The birth of a nation

Duration: 105

Year Published: 1930

Creator: Triangle Film Corporation presents D.W. Griffith's immortal spectacle, adapted from Thomas Dixon's novel The clansman ; produced under the personal direction of D.W. Griffith ; story arranged by D.W. Griffith and Frank E. Woods ; photography by G.W. Bitzer.

Format: 16mm

Color: B&W

Sound: sound

Description: This version lacks the final Christ resurrection scene and the famous shot of running horses filmed from under their hooves. Griffith re-edited the original film in 1930 in order to synchronize the picture to a soundtrack with music and sound effects.; Titles preceding main title frame: A Joseph Brenner Associates Inc. release ; An Epoch Producing Corp. presentation. These two titles are in modern typeface, and are printed on the print rather than spliced on.; Additional credits not on film but supplied by the AFI Catalog, feature films, 1911-1920: Chief assistant director, George Siegmann; assistant directors, Thomas E. O'Brien, George Andre Beranger; Monte Blue, William Christy Cabanne, Elmer Clifton, Donald Crisp, Howard Gaye, Fred Hamer, Erich von Stroheim, Herbert Sutch, Tom Wilson, Baron von Winther; assistant cameraman, Karl Brown; film editors, James and Rose Smith; master carpenter, Frank "Huck" Wortman; special effects, "Fireworks" Wilson.; Additional cast: Miriam Cooper (Margaret Cameron), Josephine Crowell (Mrs. Cameron), J.A. Beringer (Wade Cameron), Maxfield Stanley (Duke Cameron), Jennie Lee (Mammy), Elmer Clifton (Phil Stoneman), Robert Harron (Tod Stoneman), Joseph Henabery (Abraham Lincoln), Raoul Walsh (John Wilkes Booth), Donald Crisp (General U.S. Grant), Howard Gaye (General Robert E. Lee), Sam de Grasse (Charles Sumner), William DeVaull (Nelse), William Freeman (Jake), Thomas Wilson (Stoneman's servant), Violet Wilkey (Flora Cameron as child), Elmo Lincoln (White-arm Joe and eight other roles), Alberta Lee (Mrs. Lincoln), William Freeman (Sentry at hospital), Olga Grey (Laura Keene), Eugene Pallette (Union soldier), Mme. Sul-te-Wan (additional player), Erich von Stroheim (additional player), Gibson Gowland (additional player), Fred Burns, Allan Sears.; Printed-on modern credit before main title: A Joseph Brenner Associates Inc. release; An Epoch Producing Corp. presentation. Printed-on modern end credit: The end; A Joseph Brenner Associates Inc. release. These credits appear to have been spliced onto the negative from which this print was struck since printed-on splice marks appear with them.; "Copyright MCMXV [i.e., 1915] David W. Griffith Corp.; copyright MCMXV Epoch Producing Corp'n, Thomas Dixon"--on main title. The Catalog of copyright entries, motion pictures 1912-1939 gives the copyright date as 8 Feb 1915, registered to Epoch Producing Corp. and Thomas Dixon (David W. Griffith, Thomas Dixon and Frank E. Woods, authors), registry number LP6677. There is no copyright entry for the sound version.; Original release date: Feb. 8, 1915 in Los Angeles.; Running time: 01:44:54.; Pacific Film Archive collection; non-circulating. CBPF.; Musical direction by Louis F. Gottschalk; sound supervision by Campbell MacCulloch; recorded on Western Electric equipment.; The cast includes: Lillian Gish (Elsie Stoneman), Henry Walthall (Colonel Ben Cameron), Ralph Lewis (Hon. Austin Stoneman), Mae Marsh (Flora Cameron), Wallace Reid (Jeff), George Seigman (Silas Lynch), Spottiswood Aiken (Dr. Cameron), Mary Alden (Lydia Brown), Walter Long (Gus).; Filmed on location in Calexico, Calif.; battle scenes filmed at a location which later became the Universal lot.; PFA 1616-01-15178. D0442; PFA 1616-108-8444. D0108; Sound version with added music and effects track.; PFA 1616-01-15178. film is tinted CONDITION NOTE: Last checked 2012 KW: slightly warped; otherwise good condition;; PFA 1616-108-8444. CONDITION NOTE: Previous inspection: March 30 1994; scratches; splices; burns; Good condition: reel 1 (1083 ft. 15 fr.); footage count reset to 0 at original main title; after the modern opening credit: frame 1/4 burned ((8 ft. 13 fr.); scratches, but not that bad; sound quality at beginning of reel is poor, but improves by 1/4 of the reel; tail leader is tape spliced on; edge #: 113= 3M SAFETY; modern opening credit runs for 6 ft. 7 fr.: cement splice (1 ft. 25 fr.); sprocket notch (2 ft. 36 fr.); sprocket repair (5 ft 28 fr.) CONDITION NOTE: Previous inspection: March 30 1994; scratches; splices; burns; Good condition: reel 2 (1384 ft. 21 fr.): heavily scratched at beginning; cement splice (175 ft. 4 fr.); burn hole (369 ft. 21 fr.); SEVERE double emulsion scratches in center of frame from 856 ft. 24 fr. to 1065 ft., then becomes a single emulsion scratch; at 1240 ft. becomes a single print scratch running to the end; white gummy mark (991 ft.); horizontal scratches (992 ft. 16-18 fr.); edge #: 108 3M= SAFETY. CONDITION NOTE: Previous inspection: March 30 1994; scratches; splices; sprockets; Good condition: reel 3 (1310 ft. 15 fr.): leader tape spliced at head; white gummy substance (0 ft. 21-23 fr.); cement splice (2 ft. 1 fr.); sprocket notches (104 ft. 36 fr.); tape splice (1290 ft. 26 fr.); sound bad from approx. 1290 ft. to end; at 130 ft. 29 fr. appears to be original end of film picture, but the music continues as modern end credit with a printed-on tape slice appears; edge #: 108= 3M SAFETY CONDITION NOTE: Last inspected: 2007/09/17; Very good condition; light scratches; slightly warped; burnt frame during head credits; repaired torn perfs and weak splices

Metadata Source:BERKELEY ART MUSEUM AND PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE