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Auction: 284 - Bond, Share & Americana Mailbid & Internet Exclusive
Lot: 1146

Birth of a Nation: Eye-opening content Typewritten Manuscript, unsigned, by Thomas Dixon, author of the book The Clansman and the original screenplay for The Birth of a Nation, based on his book, 14-1/2pp, 4to, no place or date [ca. 1916]. Dixon begins by explaining that despite "the success ´The Birth of A Nation? has enjoyed, grossing as it has over $12,000,000 to date from an original investment of $85,000," he had difficulty getting it picked up by a film studio, and was warned by executive Abe Frohman that "lawyers for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People would ´make trouble for all of us´. I laughed and told him that this kind of trouble would be our greatest advertisement..." Finally D.W. Griffith agreed to produce and direct it. The film went well beyond its budget, but when Dixon saw it "I was carried away with it...It was the most marvelous experience any author could ever have. I thought at the time it needed a bigger and better title than ´The Clansman´...Finally at 3 in the morning one came to me. It was ´The Birth of a Nation´..." In most versions of the story, Griffith has been credited with changing the name. "Oberholtzer, head of the censor-board, told Griffith he thought it the best picture he had ever seen but he refused to pass it because of the possible negro attitude..." Some changes are made, including the switch to Dixon´s [or Griffith´s] The Birth of a Nation. After boasting some more about the money the picture has made, Dixon claims "It has grossed $11,000,000 since it was made," an apparent loss of $1 million since the first page of the manuscript! He told his colleagues there was only one way to get it released: ?to show it first to the President of the United States...I had not, however, told them that President Woodrow Wilson was a classmate of mine at Johns Hopkins..." Dixon was able to get an audience with Wilson and his approval of whatever Dixon might request because, as Wilson admitted, ?25 years before I had fought against all the odds of the board to have my college, Wake Forest, give Mr. Wilson an LLD. That had in a major sense been one of his greatest achievements...President Woodrow Wilson on the afternoon of Feb. 15, 1915, returned a favor to a friend...After that showing...I decided that I must show this picture to the Supreme Court, and to the members of the Seante [sic] and House..." Dixon knew that Chief Justice White ?had been a Clansman in New Orleans...´Why didn´t you tell me what this motion picture was about in the first place?´ he demanded...The Supreme Court ´presented it´...in Washington, and the members of the House and Senate were there..." When the NAACP tried to block a New York screening, Dixon dropped Wilson´s name to the police chief, who then "swatted them properly..." In response to a protest in Boston, police responded and "there were, I dare say, more cracked heads in Boston that night than any night since?? Remarkably, he boasts of violence and political deals in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Ohio. Finally, Dixon notes that most of the cast went on to great fame, though on the film "the highest salary was $75 a week. Miss [Lillian] Gish and Mr. [Henry B.] Walthall each drew that amount..." Pages stapled at left. With editor´s marks on some pages. Age-toned, last page detached but present, otherwise in very good condition. With much more great content, too much to add here. Estimate US$ 200-300

Sold for
$330