Comments on: Berlin Film Festival to Showcase Women's Roles in Silent Films http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-festivals/berlin-film-festival-to-showcase-womens-roles-in-silent-films/ The Oscars, film awards, new releases, Los Angeles screenings, movie classics, gay movies, film festivals, box office, foreign and independent films Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:29:46 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jameshttp://www.altfg.com/blog/film-festivals/berlin-film-festival-to-showcase-womens-roles-in-silent-films/#comment-99893 James Fri, 24 Nov 2006 14:19:52 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2006/11/14/berlin-film-festival-to-showcase-womens-roles-in-silent-films/#comment-99893 How could you forget Manzini?? She was way cool in "Cabiria". "Cabiria" is a film that I find visually beautiful to look at but dramatically pretty dull. Manzini was one of the few performers who held my attention. Also Bartolomeo Pagano was rather likeable. Manzini was ravishingly beautiful and I got a kick out of her walking a pet leopard on a leash! Plus she has one of the coolest death scenes in movies. Bertini was in movies for quite a long time. She made her first film around 1907, and made her last in the late 1970's. A film career somewhat comperable to Lillian Gish's here in America in terms of longevity. Actually I was mistaken, I *have* seen Bertini in other films. She's in two of the films on Kino's DVD of early silent Shakesphere films. Although she really doesn't have any kind of standout screentime. How could you forget Manzini?? She was way cool in "Cabiria". "Cabiria" is a film that I find visually beautiful to look at but dramatically pretty dull. Manzini was one of the few performers who held my attention. Also Bartolomeo Pagano was rather likeable. Manzini was ravishingly beautiful and I got a kick out of her walking a pet leopard on a leash! Plus she has one of the coolest death scenes in movies.

Bertini was in movies for quite a long time. She made her first film around 1907, and made her last in the late 1970's. A film career somewhat comperable to Lillian Gish's here in America in terms of longevity. Actually I was mistaken, I *have* seen Bertini in other films. She's in two of the films on Kino's DVD of early silent Shakesphere films. Although she really doesn't have any kind of standout screentime.

]]> By: Andre Soareshttp://www.altfg.com/blog/film-festivals/berlin-film-festival-to-showcase-womens-roles-in-silent-films/#comment-99710 Andre Soares Wed, 22 Nov 2006 10:30:04 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2006/11/14/berlin-film-festival-to-showcase-womens-roles-in-silent-films/#comment-99710 James, With a name like Italia Almirante-Manzini, how could that actress *not* become a big star? I've seen "Cabiria," but for the life of me I can't remember any Italia in it. Gotta check it out again. I'm quite sure Francesca Bertini has a small role in Bernardo Bertolucci's "Novecento." (I'm too lazy to look at the IMDb now.) I believe that one is available on DVD (or at least on video.) I'll look for it, too. And I have Yevgeny Bauer's work on my Must See list. Thanks again for all the silent-film tips. James,

With a name like Italia Almirante-Manzini, how could that actress *not* become a big star? I've seen "Cabiria," but for the life of me I can't remember any Italia in it. Gotta check it out again.

I'm quite sure Francesca Bertini has a small role in Bernardo Bertolucci's "Novecento." (I'm too lazy to look at the IMDb now.) I believe that one is available on DVD (or at least on video.) I'll look for it, too.

And I have Yevgeny Bauer's work on my Must See list. Thanks again for all the silent-film tips.

]]> By: Jameshttp://www.altfg.com/blog/film-festivals/berlin-film-festival-to-showcase-womens-roles-in-silent-films/#comment-99677 James Tue, 21 Nov 2006 21:15:36 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2006/11/14/berlin-film-festival-to-showcase-womens-roles-in-silent-films/#comment-99677 I've only seen Bertini in "Assunta Spina"(1914) and Lyda Borelli in "Rapsodia Satanica"(1915). I haven't seen any of the other major Italian actresses from the silent era except Italia Almirante-Manzini who was a pretty big star I believe. She was the vamp in "Cabiria". Bertini is quite interesting in "The Last Diva" At about 94, she still seems to have been quite a sharp and commanding lady. Most of the documentary was filmed while Bertini was in an Italian archive watching a print of "Assunta Spina" There was something interesting about seeing the old Bertini watching the young Bertini on screen in a film made nearly seventy years before. Yes, the Bauer set is very fascinating. Bauer's "Zhizn za Zhizn"(1916) starring the haunting Vera Kholodnaya is on Milestone's 10-VHS set of early Russian films. A fascinating and visually compelling film and an interesting actress. I really hope more of these early Russian films make it to DVD. Unfortunately the Milestone set isn't on DVD. The most widely seen Russian silents are the experimental silents from the 20's by Eisenstein. These early Russian films are *much* different. A much more conventional filmmaking structure, yet very unlike American films. And featuring an interesting roster of Russian stars. I've only seen Bertini in "Assunta Spina"(1914) and Lyda Borelli in "Rapsodia Satanica"(1915). I haven't seen any of the other major Italian actresses from the silent era except Italia Almirante-Manzini who was a pretty big star I believe. She was the vamp in "Cabiria". Bertini is quite interesting in "The Last Diva" At about 94, she still seems to have been quite a sharp and commanding lady. Most of the documentary was filmed while Bertini was in an Italian archive watching a print of "Assunta Spina" There was something interesting about seeing the old Bertini watching the young Bertini on screen in a film made nearly seventy years before.

Yes, the Bauer set is very fascinating. Bauer's "Zhizn za Zhizn"(1916) starring the haunting Vera Kholodnaya is on Milestone's 10-VHS set of early Russian films. A fascinating and visually compelling film and an interesting actress. I really hope more of these early Russian films make it to DVD. Unfortunately the Milestone set isn't on DVD. The most widely seen Russian silents are the experimental silents from the 20's by Eisenstein. These early Russian films are *much* different. A much more conventional filmmaking structure, yet very unlike American films. And featuring an interesting roster of Russian stars.

]]> By: Andre Soareshttp://www.altfg.com/blog/film-festivals/berlin-film-festival-to-showcase-womens-roles-in-silent-films/#comment-99638 Andre Soares Tue, 21 Nov 2006 09:15:18 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2006/11/14/berlin-film-festival-to-showcase-womens-roles-in-silent-films/#comment-99638 James, Thanks for the commentary. I'll have to look for that Bauer set. It sounds fascinating. I've never seen Francesca Bertini in anything -- I don't think. Gotta look for that Kino DVD, too. James,
Thanks for the commentary. I'll have to look for that Bauer set. It sounds fascinating.

I've never seen Francesca Bertini in anything — I don't think. Gotta look for that Kino DVD, too.

]]> By: Jameshttp://www.altfg.com/blog/film-festivals/berlin-film-festival-to-showcase-womens-roles-in-silent-films/#comment-99472 James Mon, 20 Nov 2006 00:56:49 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2006/11/14/berlin-film-festival-to-showcase-womens-roles-in-silent-films/#comment-99472 "Twilight of a Woman's Soul" is on the Image DVD of Bauer short films that came out three or four years ago. It's a stunningly beautiful little film. Bauer has a gift for striking, surreal, and beautifully lit visual compositions. It was a pretty good film with an extraordinary use of mobile camerawork. Particularly when compared with many other films from 1913. The acting is somewhat stilted, but it's an impressive film, although my two favorite films on the set were the two films starring Russian ballerina Vera Karalli. "Assunta Spina" is likewise an impressive film with a fascinating performance from Francesca Bertini. Kino released this one with a 1982 documentury" The Last Diva" featuring a 94 year old Bertini talking about her career. She claimed that her film preceeded the Neo-Realist era of Italian Cinema. The documentary also showed clips of several of her now-forgotten contemporaries in Italian silent cinema such as Soave Gallone, Lyda Gys, Maria Jacobini, and Bertini's biggest rival the otherworldly and visually compelling Lyda Borelli. "The Social Secretary" is a terrific film and one of Talmadge's best films from this early period of her career. Too bad they didn't screen Within The Law, which is even better and a very fine performance from Talmadge. "Twilight of a Woman's Soul" is on the Image DVD of Bauer short films that came out three or four years ago. It's a stunningly beautiful little film. Bauer has a gift for striking, surreal, and beautifully lit visual compositions. It was a pretty good film with an extraordinary use of mobile camerawork. Particularly when compared with many other films from 1913. The acting is somewhat stilted, but it's an impressive film, although my two favorite films on the set were the two films starring Russian ballerina Vera Karalli.

"Assunta Spina" is likewise an impressive film with a fascinating performance from Francesca Bertini. Kino released this one with a 1982 documentury" The Last Diva" featuring a 94 year old Bertini talking about her career. She claimed that her film preceeded the Neo-Realist era of Italian Cinema. The documentary also showed clips of several of her now-forgotten contemporaries in Italian silent cinema such as Soave Gallone, Lyda Gys, Maria Jacobini, and Bertini's biggest rival the otherworldly and visually compelling Lyda Borelli.

"The Social Secretary" is a terrific film and one of Talmadge's best films from this early period of her career. Too bad they didn't screen Within The Law, which is even better and a very fine performance from Talmadge.

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