Post by lesserknownpea on Nov 9, 2020 9:14:51 GMT
I am reading a history of Los Angeles in the early part of the 20th century. The film industry is a huge part of that.
I had heard reference to this film being groundbreaking, significant, ect. And it was. It was the first blockbuster, made millions, was shown all over the country to great acclaim, even to the president (Wilson), and Supreme Court. People gladly paid the equivalent of $54 , and cheered this great accomplishment.
The movie is set during and after the Civil War. It idolized the Ku Klux Klan, portraying them as heroes. It showed freed Blacks as stupid, animalistic rapists of white women. The producer felt he fair handedly also showed “good Blacks”, the subservient ones who knew their place and supported the Whites in thwarting the evil carpetbaggers and their Black cohorts.
After the success of the movie, the KKK, which had been completely dormant for decades, was revived because of this movie. And Blacks were persecuted all over the South.
After investors saw how much money this thing made for those who worked on it or invested in it, the movie industry completely changed, as everybody wanted in to try to recreate that “magic”. The Director’s career was made. ( although he did whine about the “unfair” criticism he received concerning the movie’s racism).
I was so incensed to read about this I couldn’t sleep last night. Instead, I researched more. I don’t know how I did not know this before. I am just so disgusted.
I love the medium of movies. I consider it an art form when well done. And I’m a Los Angeleno. It makes me ill that this disgusting movie is an important part of our history, and made many people’s fortunes while it did so much damage to people who had already suffered so much.
Ugh, am I the only one who did not know about this?
I had heard reference to this film being groundbreaking, significant, ect. And it was. It was the first blockbuster, made millions, was shown all over the country to great acclaim, even to the president (Wilson), and Supreme Court. People gladly paid the equivalent of $54 , and cheered this great accomplishment.
The movie is set during and after the Civil War. It idolized the Ku Klux Klan, portraying them as heroes. It showed freed Blacks as stupid, animalistic rapists of white women. The producer felt he fair handedly also showed “good Blacks”, the subservient ones who knew their place and supported the Whites in thwarting the evil carpetbaggers and their Black cohorts.
After the success of the movie, the KKK, which had been completely dormant for decades, was revived because of this movie. And Blacks were persecuted all over the South.
After investors saw how much money this thing made for those who worked on it or invested in it, the movie industry completely changed, as everybody wanted in to try to recreate that “magic”. The Director’s career was made. ( although he did whine about the “unfair” criticism he received concerning the movie’s racism).
I was so incensed to read about this I couldn’t sleep last night. Instead, I researched more. I don’t know how I did not know this before. I am just so disgusted.
I love the medium of movies. I consider it an art form when well done. And I’m a Los Angeleno. It makes me ill that this disgusting movie is an important part of our history, and made many people’s fortunes while it did so much damage to people who had already suffered so much.
Ugh, am I the only one who did not know about this?
