The Birth of a Nation

The Birth of a Nation (1915)

Directed by D.W. Griffith

3h 15m

Drama

| History

| War

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.

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

Crew

Frank E. Woods

Frank E. Woods

Screenplay

Billy Bitzer

Billy Bitzer

Director of Photography

D.W. Griffith

D.W. Griffith

Writer

Joseph Henabery

Joseph Henabery

Editor

Rose Smith

Rose Smith

Editor

Raoul Walsh

Raoul Walsh

Editor

Clare West

Clare West

Costume Design

Joseph Carl Breil

Joseph Carl Breil

Director of Photography

Jon Mirsalis

Jon Mirsalis

Original Music Composer

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