Unfortunately for Bertini herself, she had already died herself in 1985 and deplored in the documentary L'ultima diva (Gianfranco Mingozzi, 1983) that so little of her oeuvre had survived. Provided with a new score by Ennio Morricone, the film was shown to the Roman beau-monde at the Teatro Sistina in Rome, fitting venue for such a bourgeois spectacle. In 1992 a restoration of the film was made, on basis of, alas, poor materials. While camera-wise perhaps not very innovative, the performances by the leads and the settings and costumes are very remarkable. And this despite fierce competition within Italy from a parallel released version of La signora delle camelie starring Hesperia, and directed by Hesperia's husband and promotor Baldassarre Negroni.
Arias from La Traviata have even led a life of their own, and the scene on this card perfectly expresses the aria Addio al passato in the opera.īertini's film was a huge hit at the time, and certainly all over Europe the film was shown for months in a row. Even if a fiasco at its premiere in 1853 in Venice, it has become classic, and probably Verdi's most performed opera. Olga played the role of Marguerite's friend Mme Duvernoy, the Flora of Verdi's opera.ĭumas's play was indeed turned into one of the most famous operas by Verdi, La Traviata, in which the main characters were called Violetta and Alfredo. In addition to Bertini, Serena and Cruichi, also other Caesar regulars such as Olga and Carlo Benetti and Camillo De Riso were part of the cast.
Armand, whose repenting father has confessed Marguerite's sacrifice, is just in time to hold in her in his arms before she dies.ĭumas's play was scripted by Renzo Chiosso, cinematography was by Bertini's fixed cameraman Alberto Carta, and sets were by Alfredo Manzi. Marguerite withdraws and succumbs to tuberculosis. Armand is so upset about the separation that, before a shocked audience of many, he throws stacks of money on to her, shouting out that he has now fully paid his debts. Yet, unknowing to Armand, Marguerite accepts Armand's father's (Antonio Cruichi) plea to separate herself from Armand because of the family's reputation and she sells all of her belongings. After a life with many men, she chooses Armand.
La Signora delle Camelie chronicles the well-known tragic love story of courtesan Marguerite Gautier (Francesca Bertini) and the provincial bourgeois Armand Duval (Gustavo Serena). Francesca Bertini in La signora delle camelie (Gustavo Serena, Caesar Film 1915), based on the stage play by Alexandre Dumas fils. Collector's card by Chocolate Pi, Barcelona, no. Francesca Bertini in La signora delle camelie (1915)
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