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  • The Birth of a Race (1918)
  • 90 min | Drama
The Birth of a Race (1918)
90 min | Drama

After a biblical and historical prologue detailing the evolution of the idea of democracy through the creation of the world, the flood, the crucifixion of Christ, the discovery of America, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, ...See moreAfter a biblical and historical prologue detailing the evolution of the idea of democracy through the creation of the world, the flood, the crucifixion of Christ, the discovery of America, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the Civil War, the present-day threat to this idea by autocratic powers is dramatized. Fritz Schmidt, a German-American steel plant owner, and his son Oscar remain loyal to the Kaiser, while son George fights for the Allies. When the American army hospital where Louisa Schmidt works as a nurse is attacked by the Germans, Oscar, now a German soldier, assaults her, not recognizing his sister in the confusion. George, recovering in the hospital, kills his brother and then returns home to find his mother and a German spy struggling for some secret papers. George kills the spy, Fritz realigns his loyalty to the American cause, and the family is reunited. Written by AFI See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Writers
Cinematographer
Herbert Oswald Carleton (as Herbert O. Carleton)
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Dec 1, 1918

Release date
Dec 1, 1918 (United States)

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Cast

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23 cast members
Name Known for
Louis Dean
The Kaiser The Kaiser   See fewer
Harry Dumont
Crown Prince Crown Prince   See fewer
Ben Hendricks Sr.
Fritz Schmidt (as Ben Hendricks) Fritz Schmidt (as Ben Hendricks)   See fewer
Alice Gale
Frau Schmidt Frau Schmidt   See fewer
John Reinhardt
Oscar Schmidt Oscar Schmidt   See fewer
Gertrude Braun
Louisa Schmidt Louisa Schmidt   See fewer
Stephen Grattan
Pat O'Brien Pat O'Brien   See fewer
Mary Carr
Mrs. O'Brien (as Mary K. Carr) Mrs. O'Brien (as Mary K. Carr)   See fewer
Jane Grey
Jane O'Brien Jane O'Brien   See fewer
Edward Elkas
Herr Von H. Herr Von H.   See fewer
Anna Lehr
Actress Actress   See fewer
George LeGuere
Actor (as George Le Guere) Actor (as George Le Guere)   See fewer
Anita Cortez
Actress Actress   See fewer
Dick Lee
Actor Actor   See fewer
David Wall
Actor Actor   See fewer
Belle Seacombe
Actress Actress   See fewer
Gerald Day
Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln   See fewer
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