My Cousin

Plot

In this 1918 silent comedy-drama, Tommasso, a sincere but struggling sculptor portrayed by Enrico Caruso with a bushy moustache and gawky demeanor, works in an ornamental plaster shop while secretly creating his masterpiece - a bust of his cousin Caroli, the Metropolitan Opera's renowned tenor, also played by Caruso but without moustache and polished. Tommasso hopes to marry his model Rosa, but her father Pietro, a restaurant owner, disapproves of the struggling artist and prefers she settle with the more financially stable greengrocer Lombardi. When Tommasso spends money on opera tickets to take Rosa to see his famous cousin perform, neither cousin recognizes the other during a chance encounter at Galeotto's restaurant, leading to Tommasso being mocked and Rosa believing him to be a liar. The film follows Tommasso's desperate journey to restore his reputation and sell his sculpture to his famous cousin, hoping to prove his worthiness and win back Rosa's heart.

Historical Background

1918 was a pivotal year in world history, marked by the final stages of World War I and the devastating Spanish flu pandemic that would claim millions of lives globally. The film industry was rapidly evolving during this period, with silent films reaching new heights of artistic sophistication and longer feature-length productions becoming the standard. American cinema was establishing itself as a dominant cultural force, with Hollywood beginning to eclipse European film production. The Metropolitan Opera, where Caruso's character performs in the film, was at the height of its cultural significance in American society, representing the pinnacle of high culture and artistic achievement. This film emerged during the transition period when established performing artists from theater and opera were increasingly drawn to the new medium of cinema, bringing their established audiences and artistic credibility to the fledgling film industry.

Making Of

The production of 'My Cousin' represented a significant crossover between the worlds of opera and early cinema, with the Metropolitan Opera granting unprecedented access to their facilities and performances. Edward José, the director, had to carefully orchestrate Caruso's dual performance, utilizing early film techniques to clearly distinguish between the two characters despite being played by the same actor. The makeup department faced the challenge of creating two distinctly different looks for Caruso - the rough, artistic Tommasso versus the polished, sophisticated Caroli. Filming in New York City provided authentic urban backdrops, including actual restaurant locations and the prestigious Metropolitan Opera House. The production team worked closely with Caruso to accommodate his opera schedule, often filming around his performance commitments. Caruso, despite his enormous stage presence, had to adapt his acting style for the intimate camera, learning to convey emotion through subtle expressions rather than the grand gestures typical of opera performance.

Visual Style

The cinematography of 'My Cousin' reflects the transitional state of film techniques in 1918, moving away from the static theatrical compositions of earlier cinema toward more dynamic camera work. The film utilizes medium shots and close-ups effectively to capture Caruso's facial expressions, particularly important for distinguishing between his two characters. The Metropolitan Opera sequences feature grand, sweeping shots that convey the scale and opulence of the venue, while the more intimate scenes in the sculptor's workshop and restaurant employ tighter framing to emphasize character interactions. The lighting techniques demonstrate the growing sophistication of the era, with careful attention paid to creating different moods for the various settings. The film makes effective use of location shooting in New York City, providing authentic urban backdrops that enhance the story's realism. The cinematography successfully balances the need to showcase Caruso's star presence with the narrative requirements of telling a coherent visual story without dialogue.

Innovations

The film's most notable technical achievement lies in its effective use of dual role photography, with Enrico Caruso playing both Tommasso and Caroli. The production employed early split-screen techniques and careful editing to create convincing interactions between the two characters, demonstrating the growing sophistication of special effects in 1918. The makeup and costume department achieved remarkable differentiation between the two characters using limited tools of the era, with Caruso's transformation requiring significant physical alterations including the addition and removal of his distinctive moustache. The film showcases advances in location filming techniques, particularly in capturing the grandeur of the Metropolitan Opera House and authentic New York City street scenes. The production demonstrated improved lighting techniques for creating different moods across various settings, from the dimly lit sculptor's workshop to the opulent restaurant scenes. The movie also represents progress in narrative pacing and storytelling techniques for feature-length films, balancing comedy and drama within a cohesive structure that maintains audience engagement throughout its runtime.

Music

As a silent film, 'My Cousin' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its original theatrical run. The score likely varied by theater, ranging from solo piano accompaniment in smaller venues to full orchestral arrangements in prestigious movie palaces. Given the film's connection to opera, many theaters probably incorporated popular opera pieces into their accompaniment, potentially including works that Caruso himself was famous for performing. The Metropolitan Opera scenes would have called for particularly grand musical treatment to match the on-screen spectacle. Some theaters might have used cue sheets provided by the studio, suggesting specific musical pieces for different scenes and emotional beats. The transition between the comedic and dramatic elements of the story would have required careful musical modulation to guide audience emotions. Modern restorations of the film have typically commissioned new scores that blend period-appropriate music with contemporary sensibilities, often incorporating Italian musical themes to reflect the characters' heritage.

Memorable Scenes

• The transformation sequence where Caruso changes from the rough sculptor Tommasso to the polished opera singer Caroli, showcasing early makeup and costume techniques
• The opera house scene where Caroli performs on stage while Tommasso watches from the audience, highlighting the contrast between the cousins' lives
• The restaurant confrontation where the cousins meet but fail to recognize each other, leading to misunderstanding and embarrassment
• The climactic scene where Tommasso presents his sculpture to Caroli, hoping to prove his artistic worth and win Rosa's approval
• The opening sequence in the sculptor's workshop, establishing Tommasso's artistic passion and financial struggles

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics praised Caruso's natural screen presence and comedic timing, noting that his opera training translated surprisingly well to the silent medium. The New York Times particularly highlighted his ability to create two distinct characters, stating that 'the great tenor proves himself as capable an actor as he is a singer.' Variety magazine appreciated the film's charming story and Caruso's dual performance, though some critics felt the plot was somewhat conventional. Modern film historians view the movie as an interesting curiosity that documents Caruso's brief film career, with particular appreciation for its historical value rather than its artistic merits. The film is generally regarded as a pleasant but minor work from the silent era, valuable primarily for its documentation of Caruso's screen presence and its representation of early crossover entertainment between opera and cinema.

What Audiences Thought

Audiences in 1918 flocked to theaters to see the legendary Enrico Caruso on screen, with the film capitalizing on his enormous popularity as an opera star. Many viewers were curious to see how the famous tenor would translate his talents to the silent medium, and most were pleasantly surprised by his charismatic performance. The dual role aspect generated particular excitement, with audiences marveling at Caruso's ability to portray two distinctly different characters. Italian-American communities especially embraced the film, seeing representation of their culture and one of their most celebrated countrymen on screen. Despite the challenges of film exhibition during the 1918 flu pandemic, the movie performed reasonably well at the box office, particularly in urban areas with large opera-going populations. Modern audiences who have had the opportunity to see restored versions of the film generally appreciate it as a historical artifact and a charming example of silent-era comedy-drama.

You Might Also Like