BIRTH OF A NATION

Produced in 1930 for the re-release of "Birth of a Nation", this short features an interview with controversial director D. W. Griffith by actor Walter Huston (the star of Griffith's 1930 feature "Abraham Lincoln"). In this prelude, which may or may not have ever been presented with the film (experts disagree), Griffith explains his motivations for making the silent epic in 1915. The setting is supposedly the den of a comfortable home, with children (child actors of course) shown eavesdropping on the conversation. Before the interview begins, Huston dramatically presents Griffith with a Civil War saber that belonged to a Confederate officer -- with Griffith stating that it is similar to one his "father wore". Griffith then talks about his Southern roots, and answers Huston's questions as to whether "Birth of a Nation" was actually a reflection of his father's experience. "Well, now that you mention it perhaps I did...," says Griffith. "I suppose it began when I was a child, I used to get under the table and listen to my father and his friends talk about the battles they'd been through and their struggles. Those things impress you deeply." At (3:59) Griffith states that his mother told him about "staying up night after night, sewing robes for the Klan. The Klan," he adds,"... at that time was needed, and served a purpose." After Huston praises the film as Griffith's greatest work, the director talks about why it stands the test of time: "It's about something, " he intones. "You can tell easily a story about something. About a tremendous struggle. About a ... a story about people who were fighting desperately against great odds, great sacrifice and suffering, death. A great struggle, a great story." Originally known as The Clansman and based on a novel of that name by Thomas Dixon Jr., "Birth of the Nation" was one of the biggest box office blockbusters ever made. It was also one of the most controversial films in history due to its blackface portrayals of African Americans, anti-Semitic plot elements, and its attempt to celebrate the nobility of the Southern cause and whitewash the horrors of reconstruction while simultaneously glorifying the role of the KKK, whose members were portrayed as heroes. The film led to riots in several cities in the North, and the NAACP tried to have the film banned -- a move that prompted Griffith to produced "Intolerance" as his next picture.

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Transcription

foreign [Applause] fighting in there smoke oh thank you so I can see better is that DW Griffin yes why'd you find that thing at lights sure he's all right he made The Birth of a Nation oh that other man's Walter Houston I wish we could hear better I saw him in a picture once and he's pretty good come on we will hear better is it generally known that you're a southerner I should think it should be it's been advertised enough yes my father was a colonel in the Confederacy have you got a penny penny but he wanted a penny I'm going to give you a present it's a sharp gift I have to look no I'm rich I've only got a dime a couple of them I'll take both of them you don't care what you do it bye buddy do you how do I know your presence worth the two Dives and I think you'll like it it's an old army saber worn by Confederate officer foreign I like that my father or a sword like that now I want to ask you a question sorry when you made the birth of the nation did you tell your father's story oh no no I don't think so well after you mention it perhaps I did how long did it take you say you asked more questions how long does it take to make anything I suppose who I suppose it began when I was a child I used to get under the table and listen to my father and his friends talk about the battles they'd been through in their struggles those things impressed you deeply now I suppose that got into the bird you uh you feel as though it were true yes I feel so true is that blade oh that's natural enough you know and you've heard your father tell about fighting day after day night after night and having nothing to eat with parts corn and about your mother staying up night after night sewing robes with the clan the clan at that time was needed and saved the purpose yes I think it's true heard his Pontius Pilate said truth what is the truth well it has stood the test of time still considered to be the best picture that was ever made it's like you feel proud yeah thank you very much for that if I thought you really thought it was the best pictures ever made I would be tempted to be a little proud but I don't know you never get into those things you know you never get into those things the things that you expect to get more to get it had the fury of life in it I mean it made your blood oh major blood tingle well maybe there was something in it but I don't think it I deserve the credit it was about something you can tell easily a story about something it's about a tremendous struggle it's whether it's a story of people that were fighting desperately against Great odds great sacrifices suffering death was a great struggle a great story where young girls used to wear cotton or Ironman and where the boys imagined just read about the Pickett's Charge and Gettysburg beautiful thing there were boys that like in many in battle when the fathers dropped the guns these nothing but children picked them up and went on fighting and they thought to Bitter End the season after that kind of a story all you have to do is anybody could do that it's the story itself that tells itself

Sources

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