The Birth of a Nation Blu-ray

Release Year: 1915

Runtime: 193 min

Director: D.W. Griffith

Cast: Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, Mary Alden

Studios: Epoch Film Co., D.W. Griffith Productions, Epoch Productions

Two families, abolitionist Northerners the Stonemans and Southern landowners the Camerons, intertwine. When Confederate colonel Ben Cameron is captured in battle, nurse Elsie Stoneman petitions for his pardon. In Reconstruction-era South Carolina, Cameron founds the Ku Klux Klan, battling Elsie's congressman father and his African-American protégé, Silas Lynch.

Special Features:

DISC 1 - Blu-ray

The Birth of a Nation, newly mastered in HD from archival 35mm elements. Music by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra (2011), in 2.0 Stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Spoken introductions by D.W. Griffith and Walter Huston (including the newly rediscovered intermission sequence).

DISC 2 - DVD

The Birth of a Nation, restored by David Shepard of Film Preservation Associates in 1993. Orchestral score adapted in 1993 from the original score by Joseph Carl Breil, in 2.0 Stereo. "The Making of The Birth of a Nation" (24 min.). Produced by David Shepard. Compiled and written by Russell Merritt.

DISC 3 - DVD

Civil War shorts directed by D.W. Griffith: (Music by Jon C. Mirsalis unless otherwise indicated.) In the Border States (1910, 16 min.). The House With Closed Shutters (1910, 17 min.). The Fugitive (1910, 17 min.). His Trust (1910, 14 min.). Courtesy of David Shepard; Musical setting compiled and arranged by Robert Israel; Performed by the Biograph Quartet. His Trust Fulfilled (1910, 11 min.). Swords and Hearts (1911, 16 min.). The Battle (1911, 17 min.). "New York vs. The Birth of a Nation" Archival documents pertaining to the censorship battles over the film's 1922 re-release. Excerpts of souvenir program books.

Technical Specifications:

• 1920 x 1080p
• DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1