Directed by:
D.W. GriffithScreenplay:
D.W. GriffithCinematography:
G.W. BitzerCast:
Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, Mary Alden, Ralph Lewis, George Siegmann, Walter Long, Robert Harron, Wallace Reid, Joseph Henabery (more)Plots(1)
The Birth of a Nation begins depicting the amiable relationship between two families, Northern and Southern, and the way in which the impending Civil War intensifies the conflict of their worldviews. Following the end of the war and the assassination of President Lincoln, a lawless chaos courses throughout the Reconstruction South, and the Ku Klux Klan is formed to take on a rising black militia and impose a vengeful vigilante justice across their land and "birthright". It's a film that's deeply divisive even to the senses of a single viewer: images of painterly beauty in composition and tonal quality often exhibit a contemptuous, inflammatory coarseness with regard to subject matter; just as frequently, long tracts evince an innocent, terrifically lyrical grandeur. (Eureka Entertainment)
(more)Cast
![Lillian Gish](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/267/267993_5842ea.jpg)
Lillian Gish
USA
Best movies:
The Wind (1928)
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Through the Ages (1916)
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
![Mae Marsh](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/279/279680_87e7fa.jpg)
Mae Marsh
USA
Best movies:
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
The Song of Bernadette (1943)
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Through the Ages (1916)
![Henry B. Walthall](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/109/309/109309448_de87af.jpg)
Henry B. Walthall
USA
Best movies:
Wings (1927)
The Scarlet Letter (1926)
Chandu the Magician (1932)
![Miriam Cooper](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/948/157948899_186826.jpg)
Miriam Cooper
USA
Best movies:
![Mary Alden](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/194/161194163_0a6370.jpg)
Mary Alden
USA
Best movies:
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Through the Ages (1916)
The Birth of a Nation (1915)
The Bad Sister (1931)
Ralph Lewis
USA
Best movies:
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Through the Ages (1916)
Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)
San Francisco (1936)
![George Siegmann](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/219/161219137_9d12af.jpg)
George Siegmann
USA
Best movies:
The Man Who Laughs (1928)
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Through the Ages (1916)
The Three Musketeers (1921)
![Walter Long](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/886/157886405_25e17c.jpg)
Walter Long
USA
Best movies:
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
The Shock (1923)
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Through the Ages (1916)
![Robert Harron](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/762/159762362_f83f9a.jpg)
Robert Harron
USA
Best movies:
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Through the Ages (1916)
The Avenging Conscience (1914)
True Heart Susie (1919)
![Wallace Reid](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270986_10d21b.jpg)
Wallace Reid
USA
Best movies:
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Through the Ages (1916)
The Avenging Conscience (1914)
Joan the Woman (1916)
![Joseph Henabery](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/381/161381815_6f9bd3.jpg)
Joseph Henabery
USA
Best movies:
The Birth of a Nation (1915)
![Elmer Clifton](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/601/166601858_00bbcf.jpg)
Elmer Clifton
USA
Best movies:
![Spottiswoode Aitken](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/530/160530787_0f8ddb.jpg)
Spottiswoode Aitken
UK
Best movies:
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Through the Ages (1916)
The Avenging Conscience (1914)
The Eagle (1925)
![George Beranger](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/234/161234281_9358e4.jpg)
George Beranger
Australia
Best movies:
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Through the Ages (1916)
The Big Parade (1925)
The Half-Breed (1916)
![Donald Crisp](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/348/164348302_4868f8.jpg)
Donald Crisp
UK
Best movies:
The Viking (1928)
The Sea Hawk (1940)
The Dawn Patrol (1938)
![Olga Grey](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/762/159762391_470cb8.jpg)
Olga Grey
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
![Elmo Lincoln](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270333_9a3208.jpg)
Elmo Lincoln
USA
Best movies:
Reap the Wild Wind (1942)
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Through the Ages (1916)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
![John Ford](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/269/269607_866458.jpg)
John Ford
USA
Best movies:
The Birth of a Nation (1915)
![Erich von Stroheim](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/269/269456_f40fbc.jpg)
Erich von Stroheim
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Greed (1924)
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Through the Ages (1916)
![Raoul Walsh](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/271/271504_131df5.jpg)
Raoul Walsh
USA
Best movies:
Sadie Thompson (1928)
It's a Great Feeling (1949)
The Birth of a Nation (1915)