Nation Topics - Historical Films
The pro-Ku Klux Klan message of Birth of a Nation inspired thousands of Americans to join the hate group and helped get government censors work.
The death of pioneer filmmaker D.W. Griffith in 1948 prompted this appreciation from The Nation's film critic James Agee.
Hollywood's first talking film marked the beginning of the end for some of cinema's biggest stars, but it did preserve the talent of Al Jolson on celluloid.
The only film ever made that could be said to have cost the United States government billions--in a missile defense system that only Hollywood could make work.
Hollywood was concerned that the saga of the Joads might send a "pro-Communist" message, but in the end, even Whittaker Chambers liked this film, which says something.
If one Paramount exec had his way, Don Corleone would have been played by Danny Thomas. Fortunately, Francis Coppola had no interest in turning Mario Puzo's novel into Make Room For Goddaddy.
Though the era of talking films was well underway, this lovely silent film about the Little Tramp and a poor blind girl remained Charlie Chaplin's personal favorite.
