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The Birth of a Nation poster
Film 44 of 498 on the Screen Path

The Birth of a Nation

The Fiery Cross of the Ku Klux Klan!

1915195 minutesDrama, History and WarDirected by D.W. Griffith
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About the film

The Birth of a Nation at a glance.

Screen Path places this 1915 film at stop 44 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.

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.

Principal cast

Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper and Mary Alden

Key craft credits

Billy Bitzer (director of photography), Joseph Carl Breil (director of photography), D.W. Griffith (editor), James Smith (editor) and Joseph Henabery (editor)

Director
D.W. Griffith
Release
1915-03-08
Runtime
195 minutes
Genres
Drama, History and War
Country
United States
Quiz
50 questions
The Screen Path journey

Before. After. Remember.

The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.

01

Before you watch

Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.

Spoiler-free
02

After the film

Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.

Contains spoilers
03

Quiz yourself

Answer 50 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.

50 questions in this journey

Citizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.

Start the example →
Full cast

Full cast

  • Lillian GishCharacter: Stoneman's Daughter Elsie
  • Mae MarshCharacter: Flora Cameron
  • Henry B. WalthallCharacter: Col. Ben Cameron
  • Miriam CooperCharacter: Margaret Cameron
  • Mary AldenCharacter: Stoneman's Housekeeper Lydia
  • Ralph LewisCharacter: Leader of the House Hon. Austin Stoneman
  • George SiegmannCharacter: Lieut. Governor Silas Lynch
  • Walter LongCharacter: Gus
  • Robert HarronCharacter: Tod
  • Wallace ReidCharacter: Jeff, the Blacksmith
  • Joseph HenaberyCharacter: Abraham Lincoln
  • Elmer CliftonCharacter: Stoneman's Elder Son Phil
Full crew

Full crew

  • D.W. GriffithCredits: Writer, Producer, Original Music Composer, Editor, Presenter, Director
  • Frank E. WoodsCredits: Screenplay
  • H.E. AitkenCredits: Executive Producer
  • Joseph Carl BreilCredits: Director of Photography, Music
  • Jon MirsalisCredits: Original Music Composer
  • Billy BitzerCredits: Director of Photography
  • Joseph HenaberyCredits: Editor, Assistant Director
  • James SmithCredits: Editor
  • Rose SmithCredits: Editor
  • Raoul WalshCredits: Editor, Assistant Director
  • Robert GoldsteinCredits: Costume Design
  • Clare WestCredits: Costume Design
  • Walter HoffmanCredits: Special Effects, Special Effects Supervisor
  • Thomas F. Dixon Jr.Credits: Novel, Adaptation, Original Film Writer
  • Monte BlueCredits: Assistant Director, Stunts
  • Christy CabanneCredits: Assistant Director
  • Elmer CliftonCredits: Assistant Director
  • Jack ConwayCredits: Assistant Director
  • Donald CrispCredits: Assistant Director
  • Allan DwanCredits: Assistant Director
  • Howard GayeCredits: Assistant Director
  • Fred HamerCredits: Assistant Director
  • Robert HarronCredits: Assistant Director
  • Thomas E. O'BrienCredits: Assistant Director
  • Herbert SutchCredits: Assistant Director
  • W.S. Van DykeCredits: Assistant Director
  • Erich von StroheimCredits: Assistant Director
  • Baron von WintherCredits: Assistant Director
  • Henry B. WalthallCredits: Assistant Director
  • Tom WilsonCredits: Assistant Director
  • Ralph M. DeLacyCredits: Property Master
  • Shorty EnglishCredits: Carpenter
  • Cash ShockeyCredits: Painter
  • Frank WortmanCredits: Set Designer
  • Hal SullivanCredits: Assistant Property Master
  • Fireworks WilsonCredits: Special Effects
  • Charles Eagle EyeCredits: Stunts
  • Leo NomisCredits: Stunts
  • Karl BrownCredits: Camera Operator
  • Karl MalkamesCredits: Negative Cutter
  • Carli ElinorCredits: Conductor
  • Joseph NurnbergerCredits: Music
  • Jim KiddCredits: Security

Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.