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The Birth of a Nation

The Fiery Cross of the Ku Klux Klan!
1915 | 193m | English

(27828 votes)

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Popularity: 1 (history)

Details

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.
Release Date: Feb 08, 1915
Director: D.W. Griffith
Writer: Thomas F. Dixon Jr., Frank E. Woods, D.W. Griffith
Genres: Drama, History, War
Keywords ku klux klan, southern usa, army, racist, silent film, american civil war, reconstruction era, controversial
Production Companies Epoch Film Co.
Box Office Revenue: $11,000,000
Budget: $100,000
Updates Updated: Feb 01, 2025
Entered: Apr 13, 2024
Trailers and Extras

International Posters

Full Credits

Name Character
Henry B. Walthall Col. Ben Cameron
Lillian Gish Stoneman's Daughter Elsie
Miriam Cooper Margaret Cameron
Mae Marsh Flora Cameron
Mary Alden Stoneman's Housekeeper Lydia
Ralph Lewis Leader of the House Hon. Austin Stoneman
George Siegmann Lieut. Governor Silas Lynch
Walter Long Gus
Joseph Henabery Abraham Lincoln
Wallace Reid Jeff, the Blacksmith
Elmer Clifton Stoneman's Elder Son Phil
Josephine Crowell Mrs. Cameron
Spottiswoode Aitken Dr. Cameron
George Beranger Wade Cameron
Maxfield Stanley Duke Cameron
Jennie Lee Mammy
Donald Crisp Gen. U.S. Grant
Howard Gaye Gen. Robert E. Lee
Sam De Grasse Charles Sumner
William De Vaull Nelse
Willam Freeman Jake / Sentry at Hospital
Tom Wilson Stoneman's Servant
Fred Burns Klansman
Allan Sears Klansman
Elmo Lincoln Blacksmith
Madame Sul-Te-Wan Black Woman
Raoul Walsh John Wilkes Booth
Robert Harron Tod
Monte Blue
Harry Braham Cameron's Male Servant
Bob Burns Klan Leader
Edmund Burns Klansman
Edward Burns Klansman
Peggy Cartwright Young Girl in Cabin
Dark Cloud General
Leonore Cooper Elsie's Maid
Charles Eagle Eye Man Who Falls from Roof
John Ford Klansman
Olga Grey Laura Keene
Alberta Lee Mrs. Lincoln
Betty Marsh Child with Dr. Cameron
Donna Montran Belle of 1861
Eugene Pallette Union Soldier
Alma Rubens Belle of 1861
Charles Stevens Volunteer
Jules White Confederate Soldier
Violet Wilkey Young Flora Cameron
David Butler Northern Soldier / Confederate Soldier
Name Job
Joseph Carl Breil Director of Photography, Music
James Smith Editor
Jon Mirsalis Original Music Composer
Rose Smith Editor
Clare West Costume Design
Walter Hoffman Special Effects, Special Effects Supervisor
Robert Goldstein Costume Design
Thomas F. Dixon Jr. Novel, Adaptation
Ralph M. DeLacy Property Master
Charles Eagle Eye Stunts
Joseph Nurnberger Music
Baron von Winther Assistant Director
Cash Shockey Painter
Herbert Sutch Assistant Director
Shorty English Carpenter
Fireworks Wilson Special Effects
Karl Brown Camera Operator
Fred Hamer Assistant Director
Thomas E. O'Brien Assistant Director
Frank Wortman Set Designer
Karl Malkames Negative Cutter
Jim Kidd Security
Hal Sullivan Assistant Property Master
Leo Nomis Stunts
Frank E. Woods Screenplay
Billy Bitzer Director of Photography
Joseph Henabery Editor, Assistant Director
Raoul Walsh Editor, Assistant Director
D.W. Griffith Writer, Director, Presenter, Editor, Original Music Composer
Monte Blue Assistant Director, Stunts
Christy Cabanne Assistant Director
Elmer Clifton Assistant Director
Jack Conway Assistant Director
Donald Crisp Assistant Director
Allan Dwan Assistant Director
Howard Gaye Assistant Director
Robert Harron Assistant Director
W.S. Van Dyke Assistant Director
Erich von Stroheim Assistant Director
Henry B. Walthall Assistant Director
Tom Wilson Assistant Director
Carli Elinor Conductor
Name Title
H.E. Aitken Executive Producer
D.W. Griffith Producer
Organization Category Person
Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 4 19 28 15
2024 5 19 30 12
2024 6 17 31 8
2024 7 19 35 10
2024 8 15 26 9
2024 9 11 16 7
2024 10 18 38 9
2024 11 15 33 7
2024 12 15 29 10
2025 1 16 33 9
2025 2 11 15 3
2025 3 5 14 1
2025 4 3 6 1
2025 5 4 7 2
2025 6 2 4 1
2025 7 3 11 1
2025 8 2 4 1
2025 9 2 3 1
2025 10 2 2 1

Trending Position


Year Month High Avg
2025 4 822 822

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Reviews

prabhushakti
10.0

He achieved what no other known man has ever achieved. To watch his work is like being witness to the beginning of melody, or the first conscious use of the lever or the wheel; the emergence, coordination, and first eloquence of language; thebirth of an art: and to realize that this is all the work ... of one man. - James Agee Griffith demonstrated to every filmmaker and moviegoer who followed him what a movie was, and what a movie could be. - Roger Ebert

Jun 23, 2021