Francesca Bertini in L'accidia (1919)
Spanish cromo (collector's card). Bertini Film/ Caesar Film. Distr. J. Gurgui, Barcelona. Chocolate Imperial. Francesca Bertini in L'accidia (Acedia, Alfredo De Antoni, 1919), released in Spain as Pereza. Part of the series I sette peccati capitali (The Seven Mortal Sins) with Bertini. Series of 10 collectors cards, no. 10.
Plot: It is nine years since Octavio Fortis (Guido Trento) has left his natal village and has enjoyed city life, while becoming an energetic industrial engineer. When returning full of nostalgia to his village, he meets the beautiful but inert Bianca, who has escaped her house, always peopled by the sleepy trio of her father, the pharmacist Fanelli, the village priest Alfonso Procacci (Camillo De Riso), and the majordomus of the local castle. The two young people fall in love. Meanwhile the priest is setting up a mariage between Bianca and the Duke Luciano (Livio Pavanelli), the owner of the castle. Bianca first rebels but then gives in and marries the duke. She blames the duke's inertia to the castle and convinces to move to the city to enjoy the high life there (to which the duke is insensible). There she meets Manuel, Count of the Antilles, who impresses everyone with his fame and fortune. Yet, he proves to be a reckless womanizer. When also Octavio pursuits her, and the two meet again at a ball, rekindling their flame, Bianca fears for her mariage and wants to go back to the castle and the quiet countryside. Yet, to Bianca's horror the duke also invites his friend the count, who again starts to pursuit her, makes a deal with the majordomus, and even gets the key to the house. He blackmails Bianca because of her talks to Octavio. He also challenges Octavio to a duel, but the latter refuses such nonsense. The count therefore sets a trap, warning the Duke his wife is about to commit adultery and pressing him to kill the rival. When the two men catch the couple at Octavio's house, the inert duke has the first explosion of anger of his life. Still, he cannot shoot people, so the count points at Octavio with his gun. Yet, the engineer throws himself on him. Only when disarming him, he accidentally shoots the duke. Bianca is in tears. Days after, she will reunite Octavio, and find her true life.
(Description according to the cards. The one in Vittorio Martinelli, Il cinema muto, Vol. 1919, is much shorter but adds that Octavio is planning to redevelop the village by use of hydroelectricity).
L'accidia was scripted by George Ruby, cinematographed by Giuseppe Filippa, while sets were by Alfredo Manzi. Other actors were Alberto Albertini, Luigi Cigoli, and Francesco Gennaro. The Roman premiere took place on 1 November 1919. While story and direction were judged okay but not special by the journal Cine-Fono, praise was for Bertini, who for once looked genuine, was acting discretely (even in dramatic scenes) and didn't twist her mouth for once. (Source: Il cinema muto italiano, Vol. 1919)
I sette peccati capitali is an Italian serial based on the Eugène Sue novel series Les sept pêchés capitaux (1847-1852). The film series was believed lost until found at the Prague Film Institute (Ceskoslovensky Filmovy Archiv). It was carefully restored including the original tinting and shown at the festival Il Cinema Ritrovatto in Bologna in 1991 (first restorations L'avarizia and L'orgoglio) and in 2003. The complete series consists of: L'orgoglio, La gola, L'ira and L' avarizia (all 1918), L'Invidia, L'accidia and La lussuria (all 1919). Critics didn't like it at the time but audiences flocked to it. (Source: IMDb)
During the first quarter of the twentieth century, Francesca Bertini (1892-1985) was a majestic diva of the Italian silent cinema. She often played the 'femme fatale', with men devouring eyes, glamorous attire, clenched fists, and in opulent settings...
Francesca Bertini in L'accidia (1919)
Spanish cromo (collector's card). Bertini Film/ Caesar Film. Distr. J. Gurgui, Barcelona. Chocolate Imperial. Francesca Bertini in L'accidia (Acedia, Alfredo De Antoni, 1919), released in Spain as Pereza. Part of the series I sette peccati capitali (The Seven Mortal Sins) with Bertini. Series of 10 collectors cards, no. 10.
Plot: It is nine years since Octavio Fortis (Guido Trento) has left his natal village and has enjoyed city life, while becoming an energetic industrial engineer. When returning full of nostalgia to his village, he meets the beautiful but inert Bianca, who has escaped her house, always peopled by the sleepy trio of her father, the pharmacist Fanelli, the village priest Alfonso Procacci (Camillo De Riso), and the majordomus of the local castle. The two young people fall in love. Meanwhile the priest is setting up a mariage between Bianca and the Duke Luciano (Livio Pavanelli), the owner of the castle. Bianca first rebels but then gives in and marries the duke. She blames the duke's inertia to the castle and convinces to move to the city to enjoy the high life there (to which the duke is insensible). There she meets Manuel, Count of the Antilles, who impresses everyone with his fame and fortune. Yet, he proves to be a reckless womanizer. When also Octavio pursuits her, and the two meet again at a ball, rekindling their flame, Bianca fears for her mariage and wants to go back to the castle and the quiet countryside. Yet, to Bianca's horror the duke also invites his friend the count, who again starts to pursuit her, makes a deal with the majordomus, and even gets the key to the house. He blackmails Bianca because of her talks to Octavio. He also challenges Octavio to a duel, but the latter refuses such nonsense. The count therefore sets a trap, warning the Duke his wife is about to commit adultery and pressing him to kill the rival. When the two men catch the couple at Octavio's house, the inert duke has the first explosion of anger of his life. Still, he cannot shoot people, so the count points at Octavio with his gun. Yet, the engineer throws himself on him. Only when disarming him, he accidentally shoots the duke. Bianca is in tears. Days after, she will reunite Octavio, and find her true life.
(Description according to the cards. The one in Vittorio Martinelli, Il cinema muto, Vol. 1919, is much shorter but adds that Octavio is planning to redevelop the village by use of hydroelectricity).
L'accidia was scripted by George Ruby, cinematographed by Giuseppe Filippa, while sets were by Alfredo Manzi. Other actors were Alberto Albertini, Luigi Cigoli, and Francesco Gennaro. The Roman premiere took place on 1 November 1919. While story and direction were judged okay but not special by the journal Cine-Fono, praise was for Bertini, who for once looked genuine, was acting discretely (even in dramatic scenes) and didn't twist her mouth for once. (Source: Il cinema muto italiano, Vol. 1919)
I sette peccati capitali is an Italian serial based on the Eugène Sue novel series Les sept pêchés capitaux (1847-1852). The film series was believed lost until found at the Prague Film Institute (Ceskoslovensky Filmovy Archiv). It was carefully restored including the original tinting and shown at the festival Il Cinema Ritrovatto in Bologna in 1991 (first restorations L'avarizia and L'orgoglio) and in 2003. The complete series consists of: L'orgoglio, La gola, L'ira and L' avarizia (all 1918), L'Invidia, L'accidia and La lussuria (all 1919). Critics didn't like it at the time but audiences flocked to it. (Source: IMDb)
During the first quarter of the twentieth century, Francesca Bertini (1892-1985) was a majestic diva of the Italian silent cinema. She often played the 'femme fatale', with men devouring eyes, glamorous attire, clenched fists, and in opulent settings...