The Fall of a Nation: Difference between revisions
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'''''The Fall of a Nation''''' is a 1916 American [[silent film|silent]] [[drama film]] directed by [[Thomas Dixon Jr.]], and a [[sequel]] to the 1915 film ''[[The Birth of a Nation]]'', directed by [[D. W. Griffith]]. |
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'''''The Fall of a Nation''''' is a 1916 American [[silent film|silent]] [[drama film]] directed by [[Thomas Dixon Jr.]], and a [[sequel]] to the 1915 film ''[[The Birth of a Nation]]'', directed by [[D. W. Griffith]]. Dixon, Jr. attempted to cash in on the success of the controversial first film.<ref name="Stokes">{{cite book |last=Stokes |first=Melvyn |title=D.W. Griffith's the Birth of a Nation: A History of the Most Controversial Motion Picture of All Time |year=2007 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |page=268 |isbn=978-0-19-533678-8}}</ref> ''The Fall of a Nation'' is considered to be the first ever ''feature-length'' film [[sequel]], though it was predated by ''short'' film sequels such as [[The Little Train Robbery]]<ref>{{cite book |title=The Story of Hollywood: An Illustrated History|first=Gregory Paul |last=Williams |year= 2005|page=87 |isbn= 9780977629909|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9W4R_CZtFe8C&q=the+fall+of+a+nation+first+sequel&pg=PA87}}</ref> and ''Sherlock Holmes II: Raffles Escaped from Prison''. Based upon ''[[The Fall of a Nation (novel)|The Fall of a Nation]]'', written by the director, the film is now considered [[lost film|lost]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://muse.jhu.edu/books/9780813171913 |title=American Racist: The Life and Films of Thomas Dixon (review) |first=Anthony |last=Slide |publisher=[[Project MUSE]] |year=2004 |access-date=March 2, 2013}}</ref> |
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After the release of D.W. Griffith’s original film, several attempts were made to capitalize on and respond to its success. One of these came from Thomas Dixon Jr., author of [[The Clansman: A Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan|The Clansman,]] the novel on which the original film was based. Released in 1916, Dixon’s film was titled The Fall of a Nation, and was adapted from [[The Fall of a Nation (novel)|his novel of the same name]]. However the movie, often thought to be the first film [[Sequel]] ever made (though it was predated by ''short'' film sequels such as [[The Little Train Robbery]] and ''Sherlock Holmes II: Raffles Escaped from Prison)'', is now considered a lost film.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Faraci|first=Devin|date=2015-04-10|title=FALL OF A NATION: Hollywood’s First Sequel?|url=https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2015/04/10/fall-of-a-nation-hollywoods-first-sequel|access-date=2021-11-07|website=Birth.Movies.Death.|language=en}}</ref> |
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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The film was based on the same ideology as ''Birth of a Nation'', advocating white supremacy and preparedness for war. However, while ''Birth'' was a dramatized version of the real-life events of the Civil War and Reconstruction, ''Fall'' instead focuses on a hypothetical future where the United States’ pacifism nearly leads to its downfall.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jess-Cooke|first=Carolyn|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nRtwAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA30&lpg=PA30&dq=%22the+fall+of+a+nation%22+film&source=bl&ots=RCx98gCKUT&sig=XnZEAmkfxwevNmtUZSpno3uW-Fk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj1u6Spy7bQAhVi1oMKHezLB884ChDoAQg7MAg#v=onepage&q=%22the%20fall%20of%20a%20nation%22%20film&f=false|title=Film Sequels|date=2012-02-20|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|isbn=978-0-7486-8947-7|language=en}}</ref> |
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''The Fall of a Nation'' is an attack on the pacifism of [[William Jennings Bryan]] and [[Henry Ford]] and a plea for American preparedness for war.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D06E1D6163BE633A25754C0A9609C946796D6CF |title=AMERICA IS INVADED AGAIN IN THE FILMS|work=[[The New York Times]] |date= 1916-06-07|access-date=2009-10-30}}</ref> |
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The story begins after the sinking of the Lusitania, as an American millionaire named Charles Waldron assists a German conspiracy to overthrow the American government. A large German force, known as the European Confederated Army, invades the country and begins executing citizens. The United States is caught unprepared for the brutal assault, with pacifists having thought that the country had no enemies. This allows the Germans to conquer the nation, as Charles designates himself the new prince. |
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After a section that portrays what America is like under German rule, a suffragette named Virginia Holland organizes a rebel army. Known as the Daughters of Jael, the army members revolt against the occupying soldiers and restore the country back to its former rule. Virginia then makes plans to marry Congressman John Vassar, who assisted her with her army and had previously lobbied for increased military preparedness. |
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The film is split into three acts: "A nation falls", "The heel of the conqueror", and "The uprising two years later". |
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America is unprepared for an attack by the "European Confederated Army", a European army headed by Germany. The army invades America and executes children and war veterans. However, America is saved by a pro-war Congressman who raises an army to defeat the invaders with the support of a [[suffragette]]. |
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==Cast== |
== Cast == |
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*[[Lorraine Huling]] as Virginia Holland |
*[[Lorraine Huling]] as Virginia Holland |
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*[[Percy Standing]] as Charles Waldron/Prince Karl Von Waldron |
*[[Percy Standing]] as Charles Waldron/Prince Karl Von Waldron |
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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The movie was written and directed by Dixon, and was released through his production company, Dixon Studios. The film starred Lorraine Huling and Percy Standing as Virginia and Charles, respectively. Other cast members include Arthur Shirley (as John Vassar), Flora MacDonald, Paul Willis, Philip Gastrock, and C. H. Geldart. |
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Some battle scenes were filmed in the same location as ''[[The Birth of a Nation]]'', at a cost of $31,000.<ref name="Stokes"/> |
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In an effort to link it to the events of ''The Birth of a Nation'', Dixon returned to the same locations present in ''Birth'' in order to film many of the battle scenes. The soundtrack was composed by Victor Herbert, and is considered by Encyclopædia Britannica to be “the first original symphonic score composed for a feature film.”<ref>{{Cite web|title=Victor Herbert {{!}} American composer|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Victor-Herbert|access-date=2021-11-07|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> |
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==Soundtrack== |
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The film had a musical score produced by [[Victor Herbert]]. The ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'' states that "this is probably the first original symphonic score composed for a feature film". An earlier music score was composed by [[Camille Saint-Saëns]] for the short (15-minute) film ''[[The Assassination of the Duke of Guise]]'' (1908).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/200811/The-Fall-of-a-Nation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923215158/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/200811/The-Fall-of-a-Nation |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-09-23 |title=The Fall of a Nation (film) – Britannica Online Encyclopedia |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica Online]] |date=2009-05-25 |access-date=2009-10-30 }}</ref> |
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==Current status== |
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==Reception and aftermath== |
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Unlike its predecessor, ''The Fall of a Nation'' was not a commercial or critical success, and was the sole film Dixon Studios produced before collapsing in 1921. As such, it was not widely preserved, and no copies are known to exist. The novel it was adapted from has survived throughout the years, but as for the movie itself, all that exists today are a number of stills and the soundtrack, the latter of which is held in the possession of the [[Library of Congress]]. |
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[[Anthony Slide]] argues that the film was largely a commercial failure.<ref>{{cite book |title=American Racist: The Life and Films of Thomas Dixon |first=Anthony |last=Slide |year=2004 |publisher=[[University Press of Kentucky]] |page=102 |isbn=0-8131-2328-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ng_fyVJVMz4C }}</ref> The production company, Dixon Studios, went bust in 1921, having produced only this film.<ref name="Stokes"/> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 23:05, 7 November 2021
| The Fall of a Nation | |
|---|---|
 Print advertisement | |
| Directed by | Thomas Dixon, Jr. |
| Screenplay by | Thomas Dixon, Jr. |
| Based on | The Fall of a Nation by Thomas Dixon, Jr. |
| Starring | Lorraine Huling Percy Standing |
| Cinematography | John W. Boyle |
| Music by | Victor Herbert |
Production company | Dixon Studios |
| Distributed by | V-L-S-E |
Release date |
|
Running time | 7–8 reels |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Silent English intertitles |
| Budget | $31,000[1] |
The Fall of a Nation is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Thomas Dixon Jr., and a sequel to the 1915 film The Birth of a Nation, directed by D. W. Griffith.
After the release of D.W. Griffith’s original film, several attempts were made to capitalize on and respond to its success. One of these came from Thomas Dixon Jr., author of The Clansman, the novel on which the original film was based. Released in 1916, Dixon’s film was titled The Fall of a Nation, and was adapted from his novel of the same name. However the movie, often thought to be the first film Sequel ever made (though it was predated by short film sequels such as The Little Train Robbery and Sherlock Holmes II: Raffles Escaped from Prison), is now considered a lost film.[2]
Plot
The film was based on the same ideology as Birth of a Nation, advocating white supremacy and preparedness for war. However, while Birth was a dramatized version of the real-life events of the Civil War and Reconstruction, Fall instead focuses on a hypothetical future where the United States’ pacifism nearly leads to its downfall.[3]
The story begins after the sinking of the Lusitania, as an American millionaire named Charles Waldron assists a German conspiracy to overthrow the American government. A large German force, known as the European Confederated Army, invades the country and begins executing citizens. The United States is caught unprepared for the brutal assault, with pacifists having thought that the country had no enemies. This allows the Germans to conquer the nation, as Charles designates himself the new prince.
After a section that portrays what America is like under German rule, a suffragette named Virginia Holland organizes a rebel army. Known as the Daughters of Jael, the army members revolt against the occupying soldiers and restore the country back to its former rule. Virginia then makes plans to marry Congressman John Vassar, who assisted her with her army and had previously lobbied for increased military preparedness.
The film is split into three acts: "A nation falls", "The heel of the conqueror", and "The uprising two years later".
Cast
- Lorraine Huling as Virginia Holland
- Percy Standing as Charles Waldron/Prince Karl Von Waldron
- Arthur Shirley as John Vassar
- Flora Macdonald as Angela Benda
- Paul Willis as Billy
- Phil Gastrock as Thomas
- Clarence Geldart as General Arnold
Production
The movie was written and directed by Dixon, and was released through his production company, Dixon Studios. The film starred Lorraine Huling and Percy Standing as Virginia and Charles, respectively. Other cast members include Arthur Shirley (as John Vassar), Flora MacDonald, Paul Willis, Philip Gastrock, and C. H. Geldart.
In an effort to link it to the events of The Birth of a Nation, Dixon returned to the same locations present in Birth in order to film many of the battle scenes. The soundtrack was composed by Victor Herbert, and is considered by Encyclopædia Britannica to be “the first original symphonic score composed for a feature film.”[4]
Current status
Unlike its predecessor, The Fall of a Nation was not a commercial or critical success, and was the sole film Dixon Studios produced before collapsing in 1921. As such, it was not widely preserved, and no copies are known to exist. The novel it was adapted from has survived throughout the years, but as for the movie itself, all that exists today are a number of stills and the soundtrack, the latter of which is held in the possession of the Library of Congress.
See also
References
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Stokeswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Faraci, Devin (2015-04-10). "FALL OF A NATION: Hollywood's First Sequel?". Birth.Movies.Death. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
- ^ Jess-Cooke, Carolyn (2012-02-20). Film Sequels. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-7486-8947-7.
- ^ "Victor Herbert | American composer". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
External links
- The Fall of a Nation at IMDb
- Progressive Silent Film List: The Fall of a Nation at silentera.com