The Birth of a Nation (1915) Reviews
- Starring:
- Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, (more)
- Director(s):
- D.W. Griffith
Member Rating
My RatingAverage Ratings
Member Reviews
- 1
- |
- 2
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful despite the blatant rascism and bigotry, this movie was great. We know that most of the the offensive things in the movie are not true and it was directed by the son of a confederate officer. I ... Read More despite the blatant rascism and bigotry, this movie was great. We know that most of the the offensive things in the movie are not true and it was directed by the son of a confederate officer. I personally laughed at all the outrageous claims this movie made, the KKK were heroes in this movie! i constantly found myself shaking my head in disbelief with how immoral the theme was. it is truely amazing that some people can think the way Mr. Griffith did. Many people dont realize that this movie was the conerstone of how movies would be filmed and directed for the next 50 years and that is why i give it a high review. Also, this is a true epic... the amount of extras they used in this movie and the camera shots they had were incredible... keep in mind this movie was made in 1915!!! i would have given ut the full 5 stars if it wasnt silent. If you are thinking about watching it... split it into two sittings, and don't take its view towards our african-american brothers seriously Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful Sure the message starts off pro South then really evolves to a extremely biggoted view against blacks, and extremly pro Klan, but the movie does have some very important messages, espically when the ... Read More Sure the message starts off pro South then really evolves to a extremely biggoted view against blacks, and extremly pro Klan, but the movie does have some very important messages, espically when the 2 families end up fighting each other in the civil war, and it portrayed a very positive view of Lincoln. But the last half of the movie is a bad racist view of blacks as a out of control, power mad people. But for a movie thats 90+ years old, it was an amazing quality for a movie made in 1915. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful Everything they say about this film is true: it's about as racist and ignorant an American movie as I've seen, insulting to anyone with even half a brain. Yet its historical cinematic importance ... Read More Everything they say about this film is true: it's about as racist and ignorant an American movie as I've seen, insulting to anyone with even half a brain. Yet its historical cinematic importance can't be denied either.
The first part (the "war" section) is impressive in its ambitions, particularly the battlefield scenes, albeit boring after a while. The âreconstructionâ half is far more interesting, as the characters introduced previously finally start to be fleshed out. Unfortunately, the racist overtones only hinted previosly also come home to roost so that even as you become caught up in a decent (if melodramatic) adventure, you canât help but squirm at the hateful (and historically dubious) propaganda being dished out.
If you're at all interested in American film, history or the long, sad ocean of racism we're all swimming in, see this film. Censor it? Hide it from view like a particularly ugly child? No. Rather it should be seen and discussed openly. It would be a start... Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
5 out of 9 people found this review helpful My DVD player will play at 1 1/2 speed which is necessary for really long movies. This is an interesting historical (but SILENT) movie but not suitable for someone who cannot read. There are racial ... Read More My DVD player will play at 1 1/2 speed which is necessary for really long movies. This is an interesting historical (but SILENT) movie but not suitable for someone who cannot read. There are racial issues which will likely offend those who do not understand the difference between racism and bigotry. Keep in mind the social norms during the time this was made. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
4 out of 9 people found this review helpful It's obviously a historical cornerstone in American film, there's no doubt about that. And yet for all the wrong reasons! It's undoubtedly the most racist movie I've ever seen in my life. And ... Read More It's obviously a historical cornerstone in American film, there's no doubt about that. And yet for all the wrong reasons! It's undoubtedly the most racist movie I've ever seen in my life. And probably ever will see. It's completely absurd. Yet it really sinks in the point that people used to think like that. Enough of them to warrant an "epic movie" and release it. It was so bizarre that at first one just has to laugh a little. Then feel horrified. It's interesting to see how silent films were made and what techniques they used (the "telescopic lens" trick was interesting, for example), especially for a young gent such as myself. It's a real eye-opener. I'm really torn between giving it five stars for how interesting and historically important it is, and no stars for how horribly racist and absurd the content is. Since I'm a natural fence-sitter, I just went midway and gave it two and a half. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
5 out of 15 people found this review helpful My wife and I saw this film because it is on the AFI Top 100 list. Apparently it is an influential film, and used many techniques that were groundbreaking. Outside of that, the film is absurd. The ... Read More My wife and I saw this film because it is on the AFI Top 100 list. Apparently it is an influential film, and used many techniques that were groundbreaking. Outside of that, the film is absurd. The film shows the black population in the south rising up to take political power, while eating fried chicken and taking their shoes off in a court room. Not to mention the positive light that the KKK was portrayed in. This film is definitely a headshaker that will leave you stunned wishing you had hours of your life back. I recommend that you watch it in fast forward to minimize the amount of your life that you waste. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
5 out of 15 people found this review helpful I would rather stick needles in my eyes than watch this movie again. Granted for its time this movie was a technological wonder, but that is the only good thing about this slow, monotonous,racist ... Read More I would rather stick needles in my eyes than watch this movie again. Granted for its time this movie was a technological wonder, but that is the only good thing about this slow, monotonous,racist movie. It is almost painful to watch this film and I am a lover of old classic movies.
I will never get the 3 hours back that I watched this movie, please don't make the same mistake. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No | ||
4 out of 28 people found this review helpful I ordered this movie as a project for school. After reading what it was about, I thought it would be a good movie to do a paper on. When the movie started and I saw that it was a silent movie, I ... Read More I ordered this movie as a project for school. After reading what it was about, I thought it would be a good movie to do a paper on. When the movie started and I saw that it was a silent movie, I immediately turned it off and sent it back to get another movie. I understand that this movie was banned from several cities when it was originally produced. I agree with the cities that turned it away. Close this Review WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL? Yes | No |
- 1
- |
- 2
Other Ways to Watch*
* Not all titles are available for download to rent or buy.
