The Birth of a Nation (1915) Blu-ray ADDED

[Brent_Reid]

Title: The Birth of a Nation
Director: D. W. Griffith
Country: UK
Region: B
Releasing Studio: BFI
Case Type: Keep case
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Anamorphic?: No
PAL or NTSC?: N/A
Soundtracks: LPCM 2.0 stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Subtitles: None (English intertitles)
Cuts: None (191:07)
Commentaries: None

Disc 1
• The film
Extras, all in HD with LPCM 2.0 mono and stereo audio:
• 1930 sound reissue prologue (1930, 5:56)
• 1930 sound reissue intermission and introduction to Act 2 (1930, 1:53) – D. W. Griffith in conversation with Walter Huston
• Outtakes and original camera tests (38:44)
• Melvyn Stokes on The Clansman, D. W. Griffith and Birth of a Nation (2015, 20:06) – newly filmed interview with the film scholar and Birth of a Nation authority
• The Greatest Mother of Them All: Kate Bruce (1920, 1:06) – short newsreel on the Griffith actress

Disc 2 (all in HD with LPCM 2.0 mono and stereo audio)
• The Coward (Reginald Barker, Thomas H. Ince, 1911, 68:39) – a faint-hearted soldier in the American Civil War regains his courage
• The Rose of Kentucky (D W Griffith, 1911, 16:35) – rural romance set in Griffith’s home state
• Stolen Glory (Mack Sennett, 1912, 13:26) – comedy set during a parade of Union Civil War veterans
• The Drummer of the 8th: original edit and 2015 re-edit (Thomas H. Ince, 1913, both 28:24) – poignant Civil War drama presented in two different cuts
• The Rebel Yell (1932, 8:07) – archival film in which reunited Confederate veterans recite the famous battle cry of the South
• Stills and collections gallery (2015, 13:50)
• The Birth of a Nation at 100 (2015, 32:28) – roundtable discussion filmed at the BFI Southbank
• The Birth of a Nation score recording sessions (21:20) – in LPCM 2.0 stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
• D. W. Griffith on Lux Radio Theatre with Cecil B DeMille (1936, 4:02) – the two legends reminisce
• 36-page illustrated booklet with essays by Ashley Clark, Kevin Brownlow, Patrick Stanbury and full credits

Notes: With slipcase
Easter Eggs: None
Amazon ASIN (UK, French, German, USA releases only): B012WL7FCK
Source: My own copy
If Blu-ray:
Codec: AVC
Picture: 1080p

[James-Masaki_Ryan]

BFI really went all out on this one. Still keeping my MoC release though. Added, thanks!

[Brent_Reid]

Yup: if only every silent film could get this kind of treatment. It leaves the Kino and MoC standing for audio and extras, and the image makes them look like an average DVD in comparison. It's a brand new restoration from the original camera negative, while the others are a transfer from a well-used reissue print. Probably the best Blu-ray I've ever seen.