AA: I did not visit this screening which overlapped with Fuori Quadro at
Teatro Zancanaro, but I include Mike Mashon's introduction to keep a
complete run of the Griffith Project 8 program notes. NB. In the catalogue the program note is by Patrick Loughney, identifying exactly what this material is.
[PRODUCTION FOOTAGE OF THE BIRTH OF A NATION] (David W. Griffith Corp. / Majestic Motion Picture Co., US 1915)
Dir.: D. W. Griffith; 35 mm, 1900 ft, 32’ (16 fps), Library of Congress (AFI / AMPAS Collection).
No intertitles.
Mike Mashon [DWG Project # 512]: "Among the more peculiar discoveries in the wealth of The Birth of a Nation materials at the Library of Congress are two rolls of outtakes, trims, and duplicate footage. While there are no revelations in the footage – and certainly nothing that could prompt a critical re-evaluation of the film – it is nonetheless an interesting historical curiosity. A significant portion of the reels is devoted to extended establishing shots of the Petersburg battlefield, both before the battle scenes and during the action, plus a fair amount of coverage from the South Carolina legislature sequence. The reels also include two costume tests with Lillian Gish, as well as a scene in which she appears to blow a take, smiling during an otherwise tearful moment. Ralph Lewis is featured in another series of trims that appear to be lighting tests. Of particular interest are the few scenes which appear to be alternate takes. One is where Flora Cameron (Mae Marsh) is comforted by her sister Margaret (Miriam Cooper) after the Cameron home is attacked; in these reels, the shot extends for almost a minute, whereas in the release print it is significantly shorter and is not quite as emotionally overwrought. Several scenes from Phil and Tod Stoneman’s visit to the Camerons are also different in terms of action and the number of extras seen on camera. Other shots are clearly trims, while the bulk of the reels duplicate footage found in the release print." – Mike Mashon [DWG Project # 512]
[PRODUCTION FOOTAGE OF THE BIRTH OF A NATION] (David W. Griffith Corp. / Majestic Motion Picture Co., US 1915)
Dir.: D. W. Griffith; 35 mm, 1900 ft, 32’ (16 fps), Library of Congress (AFI / AMPAS Collection).
No intertitles.
Mike Mashon [DWG Project # 512]: "Among the more peculiar discoveries in the wealth of The Birth of a Nation materials at the Library of Congress are two rolls of outtakes, trims, and duplicate footage. While there are no revelations in the footage – and certainly nothing that could prompt a critical re-evaluation of the film – it is nonetheless an interesting historical curiosity. A significant portion of the reels is devoted to extended establishing shots of the Petersburg battlefield, both before the battle scenes and during the action, plus a fair amount of coverage from the South Carolina legislature sequence. The reels also include two costume tests with Lillian Gish, as well as a scene in which she appears to blow a take, smiling during an otherwise tearful moment. Ralph Lewis is featured in another series of trims that appear to be lighting tests. Of particular interest are the few scenes which appear to be alternate takes. One is where Flora Cameron (Mae Marsh) is comforted by her sister Margaret (Miriam Cooper) after the Cameron home is attacked; in these reels, the shot extends for almost a minute, whereas in the release print it is significantly shorter and is not quite as emotionally overwrought. Several scenes from Phil and Tod Stoneman’s visit to the Camerons are also different in terms of action and the number of extras seen on camera. Other shots are clearly trims, while the bulk of the reels duplicate footage found in the release print." – Mike Mashon [DWG Project # 512]
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