Review of D.W. Griffith: Father of Film (1993) by William D — 11 Aug 2009

This documentary is a great way to learn about D.W. Griffith, the father of American film. His most commercially successful film, "Birth of a Nation," was a reprehensible attack on black folks and a disgusting celebration of the Ku Klux Klan. But Griffith made 100 other films, none of which have such retrograde content.

There is no doubt that he was a cinematic genius, and countless people followed in his footsteps. If you are looking to expand your knowledge of early film, this three-hour documentary is highly recommended. (It is available on one disc from Netflix.).