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Birth of a Nation (The) (Blu-ray) (1915)
The Fiery Cross of the Ku Klux Klan!Director: D.W. Griffith
OVERALL: Draw-
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Extras:DISC ONE (Blu-ray)
* The Film - 2011 restoration (193:25)
Spoken introductions by D.W. Griffith and Walter Huston (part 1 - 5:57 + part 2 - 1:53) (including the newly rediscovered intermission sequence - and 1930 re-release title sequence (1:23) (HD)
DISC TWO (DVD)
* The Film - 1992 David Shepard restoration (186:57)
“The Making of The Birth of a Nation” featurette Produced by David Shepard; Compiled and written by Russell Merritt (23:58)
DISC THREE (DVD)
Civil War shorts directed by D.W. Griffith: (Music by Jon C. Mirsalis unless indicated)
- "In the Border States" (1910) (16:08)
- "The House With Closed Shutters" (1910) (16:56)
- "The Fugitive" (1910) (17:05)
- "His Trust" (1910) (14:20)
Courtesy of David Shepard; Musical setting compiled and arranged by Robert Israel; Performed by the Biograph Quartet:
- "His Trust Fulfilled" (1910) (11:28)
- "Swords and Hearts" (1911) (16:28)
- "The Battle" (1911) (16:35)
“New York vs. The Birth of a Nation”, Archival documents pertaining to the censorship battles over the film’s 1922 re-release (text)
Posters, Ads, and Souvenir Programs (gallery)
Excerpts from the Novel (text)
Griffith Discusses the Film (Photoplay Magazine) (text) -
Subtitles:English Intertitles
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Aspect Ratio:1.33:1
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Picture Format:1080p24 AVC MPEG-4
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Soundtrack(s):Music DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (Blu only)
Music LPCM 2.0 Stereo (Blu only)
Music Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (DVD only) -
Case type:Keep Case
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UPC Number:0738329083526
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Notes:Initial pressings come packaged with a slipcase.
Music by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra (2011), in LPCM 2.0 Stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 on the Blu-ray and orchestral score adapted in 1993 from the original score by Joseph Carl Breil, in Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo on the DVD.
DISCS TWO & THREE are identical to the previously available 2-disc DVD from Kino. -
Special thanks to Rewind user Andris_Lastovskis for providing these specifications.
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:DISC ONE
* The Film
1930 Sound Reissue Prologue (5:57)
1930 Sound Reissue Intermission and Introduction to Act 2 (1:53)
DISC TWO
Outtakes and Original Camera Tests (38:44)
Additional Restored Civil War Themed Silent Films from D.W. Griffith and Other Directors
- "The Coward" directed by Reginald Barker (68:47)
- "The Rose of Kentucky" directed by D.W. Griffith (16:31)
- "Stolen Glory" directed by Mack Sennett (13:22)
- "The Drummer of the 8th" Original Edit directed by Jay Hunt (28:20)
- "The Drummer of the 8th" 2015 Re-Edit (28:20)
Stills and Collections Gallery (13:55)
"The Birth of a Nation Score Recording Sessions" featurette (21:20)
D.W. Griffith on Lux Radio Theater with Cecil B. DeMille (4:05)
"The Birth of a Nation: The Legacy" featurette (17:37)
"The Clansman: From Stage to Screen" featurette (16:38)
"We Can Never Censor the Past" text essay by Kevin Brownlow
"The Birth of a Nation: The 2015 Restoration" text essay by Patrick Stanbury
"Fighting Back: Responding to The Birth of a Nation" text essay by Ashley Clark -
Subtitles:English Intertitles
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Aspect Ratio:1.33:1
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Picture Format:1080p24 AVC MPEG-4
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Soundtrack(s):Music DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Music DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Original score reconstructed and adapted by John Lanchbery.
Limited to 3,000 copies. -
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:DISC ONE
* The Film
1930 sound reissue prologue (1930) (5:56)
1930 sound reissue intermission and introduction to Act 2 – D. W. Griffith in conversation with Walter Huston (1930) (1:53)
Outtakes and original camera tests (38:44)
"Melvyn Stokes on The Clansman, D. W. Griffith and Birth of a Nation" interview (2015) (20:06)
"The Greatest Mother of Them All: Kate Bruce" newsreel (1920) (1:06)
DISC TWO
"The Coward" 1915 film by Reginald Barker, Thomas H. Ince (68:39)
"The Rose of Kentucky" 1911 short by D. W. Griffith (16:35)
"Stolen Glory" 1912 short by Mack Sennett (13:26)
"The Drummer of the 8th" 1913 short by Thomas H. Ince, original edit (28:24)
"The Drummer of the 8th" 1913 short by Thomas H. Ince, 2015 re-edit (28:24)
"The Rebel Yell" short (1932) (8:07)
Stills and collections gallery (2015) (13:50)
"The Birth of a Nation at 100" roundtable discussion at BFI Southbank (2015) (32:28)
"The Birth of a Nation score recording sessions" featurette (21:20) (in LPCM 2.0 stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1)
D. W. Griffith on Lux Radio Theatre with Cecil B DeMille (1936) (4:02) -
Subtitles:English Intertitles
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Aspect Ratio:1.33:1
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Picture Format:1080p24 AVC MPEG-4
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Soundtrack(s):Music DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Music LPCM 2.0 stereo -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Includes a 36-page illustrated booklet with essays by Ashley Clark, Kevin Brownlow, Patrick Stanbury and full credits.
Packaged with a slipcase.
All extras are in HD with LPCM 2.0 stereo or mono audio. -
Special thanks to Rewind user Brent_Reid for providing these specifications.
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:1930 Introduction - Parts 1 and 2 (5:53)
1930 Opening Titles (1:19)
"The Making of The Birth of a Nation" featurette (23:57)
Civil War Shorts by D.W. Griffith (1910-1911) (with Play All) (109:07)
- "In the Border States" (16:07)
- "The House with Closed Shutters (16:55)
- "The Fugitive" (17:03)
- "His Trust" (14:19)
- "His Trust Fulfilled" (11:28)
- "Swords and Hearts" (16:26)
- "The Battle" (16:33) -
Subtitles:English Intertitles
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Aspect Ratio:1.30:1
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Picture Format:1080p24 AVC MPEG-4
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Soundtrack(s):Music DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Music DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Extras are in 1080p. The featurette and shorts are upscaled transfers from standard definition sources.
Music by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra (2011), in LPCM 2.0 Stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.
Includes a Collector's Booklet:
- "On 'The Birth of a Nation'" by D.W. Griffith (7 pgs)
- "A Nation is Born" by Thomas Dixon (2 pgs)
- "Brotherly Love" by Francis Hackett (5 pgs)
- "Capitalising Race Hatred: 'New York Globe' editorial (April 6, 1915) and D.W. Griffith response (April 10, 1915)" (8 pgs)
- "The Birth of Film as Art" by Seymour Stern (2 pgs)
- "A Guilty Pleasure" by Michael Powell (2 pgs)
- Facts about "The Birth of a Nation" (3 pgs)
- Notes on Viewing
- Disc Credits -
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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OVERALL: Draw
The US Twilight Time and UK BFI releases feature Photoplay's definitive 2015 restoration and copious extras, all in HD, with some differing exclusives.
The US Kino and UK Eureka releases feature the decent but inferior 2011 restoration with copious extras. Note the Kino release also includes the 1992 restoration on DVD.
For more information, see Brenton Film's detailed article on Photoplay's restoration and all restored home video versions: The Birth of a Nation: Controversial Classic Gets a Definitive New Restoration
Also available in:
- Japan by IVC (restoration version unconfirmed)
- Spain by Divisa (uses 2011 restoration)
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CUTS:
- Blu-ray ALL Deluxe Edition America- Kino Lorber - No cuts - 2011 restoration from archival 35mm elements, with speculative tinting (193:25) and the 1992 David Shepard restoration, with speculative tinting (186:57 NTSC) on DVD.
- Blu-ray ALL Limited Edition America- Twilight Time - No cuts - Definitive 2015 Photoplay restoration, compiled from 4K scans of the original negative and archival 35mm elements. Features original tinting scheme.
- Blu-ray B United Kingdom- British Film Institute - No cuts - Definitive 2015 Photoplay restoration, compiled from 4K scans of the original negative and archival 35mm elements. Features original tinting scheme (191:07).
- Blu-ray B United Kingdom- Eureka - No cuts - 2011 restoration from archival 35mm elements, with speculative tinting (193:08)
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Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!
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Comparison added by Samuel_Scott on 26/07/12
Comparison last updated by James-Masaki_Ryan on 21/01/19UPDATE LOG:
26/07/12: Initial entry.
Please ensure you read our disclaimer.
23/07/13: Added UK MoC release.
02/11/15: Noted further releases.
12/02/16: Addition of BFI, capsaholic.
09/05/16: Couple of typos (2,0>2.0 and 1911>1915).
29/05/18: Added US Twilight Time.
21/01/19: Updated notes.
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