Analyzing The Silent Film 'The Birth Of A Nation'

The silent film I chose to watch “The Birth of a Nation” is a 1915 American drama, directed by D.W Griffith, produced by D.W. Griffith and Harry Aitken, co-written by D.W Griffith, T.F. Dixon J.R. and Frank E. Woods, and was based on the novel and play “The Clansman” both by T.F. Dixon J.R. It was originally released on February 8, 1915 and was presented in two parts, separated by an intermission, as it is over three hours long. The film follows the lives of two families in Civil War era America. The pro Union, northern Stoneman’s and the pro Confederacy, southern Cameron’s over the course of several years. On a visit to the Cameron’s southern estate the eldest Stoneman son Phil falls in love with Margaret Cameron. Correspondingly, Ben
Some of the actors in the movie were alive and maybe even at actual Civil War events which, along with the exterior shots showing a world so close to the time period, I felt brought a sense of reality to the picture. I did not find “The Birth of a Nation” to be predictable but I did find it, at times, to be a little hard to follow some of the plot details. This though, may because I am not in tune with watching silent films as this was the first. That being said I was pleasantly surprised at the continuity of the piece I felt that the story was told well and at a smooth pace, especially for such a long film with the constraints and challenges they faced in those times. As a first-timer I also felt that within it’s silence there was an intense intimacy with the actors as their characters, thus making them more real as well. There were some very strong acting performances given. Notably Lillian Gish as Elsie who was featured in much of the film with some important close-ups with intense facial expressions. Also giving a great performance was Mae Marsh as Flora Cameron, Henry B. Walthall as Ben Cameron, Ralph Lewis as Austin Stoneman, George Siegmann as Silas Lynch and Walter Long as