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Recursion

(56,582 posts) Mon Feb 3, 2014, 05:44 AM Feb 2014

The one verifiable quote by Woodrow Wilson about "Birth of a Nation" [View all]

"I do not approve of this unfortunate production."

That's per Imtiaz Ali, Bombay filmmaker and film historian (he gave a talk last night).

It's interesting: Bollywood directors take early Hollywood incredibly seriously and pretend that post-1970 Hollywood (once the "auteur-director" fad came in) doesn't exist. I asked him about that and he said that the Mumbai pendulum swings a different way, not between director and studio, but between studio and actor. There's probably a lot to be said for that view.

Anyways, Ali had fished through every White House and US press archive he could find, and could only find that one single quote by Wilson on Birth of a Nation. Everything else was simply something the studio claimed. Just thought I would get that out there.

26 replies

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The one verifiable quote by Woodrow Wilson about "Birth of a Nation" [View all] Recursion Feb 2014 OP

On the evening of March 21, 1915, President Woodrow Wilson attended a special screening at the WH no_hypocrisy Feb 2014 #1

The only source for that quote is the movie's producer Recursion Feb 2014 #2

Point taken. no_hypocrisy Feb 2014 #3

Birth of a Nation - now there's a film to talk about el_bryanto Feb 2014 #4

Similar edhopper Feb 2014 #5

My mother loved it - I never could get into it myself. el_bryanto Feb 2014 #6

"Gone With The Wind" edhopper Feb 2014 #7

Why don't you read the book. That way, you might get it. n/t Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #9

I'm more likely to read "The Wind Done Gone" el_bryanto Feb 2014 #11

And that's exactly why there are so many things you don't, and likely, Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #12

So I'm really missing out by not getting Gone With the Wind? el_bryanto Feb 2014 #13

It's not Gone With the Wind specifically, it's your incurious nature. Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #15

You don't really know me at all el_bryanto Feb 2014 #17

Yes, I do. One of the greatest failings of youth is the lack of understanding that you Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #18

Oh? Well that's interesting. I'm always interested in self improvment el_bryanto Feb 2014 #19

This message was self-deleted by its author Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #22

Well, there you go. n/t Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #23

You are really a nice guy. So basically I have to read that racist pro-slavery book el_bryanto Feb 2014 #24

It's not an argument at all. I thought that that was clear. My mistake. Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #26

Also while we are at it why don't you bother Edhopper - he's not keen on the movie/book either. nt el_bryanto Feb 2014 #20

To what purpose? n/t Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #8

I was a bit surprised about that quote steve2470 Feb 2014 #10

And thus the explanation... Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #14

hm didn't know about the bewilderment, thank you ! nt steve2470 Feb 2014 #16

The difference between intellectual experience garnered through a life in academia and the Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #21

Wilson was a notorious racist. former9thward Feb 2014 #25