The Birth of a Nation

The Birth of a Nation (1915)

The Fiery Cross of the Ku Klux Klan!

Drama History War

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.

star 6.0 6.1 91%
  • Release Date: 1915-02-08
  • Runtime: 3h 15min
  • Director: D.W. Griffith

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    • Trailer

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    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

    • Josephine Crowell

      Mrs. Cameron

    • Spottiswoode Aitken

      Dr. Cameron

    • George Beranger

      Wade Cameron

    • Maxfield Stanley

      Duke Cameron

    • Jennie Lee

      Mammy

    • Donald Crisp

      Gen. U.S. Grant

    • Howard Gaye

      Gen. Robert E. Lee

    • Sam De Grasse

      Senator Charles Sumner (uncredited)

    • William De Vaull

      Nelse (uncredited)

    • Willam Freeman

      Jake / Sentry at Hospital (uncredited)

    • Tom Wilson

      Stoneman's Servant (uncredited)

    • Fred Burns

      Klansman (uncredited)

    • Allan Sears

      Klansman (uncredited)

    • Elmo Lincoln

      Blacksmith (uncredited)

    • Madame Sul-Te-Wan

      Black Woman (uncredited)

    • Raoul Walsh

      John Wilkes Booth (uncredited)

    • Monte Blue

      (uncredited)

    • Harry Braham

      Cameron's Male Servant (uncredited)

    • Bob Burns

      Klan Leader (uncredited)

    • Edmund Burns

      Klansman (uncredited)

    • Edward Burns

      Klansman (uncredited)

    • Peggy Cartwright

      Young Girl in Cabin (uncredited)

    • Dark Cloud

      General (uncredited)

    • Leonore Cooper

      Elsie's Maid (uncredited)

    • Charles Eagle Eye

      Man Who Falls from Roof (uncredited)

    • John Ford

      Klansman (uncredited)

    • Olga Grey

      Laura Keene (uncredited)

    • Alberta Lee

      Mrs. Lincoln (uncredited)

    • Betty Marsh

      Child with Dr. Cameron (uncredited)

    • Donna Montran

      Belle of 1861 (uncredited)

    • Eugene Pallette

      Union Soldier (uncredited)

    • Alma Rubens

      Belle of 1861 (uncredited)

    • Charles Stevens

      Volunteer (uncredited)

    • Jules White

      Confederate Soldier (uncredited)

    • Violet Wilkey

      Young Flora Cameron (uncredited)

    • David Butler

      Northern Soldier / Confederate Soldier (uncredited)

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