Look Past The Racism

Rating: Null/10 (3 May 2001)

The truth is that this film is offensive in regards to it's treatment of African Americans. However, if you look beyond that, and look at the craftsmanship and the technology then this film is a masterpiece. The use of tinting and the Iris shot were firsts, and really added to the drama of the film. There were scenes that were shot outdoors, not on some closed off closet of a soundstage. It would be several years before any film matched this one. For 1915, this was an amazing breakthrough in filmaking.
However, it should be noted, that from a civil rights standpoint, this film is inexcusably racist and demeaning. The stereotype of blacks as fried chicken eating slobs who covet white women, is on full display here. This is not suprising considering the movie is based on a book called "The Clansman." It is said, that Griffith made his epic "Intolerance" as an apology for "Birth of a Nation." If one can ignore the fact that the movie extols the virtues of the Klan, and see its other fine points, then you will see it for the marvel that it is.