Two families, abolitionist Northerners the Stonemans and Southern landowners the Camerons, intertwine. When Confederate colonel Ben Cameron is captured in battle, nurse Elsie Stoneman petitions for his pardon. In Reconstruction-era South Carolina, Cameron founds the Ku Klux Klan, battling Elsie's congressman father and his African-American protégé, Silas Lynch.
Directed by D.W. Griffith
army
ku klux klan
southern usa
racism
silent film
american civil war
reconstruction era
historical epic
inspirational
awestruck
optimistic
feel-good
Rank
#1 in 1915·#9206 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
2.3 / 5
Cast
Lillian Gish
Stoneman's Daughter Elsie
Mae Marsh
Flora Cameron
Henry B. Walthall
Col. Ben Cameron
Miriam Cooper
Margaret Cameron
Mary Alden
Stoneman's Housekeeper Lydia
Ralph Lewis
Leader of the House Hon. Austin Stoneman
George Siegmann
Lieut. Governor Silas Lynch
Walter Long
Gus
Robert Harron
Tod
Wallace Reid
Jeff, the Blacksmith
Joseph Henabery
Abraham Lincoln
Elmer Clifton
Stoneman's Elder Son Phil
Crew
D.W. Griffith
Director
D.W. Griffith
Writer
Frank E. Woods
Screenplay
D.W. Griffith
Original Music Composer
Raoul Walsh
Editor
Joseph Henabery
Editor
D.W. Griffith
Editor
Billy Bitzer
Director of Photography
D.W. Griffith
Producer
Donald Crisp
Assistant Director
D.W. Griffith
Presenter
Howard Gaye
Assistant Director
Popular Reviews
237 reviews
Alfred HitchTOK
1.0★ · 01/19/26
Well. That was pretty fucking the racist.
Yes, I understand its importance to the cinematic arts, the marvel that it would have been at the time in regard to technical prowess and storytelling.
Blah blah blah
It’s set a template for grandiose epics that is still used today, complete with insufferable 3 hour plus run time.
Annnnd the first half kind of lulls you into a false sense of security with it’s futility of war narrative, and even shows some love to Lincoln, despite being suspiciously sympathetic to the south…
…which really comes to fruition in the later half which becomes a total Klu Klux Klan dick-riding jamboree. They even come riding in to save the day, white cloaks flowing in the wind atop galloping steeds to rescue the poor oppressed white folk.
Yeah, you can fuck right off with that bullshit.
Although given the way the world is headed…maybe this is just a look ahead to 2027?
Yes, I understand its importance to the cinematic arts, the marvel that it would have been at the time in regard to technical prowess and storytelling.
Blah blah blah
It’s set a template for grandiose epics that is still used today, complete with insufferable 3 hour plus run time.
Annnnd the first half kind of lulls you into a false sense of security with it’s futility of war narrative, and even shows some love to Lincoln, despite being suspiciously sympathetic to the south…
…which really comes to fruition in the later half which becomes a total Klu Klux Klan dick-riding jamboree. They even come riding in to save the day, white cloaks flowing in the wind atop galloping steeds to rescue the poor oppressed white folk.
Yeah, you can fuck right off with that bullshit.
Although given the way the world is headed…maybe this is just a look ahead to 2027?
