The Birth of a Nation

The Birth of a Nation (originally called The Clansman) is a 1915 silent drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and based on the novel and play The Clansman, both by Thomas Dixon, Jr. Griffith co-wrote the screenplay (with Frank E. Woods), and co-produced the film (with Harry Aitken). It was released on February 8, 1915. The film was originally presented in two parts, separated by an intermission. The film chronicles the relationship of two familie... More
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Initial release date:

  • 1915

Directed by:

Runtime:

  • 3 h 10 min

Produced by:

Screenplay by:

View The Birth of a Nation: Screenplay writers »

Also known as:

  • The Clansman,
  • In the Clutches of the Ku Klux Klan

Film

Directed by

D. W. Griffith

David Llewelyn Wark "D. W." Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was a premier pioneering American film director. He is best known as the director of the epic 1915 film The Birth of a Nation and the subsequent film Intolerance (1916). Griffith's film The Birth of a Nation made pioneering use...

Tagline:

  • The Fiery Cross of the Ku Klux Klan
  • Lincoln's Assassination. The fatal blow that robbed the South of its best friend.
  • The Fiery Cross of the Ku Klux Klan!
  • The dawn of a new art!

Genres:

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Subjects:

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Executive produced by:

Story by:

Cinematography:

Edited by:

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Release date(s):

Film release region Release Date Film release distribution medium
  • 1915
  • 1914
  • Jun 29, 2004
  • Nov 17, 1998
  • May 8, 2001
  • Mar 3, 1915
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Costume design by:

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Music by:

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Runtime:

Runtime Note
  • 3 h 10 min
  • at 16 fps
  • 3 h 7 min
View The Birth of a Nation: Runtime »

Languages:

View Languages The Birth of a Nation is available in »

Country of origin:

Estimated budget:

Currency Amount
  • 110,000

Film festivals:

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The Avenging Conscience

The Avenging Conscience: or "Thou Shalt Not Kill" (1914) is a drama film directed by D. W. Griffith.The film is based on the Edgar Allan Poe short... …

Initial release date: 1914
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Intolerance

Intolerance is a 1916 American silent film directed by D. W. Griffith and is considered one of the great masterpieces of the Silent Era. The three... …

Initial release date: 1916
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Media

Adapted From

The Clansman

The Clansman: An Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan is the title of a novel published in 1905. It was the second work in the Ku Klux Klan trilogy by Thomas F. Dixon, Jr. that included The Leopard's Spots and The Traitor. It was influential in providing the ideology that helped support the...

Netflix Genres:

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Ranked item

Appears in ranked lists:

List Rank Year
  • 44
  • 1998
  • 1992
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AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies of 1998

View all AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies of 1998 »
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Facts from the Community

From the Great Films base

Appears in ranked lists:

List Ranking
  • 44
View entire collection »
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These people have edited this topic:

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  • tfmorris Top Contributor Freebase Experts
  • jon Metaweb Current Staff
  • kurt Freebase Experts
  • tristan
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