One of the most popular movies from the silent era, this historical saga shows the origins and effects of the Civil War through the destinies of two families -- the Northern Stonemans and the Southern Camerons. Although it has been credited with securing the future of feature length films as well as solidifying the language of cinema, the film attracted controversy and justified criticism and protests for including a sympathetic depiction of the lynching of a black man by a white mob and attempting to provide historical justification for segregation. Directed by D.W. Griffith. Categories: Drama, History, War, Classic, Silent Film. Year: 1915.
D.W. Griffith in The Birth of a Nation