2015 marks the centenary of the release of the controversial, yet extremely significant American silent epic, The Birth of a Nation, by D.W. Griffith. Griffith is often considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of cinema having been credited with creating and perfecting cinematic devices such as the flash-back, the iris shot, the mask and cross-cutting.

The Birth of a Nation covers a period of several years and is centered on the relationship of two families during the Civil War and Reconstruction-US era. Dividing friends and destroying families, The Civil War is minor in its disruption compared to the anarchy which follows in the black-ruled South post-war.  The film was released to great commercial success, being one of the highest grossing films of the Silent era, but was widely-debated and often condemned due to its portrayal of the Ku Klux Klan as a heroic force. The film is attributed to launching the career of Lillian Gish, who worked closely with Griffith for many years, and who was also known as ‘The First Lady of American Cinema’.

Extras:

• Two short films by D W Griffith; The Rose of Kentucky (1911) and The Coward (1911)
• The Drummer of the 8^th (1913) – short film starring future Oscar winning Frank Borzage (A Farewell to Arms)
• Stolen Glory (1912) – a comedy starring Ford Sterling filmed against the backdrop of a parade of Union Civil War veterans
• 1930 re-release title sequence and short archival introduction by D W Griffith
• Photoplay orchestral recording sessions
• Out-takes and original camera tests
• D W Griffith on Lux Radio Theatre
• BFI Southbank roundtable discussion (2015)
• A Personal Appreciation of Birth of a Nation by film scholar Melvyn Stokes
• Fully illustrated booklet with news essays and full credits

Cast and Crew:

Directed by D W Griffith (Intolerance, Orphans of the Storm)

Cast: Lillian Gish (Duel in the Sun, The Comedians)