Blatantly racist overtones in story and production overshadow potential high marks of all other aspects.

Rating: 7/10 (10 June 2012)

It's clear that D.W. Griffith had honorable intentions with this film,wanting to give an accurate portrayal of Civil War and Reconstruction era America.This is evidenced in the film's length.A film of this length was not only a rarity at the time,it continues to be.To have worked this hard on a film and have it that heavily criticized must have been hard for him,and I am sympathetic to that,but at the same time,you can't really defend the blatantly racist overtones that the movie possesses,not only in story,but in production (white actors in black face depicting African Americans as uneducated buffoons,etc).All other aspects of the film can be given high marks if can bring yourself to ignore the above mentioned negativity,but good luck with that.