Francesca Bertini Movies
Italian actress, Francesca Bertini, born Elena Seracini Vitiello, was an internationally known star of silent films, particularly Assunta Spina (1915) and was known as Italy's first major female star. Bertini, the daughter of a theatrical actress, began performing on stage while she was still a teenager. She made her film debut in 1904, but did not become well known until 1909 with Il Trovatore. At the height of her popularity, Bertini was among the most admired and imitated women in her country. She married a Swiss count in 1921 and left the cinema. Later in her life she occasionally appeared in French, Spanish, and Italian films. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
During the silent period, a surprising number of opera stars found themselves starring in movies, especially in Europe, and while the voices that were their fortune could not be heard, their hyper-emotional histrionics often communicated with unusual power on the big screen. Filmmaker Peter Delpeut, who previously examined the mysterious and otherworldly images of early cinema in Lyrical Nitrate, has compiled footage from a dozen operatic silents released between 1913 and 1920 in his feature Diva Dolorosa. Edited for emotional and visual impact rather than narrative clarity, Diva Dolorosa features vintage performances from such singing stars as Lyda Borelli, Pina Meichelli, and Francesca Bertini. The film also boasts an original score by Loek Dikker, which was performed with a live orchestra for the film's world premiere at the 1999 Holland Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lyda Borelli, Pina Menichelli, (more)
- 1982
This interesting tribute to Francesca Bertini is comprised of an interview with the early Italian-silents star herself, clips from her films -- especially focusing on the 1915 Assunta Spina, and scenes of her watching and commenting on a screening of one of her movies. She played the mother in the 1916 Odette, and reprised the same role in the 1934 sound version of Odette -- with her interpretation in both cases presented side-by-side from each film for an interesting contrast in the long gap between performances. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
Bernardo Bertolucci's 255-minute 1900 was a gargantuan undertaking, requiring the resources of three European countries and a trio of American movie studios. Set in the Italian town of Parma, the film's continuity backtracks from Liberation Day in 1945 to the occasion of composer/patriot Giuseppe Verdi's death in 1901. We follow the lives of two men born on that day in 1901, who grow up to be Alfredo Berlinghieti (Robert De Niro) and Olmo Dalco (Gérard Depardieu). Wealthy Alfredo sinks into dissipation, while poverty-stricken Olmo becomes a firebrand labor leader and communist. After WWI, Alfredo is allowed to peacefully retain his land holdings by playing nice with the burgeoning fascists; Olmo, on the other hand, engages in a long-standing battle against the minions of Mussolini. The two protagonists are reunited when Alfredo returns to Parma to preside over Olmo's trial for "political crimes." Co-star Burt Lancaster is cast as Alfredo's wealthy grandfather, who hates to see the old values buried beneath the social travails of the 20th century. Many American prints of 1900 were shortened to 243 minutes, rendering the story hard to follow at times. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert De Niro, Gérard Depardieu, (more)
- 1927
Odette was adapted from the Victorien Sardou story of the same name. Suspecting his wife Odette of being unfaithful, Count Clermont orders her out of his house. To cover up his presumed shame, Clermont informs his daughter that her mother is dead and goes so far as to erect a shrine in Odette's memory. Years later, Odette returns to reclaim her daughter, who of course fails to recognize her. Unable to return to the hearth and home of her family, Odette chooses to end it all. Contemporary reviews indicated that Francesca Bertini was brilliant in the title role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Francesca Bertini, Warwick Ward, (more)
- 1918
This sumptuous adaptation of Sardou's classic tragedy La Tosca starred Pauline Frederick in the title role. Set in 19th-century Rome, the film recounts the familiar story of Floria Tosca's (Frederick) tragic triangular relationship with Baron Scarpia (Frank Losee) and Mario Cavardossi (Jules Raucourt). To save rebel leader Mario from the firing squad, Tosca gives in to the lecherous demands of Scarpia then kills the villain. Alas, Mario's "rescue" turns out to be a sham, and things end as badly for the heroine as they do for the two men in her life. Several critics with long memories felt that Pauline Frederick was not in the same league as such past theatrical Toscas as Sarah Bernhardt. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1915
With so many overblown historical epics coming out of Italy in the pre-World War I era, the simplicity and naturalism Assunta Spina was a welcome relief. Based on the novel and play by Salvatore Di Giacomo, the film tells of a Neopolitan working-class girl whose livelihood and honor is constantly threatened by those more powerful than herself. In addition to playing the title role, Francesca Bertini codirected the film with Gustavo Serena. Bertini was among the most popular of the cinematic divas of the silent era, usually comporting herself in an operatic fashion. In Assunte Spina, however, her performance is down-to-earth and restrained, in much the same manner as the leading ladies of the post-World War II Italian neorealist dramas. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Francesca Bertini
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