Francesca Bertini & Gustavo Serena in La signora delle camelie
Italian postcard by Ed. Vettori, Bologna. Francesca Bertini (Marguerite Gauthier) and Gustavo Serena (Armand Duval) in the film La signora delle camelie/The lady of the Camelias (Gustavo Serena, 1915). The film was based on Alexandre Dumas fils' classic stage play La dame aux camélias, which in its turn was the basis for Verdi's classic opera La traviata.
Majestic diva of the Italian silent cinema Francesca Bertini (1892 - 1985) was one of the first European film stars. During the first quarter of the twentieth century she often played the 'femme fatale', with men devouring eyes, glamorous attire, clenched fists, and in opulent settings. Gustavo Serena (1882-1970) is most remembered as Francesca Bertini's co-star, but he did more than that. He was also an active film director. For more postcards, a bio and clips check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.
La dame aux camélias aka Camille has been filmed many times, with Vittoria Lepanto (1909); Sarah Bernhardt (1911); Clara Kimball Young (1915); Theda Bara (1917), Erna Morena (1917); Pola Negri (1920); Alla Nazimova (1921); Sybil Thorndike (1922); Tora Teje (1925); Norma Talmadge (1926); Yvonne Printemps (1934); Greta Garbo (1936); Micheline Presle (1953); Maria Felix (1954); Sarah Montiel (1962); Isabelle Huppert (1981); Teresa Stratas (1983); etc. etc. The drama of Marguerite Gauthier, the tuberculosis-ridden, suffering demi-mondaine who wants to get rid of her past and settle down with her lover, but is denied this first by society [his father] and then by fate [her own illness and premature death], must have inspired many a film actress. It has been described as one of Bertini's best roles: 'Amami Alfredo!' In 1915, Bertini's rival Hesperia made a competing version of La signora delle camelie, directed by Baldassarre Negroni.
Francesca Bertini & Gustavo Serena in La signora delle camelie
Italian postcard by Ed. Vettori, Bologna. Francesca Bertini (Marguerite Gauthier) and Gustavo Serena (Armand Duval) in the film La signora delle camelie/The lady of the Camelias (Gustavo Serena, 1915). The film was based on Alexandre Dumas fils' classic stage play La dame aux camélias, which in its turn was the basis for Verdi's classic opera La traviata.
Majestic diva of the Italian silent cinema Francesca Bertini (1892 - 1985) was one of the first European film stars. During the first quarter of the twentieth century she often played the 'femme fatale', with men devouring eyes, glamorous attire, clenched fists, and in opulent settings. Gustavo Serena (1882-1970) is most remembered as Francesca Bertini's co-star, but he did more than that. He was also an active film director. For more postcards, a bio and clips check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.
La dame aux camélias aka Camille has been filmed many times, with Vittoria Lepanto (1909); Sarah Bernhardt (1911); Clara Kimball Young (1915); Theda Bara (1917), Erna Morena (1917); Pola Negri (1920); Alla Nazimova (1921); Sybil Thorndike (1922); Tora Teje (1925); Norma Talmadge (1926); Yvonne Printemps (1934); Greta Garbo (1936); Micheline Presle (1953); Maria Felix (1954); Sarah Montiel (1962); Isabelle Huppert (1981); Teresa Stratas (1983); etc. etc. The drama of Marguerite Gauthier, the tuberculosis-ridden, suffering demi-mondaine who wants to get rid of her past and settle down with her lover, but is denied this first by society [his father] and then by fate [her own illness and premature death], must have inspired many a film actress. It has been described as one of Bertini's best roles: 'Amami Alfredo!' In 1915, Bertini's rival Hesperia made a competing version of La signora delle camelie, directed by Baldassarre Negroni.