If there ever was a film that can stoke a firestorm of debates, protests, demonstrations and strong feelings it's Birth of a Nation. Since its release in 1915 it has been viewed as one of the most controversial films ever made and yet, at the same time, one of the most important. Strangely in all my years of watching films I had never had the chance to watch D. W. Griffith's masterpiece.

As I view this film ninety-four years after its original release it's easy to see both why the film has its haters as well as its fans. Between the overt racism, factual inaccuracies and a general sympathy to the old south there is much to make a modern audience cringe. Despite this, when viewed through the prism of film history Birth of a Nation has much to offer the serious student of cinema.

The first act of the film deals with two typical families: the Stonemans and the Camerons. While the Stonemans are northerners, the Camerons are from the South. Through the friendship of their sons in boarding school the two families share a common bond. Both the Camerons and Stonemans suffer greatly during the war with each family losing a son to the war.

This first act deals very little with the cause and slavery is hardly mentioned. At this point I wondered if perhaps the racism wasn't a bit exhagerated. Of course the film was only half over by then.

The second act, dealing with Reconstruction, is a completely different matter. The abolitionists and the free Blacks become the central villains of the story. They and their Northern allies overwhelm the south. To combat this, the Ku Klux Klan rises to power with Colonel Cameron being one of the leaders. This horribly skewed version of history left me more than a bit confused.

Blacks are portrayed almost exclusively by white in blackface. In at least one instance a maid was even played by a white man in drag. The stereotypes are endless from black legislators eating peanuts with their bare feet on the desk to one black soldier attempting to rape the young Flora causing her to jump to her death. White Southerners on the other hand are portrayed as innocent victims; a repressed minority

I was a bit taken back after the historical accuracy of the first act to see that Birth of a Nation is, as many people say, a film with a pro South agenda. Contrast this with the vast majority of Civil War films made since where the Union is portrayed as angelic while the Confederates are the evil slave holders.

The KKK actually comes across as a group of white knights bound to protect law, order and chivalry. After Flora's death the Klan seeks to find her killer for, as the intertitle informs us, so that he may have a fair trial. How interesting history can be revised and distorted depending on the storyteller.

Somewhere between the Pro-Southern extreme of this film and the Union apologist extremes of countless others is the truth. If you want to see a more balanced film in relation to the Civil War, watch either Gods and Generals or Gettysburg. If you want a story of the old South, check out Gone with the Wind.

I would only recommend this film to film buffs or to people who would like to see where films have all began. Birth of a Nation, like the period it attempted to recreate, is a part of our history. If you wish to study film or the rise of cinema then you must see this film. Otherwise, it may be best left to museums.

Labels: 31 days of film, Civil War, Classics, Silent Films

Since my internet went out last night, I went and watched a couple DVDs, although I only finished one. So this was watched yesterday, not today.

Gettysburg: Three Days Of Destiny: The Civil War was a war which took place from 1861 until 1865. It was a war which changed the lives of everyone involved and affects the lives of those who came after. Some are inspired enough to write books and study it. Other people love to show their commitment by going to the battlefields and reenacting the events. Others like to make movies. This last one is fine if you are Ronald F. Maxwell. When you are a hobbiest or a reenactor, please conside yourself officially out of your league.

I admire that these guys tried to make a movie. I also admire the fact that they take history so seriously. What is unfortunate is the fact that they have no acting skills whatsoever and it is this which makes this film unwatchable. I literally gave up after the first fifteen minutes. It's not putrid; it's just boring.

Labels: Bad Movies, Civil War

American Civil War: From Gettysburg to Reconstruction: Mandi bought me this little DVD and since she is such a wonderful girlfriend, I decided to go ahead and watch it.

This is another documentary that is somewhat thrown together. Most of the visuals are from The General, Birth of a Nation and Abraham Lincoln. It's about average and could pass as a student film but nothing that could ever appear on the History Channel.

The prize of the DVD are two early silent shorts related to the Civil War. One is an Edison short on the life of Lincoln and the other is Railroad Raiders of '62 which is a nine minute short on the story of what would later be made as The General and also The Great Locomotive Chase. Both of these make the disc worthwhile. So if you like classic silent films, check this disc out, but skip the documentary.

Labels: Civil War, Documentary

The Blue and the Gray: In the 1860s when North and South first went to the battlefield, they had no idea that 120 years later, several television mini-series would be made about their experience.

Labels: Civil War, History, Mini-Series

The American Civil War: Just when you thought it was safe to buy documentaries on DVD comes this piece of refuse from the trash heap. I have seen a lot of Civil War documentaries in my day but this one takes the Dan Dalton award for being the most boring one ever, which was a tall order after the Blood and Honor tin I reviewed some time back. What we have here is something that might get a B+ for a student documentary from a guy who has a bunch re-enactors for buddies.

While I can forgive the shoddy production based on the notion that I could probably do no better, what I can't forgive on this release are the apparent copyright violations in the soundtrack. While the songs of the Civil War are long passed their copyright expiration various recordings are not. This release featured tracks straight from the soundtrack of the Ken Burns Civil War. I'm surprised they didn't use Ashokan Farewell.

To top it all off, this two hour film is completely boring. Avoid this at all costs and don't confuse it with the much superior American Civil War: A Union Divided.

Labels: Civil War, Documentary, History

The American Civil War - A Union Divided: In my most recent order from Deep Discount, I ordered for myself a bunch of low priced documentaries, mostly on the Civil War, for review and for something to put on to fall asleep to (nothing soothes me to sleep like the sound of talking heads.) In reviewing them I am watching them pretty much all at the same time as you will see in upcoming reviews. Some are crap but this one I have to say is worth looking at.

After Ken Burns released his epic documentary, The Civil War to PBS all those years ago, everyone from The History Channel to fly by night companies have attempted to make
something that serves as somewhat of a replacement or companion to the 11 hour documentary. Clocking in at just over three hours is this release from British based Eagle Media.

A Union Divided is done more in the style of the History Channel documentaries than the Ken Burns style. There are plenty of photos and talking heads mixed in with the usual re-enactment footage and live action scenery filming. The re-enactment footage tries to keep brief but I for one am no real lover of using it as documentary padding. CGI animation is used on the maps to illustrate battles. If I have any real complaints on the cinematography it would be that some shots show modern day cities like New York and Washington when plenty of vintage photographs would work just fine.

The extras are quite nice with dramatic readings of letters home and songs of the Civil War being the best features. All in all I would say this is a good documentary and definitely worth picking up when you can get it under $10 like I did.

Labels: Civil War, Documentary, History

Gettysburg: After seeing Gods and Generals this summer I have been anxious to see the other film made by Ronald F. Maxwell. Featuring much of the same cast as his later film Gods and Generals is the story of how three days changed the course of history.

The subject of Gettysburg is one that has been argued, discussed, debated and reflected upon countless times since those so many thousands of men gave "the last full measure of devotion." Just condensing that into a film is a task which many would believe to be impossible and yet, Maxwell not only did it but he did so in an enjoyable film which makes history come alive.

I believe that this film should be required viewing in schools for the battle of Gettysburg and in a way also to get a fairly accurate view of what it all may have looked like. I cannot recommend this film enough. It was fantastic!

Labels: Civil War, History, Live Action

The Last Days of the Civil War: Here is a collection of Civil War documentaries in a package supposedly about, well, the last days of the Civil War. Strangely enough, that is not entirely the case. While it does include the magnificent documentary April 1865, it also includes some episodes of Civil War Journal, Biography and Civil War Combat. While I normally would not complain, I had already bought the Robert E. Lee documentary as well as the episode of Civil War Combat on other previously released (and still in print) History Channel collections.

I was also disappointed to find the Civil War Journal episodes were the redubbed versions without the narration and host segments with Danny Glover. I am no fan of Danny Glover and this narrator is much easier on the ears than Glover, I do like to keep things original.

What this set does have going for it is April 1865. It is a fantastic day by day approach to, as the documentary rightfully put it, "the month that changed America."

I suppose it's not bad for the reduced price of $9 I paid but I wouldn't pay much more.

Labels: Civil War, Documentary, History