Filmed Prologue to Birth of a Nation (1930)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
There's nothing ground-breaking about this prologue that was originally shown before a re-release of THE BIRTH OF A NATION but it's historically quite important since you've got that film's director D.W. Griffith talking with Walter Huston. The director talks about making that 1915 and what his original plans were.
Viewing this today is a lot different than what it would have been like back in 1930. After all, THE BIRTH OF A NATION has become the most controversial film ever made and in the current political times Griffith's name has pretty much erased by most people. It's interesting to watch this today because you get to hear directly from Griffith on what he was trying to do with the film including what the "truth" of the picture was.
At one point Huston tells Griffith that it's still the greatest picture ever made and this is something that would remain true for decades before the controversy would eventually take over. I really thought this was a fascinating piece even though it lasts under six- minutes. I think Griffith talking about how he listened to his father's stories while sitting under the kitchen table really shines a light on what eventually made it to the screen.
A young, impressionable son who looked up to his father and listened to their fears after the Civil War. These fake fears made a mark on Griffith and hearing him discuss THE BIRTH OF A NATION is rather priceless as far as film history goes.
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
There's nothing ground-breaking about this prologue that was originally shown before a re-release of THE BIRTH OF A NATION but it's historically quite important since you've got that film's director D.W. Griffith talking with Walter Huston. The director talks about making that 1915 and what his original plans were.
Viewing this today is a lot different than what it would have been like back in 1930. After all, THE BIRTH OF A NATION has become the most controversial film ever made and in the current political times Griffith's name has pretty much erased by most people. It's interesting to watch this today because you get to hear directly from Griffith on what he was trying to do with the film including what the "truth" of the picture was.
At one point Huston tells Griffith that it's still the greatest picture ever made and this is something that would remain true for decades before the controversy would eventually take over. I really thought this was a fascinating piece even though it lasts under six- minutes. I think Griffith talking about how he listened to his father's stories while sitting under the kitchen table really shines a light on what eventually made it to the screen.
A young, impressionable son who looked up to his father and listened to their fears after the Civil War. These fake fears made a mark on Griffith and hearing him discuss THE BIRTH OF A NATION is rather priceless as far as film history goes.
