Classic Movie Fact of the Week: The First Sequel in Movie History
Did you know that... The first sequel in motion picture history was The Fall of a Nation (1916), which is a follow-up to D. W. Griffith's epic drama The Birth of a Nation (1915). Based on Thomas Dixon Jr.'s novel and play The Clansman , The Birth of a Nation changed the history of American cinema. With a cast that included Lillian Gish and future Oscar winner Donald Crisp, the three-hour film chronicled the relationship of two families during the American Civil War and Reconstruction era over the course of several years. The film was a great financial success, although it created a wave of controversy for its portrayal of black men as unintelligent and aggressive towards white women and the portrayal of the Klu Klux Klan as a heroic force. (from left to right) Josephine Crowell, Henry B. Walthall and Lilian Gish in The Birth of a Nation ; Raoul Walsh and Lillian Gish in the same film. Hoping to capitalize on the massive success of The Birth of a Nation , Dixon decided to ...