Why was DW Griffith’s film ‘Birth of a Nation so successful when it was released in 1915 an why is it so controversial now?

Birth of a Nation was so successful because it was the first 12 real silent film, each reel was around 11 minutes bringing this film to around 3 hours long. This was the longest film available at the time. The film would have been accompanied by a theatre organ because it was able to make a large range of different sounds. However, this film is considered quite controversial now because the film is racists and about american supremacy especially white supremacy. slavery had just been abolished but southern states wanted to keep their slaves on their plantations making cotton and sugar. The now free slaves are now being represented as a threat to the economy and to society. Some actors would paint their faces black for the film and are represented in the film as rapists, drunks and criminals. The KKK had died out before the making of this film but was inspired after and the KKK grew to around 4 million after the film.

Who were Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin and are they considered to be great cinematic practitioners? Nema at least one film made by each director.

Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin were both film directors, producers and actors of the genres Slapstick comedy and Physical Comedy. They would do their own stunts which were dangerous and had to be timed perfectly. They performed in their own films which was why they were considered cinematic practitioners.

‘The General’ by Buster Keaton is a very famous film and expensive film which features a real train breaking through and falling off a bridge. Buster Keaton was well known for using Deadpan in his films which is the action of not making a face when getting hit by a pan or other object.

The soviet union liked charlie chaplin because he is representing the poor in a sympathetic way. Some accused him of being a communist. ‘The Great Dictator’ was made in 1940 by Charlie Chaplin. It feature talkies which meant that that there was dialogue in the film.