i be kinda force into watch this film have start read through american silent film by william everson ( a very good book and i hasten to add on and er and well the title say it all ) and encounter an entire chapter on and first and birth of a nation ( which i duly watch ) and and then and intolerance . i be already a fan of the silent screen so i approach it with a great amount of expectation and especially a mae marsh and lillian gish be in it whose performance in birth i think be two of the fine i would see in silent movie . however and in my opinion and the film be as poor a birth be brilliant . sure and there be a great amount of high spot when you look at film technique ( such a the move camera in part two that zoom in over the head of the crowd and the grand set of babylon be stun to say the least ) but the film be a mishmash of idea that be force into employment a example of intolerance when you could view alternate character a equally display the trait . the film start life a the modern story only prior to 1916 which be then use a the basis to have the other two main and one rather sketchy story cut into it ( the jesus narrative be and to be honest and not a story but a series of excerpt from the life which support the other three story at certain point ) . to me and it show it just too chaotic a film to be enjoyable ( even by 1916 standard ) . a couple of other point mae marsh performance be semi decent although there appear to be a bit too much over dramatisation at point while constance talmadge character ( the babylonian mountain girl ) although sometimes implausible be a nice humorous insertion ( i use to know a girl like that . ) . why griffith give lillian gish the sole acting role of rock a cradle throughout the film with no other input and i can not imagine ( there must have be some good reason for it ) a her act ability be and for me and the highlight of birth . if youre a movie buff and this film be a must see . don not miss it . but and like me and you may wonder why . one light point do anyone notice that where the train stop be the same place that keaton use in the goat for the shot of him rid the train .