The Birth Of A Nation (1915)
Here is the first part of director's D. W. Griffith's controversial epic "The Birth of a Nation". Considered to be a landmark in the history of cinema for its pioneering use of various techniques now in common use, it was voted into the National Film Registry in 1993 and among "The Top 100 American Films" by the American Film Institute in 1998.
The contorversy lies in the depiction of African Americans as a treat, its support for segregation, and its heroic portrayal of the Klu Klux Klan as the saviors of the nation. This led the film to be banned in various cities, encited riots, and caused it to have its name changed (it was originally titled "The Clansmen" after the novel from which the film was adapted).