

Fred Burns

Klansman (uncredited)

David Butler

Northern Soldier / Confederate Soldier (uncredited)

Peggy Cartwright

Young Girl in Cabin (uncredited)

William E. Cassidy

Minor Role (uncredited)

Dark Cloud

General

Lenore Cooper

Elsie's Maid

Sam De Grasse

Sen. Charles Sumner

William De Vaull

Nelse

Charles Eagle Eye

Man Who Falls from Roof (uncredited)

John Ford

Klansman on Horse Holding Up Hood with Hand (uncredited)

Alberta Franklin

Minor Role (uncredited)

William Freeman

Jake

Gibson Gowland

Minor Role (uncredited)

Olga Grey

Laura Keene

D.W. Griffith

Himself (1931 reissue version) (uncredited)

Fred Hamer

Minor Role (uncredited)

Russell Hicks

Minor Role (uncredited)

Walter Huston

Himself (1931 reissue version) (uncredited)

Charles King

Undetermined Role (uncredited) (unconfirmed)

Alberta Lee

Mrs. Lincoln

Elmo Lincoln

Blacksmith

Betty Marsh

Child with Dr. Cameron (uncredited)

Donna Montran

Belle of 1861 (uncredited)

Eugene Pallette

Union Soldier (uncredited)

Vester Pegg

Minor Role (uncredited)

Allan Sears

Klansman (uncredited)

Charles Stevens

Volunteer (uncredited)

Madame Sul-Te-Wan

Black Woman - Dr. Cameron's Taunter (uncredited)

George Walsh

Minor Role (uncredited)

Raoul Walsh

John Wilkes Booth

Jules White

Confederate Soldier (uncredited)

Violet Wilkey

Flora Cameron as a Child

Tom Wilson

Stoneman's Servant

Mary Wynn

Minor Role (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

The film was 12 reels long.

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Hollywood's biggest grossing film until the release of Gone with the Wind (1939).

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A shortened version was reissued in 1931 featuring a prologue in which Griffith was interviewed by Walter Huston. The two had collaborated previously in "Abrahan Lincoln" in 1931.

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Goofs

The South Carolina coastline does not have bluffs overlooking the ocean.

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Car tire tracks are visible in the KKK segment.

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The position and condition of the flag on the left-hand side of Lincoln's box at Ford's Theater varies between shots. In the first long shot after Elsie points out Booth, it is hanging downwards from the middle, whereas in the shots immediately before and after, it is shown draped across the front of the left-hand railing. Similarly, after Booth shoots Lincoln and jumps from the box, the flag falls to the left-hand side of the box and an audience member is later shown pulling it down twice.

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Quotes

Mrs. Cameron: [Lincoln signs a pardon for Ben] Mr. Lincoln has given back your life to me.

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Abraham Lincoln: [Lincoln, on his policy for the defeated Southern states] I shall deal with them as though they had never been away.

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Mrs. Cameron: [Northern solider is trying to keep wounded Ben's mother out of hospital] I am going into that room to my boy. You may shoot if you want to.

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Faq

Q

Wallace Reid---What Happened to Him?

A

Chicago American, Sunday, June 17, 1962:'WHY STARS GO BROKE'by Lee Belser**********************Silent film lover Wallace Reid went the same route. He became addicted to drugs after a head injury caused him to have violent headaches. He took narcotics to relieve the pain, but still managed to live high, wide and handsome. He was the life of numerous all-night parties and the darling of female fans everywhere. He died ill and impoverished before he was 30._____________________________________

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