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The Birth of a Nation

The Birth of a Nation

The Fiery Cross of the Ku Klux Klan!

19155.93h 15m

Overview

Two families, abolitionist Northerners the Stonemans and Southern landowners the Camerons, intertwine. When Confederate colonel Ben Cameron is captured in battle, nurse Elsie Stoneman petitions for his pardon. In Reconstruction-era South Carolina, Cameron founds the Ku Klux Klan, battling Elsie's congressman father and his African-American protégé, Silas Lynch.

Directed by D.W. Griffith
Written by Frank E. Woods, D.W. Griffith, Thomas F. Dixon Jr.
Produced by D.W. Griffith
Box OfficeBudget: $100KRevenue: $11.0M

Top Cast

Lillian Gish

Lillian Gish

Stoneman's Daughter Elsie

Mae Marsh

Mae Marsh

Flora Cameron

Henry B. Walthall

Henry B. Walthall

Col. Ben Cameron

Miriam Cooper

Miriam Cooper

Margaret Cameron

Mary Alden

Mary Alden

Stoneman's Housekeeper Lydia

Ralph Lewis

Ralph Lewis

Leader of the House Hon. Austin Stoneman

George Siegmann

George Siegmann

Lieut. Governor Silas Lynch

Walter Long

Walter Long

Gus

Robert Harron

Robert Harron

Tod

Wallace Reid

Wallace Reid

Jeff, the Blacksmith

Themes & Keywords

armyku klux klansouthern usasilent filmamerican civil warreconstruction erahistorical epicinspirationalawestruckoptimisticfeel-good

About The Birth of a Nation

The Birth of a Nation is a drama, history, war film released in 1915 exploring themes of army, ku klux klan, southern usa, silent film, american civil war, reconstruction era. Directed by D.W. Griffith, it stars Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall. Two families, abolitionist Northerners the Stonemans and Southern landowners the Camerons, intertwine. When Confederate colonel Ben Cameron is captured in battle, nurse Elsie Stoneman petitions for his pardon. In Reconstruction-era South Carolina, Cameron founds the Ku Klux Klan, battling Elsie's congressman father and his African-American protégé, Silas Lynch.

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