Nero, or The Fall of Rome
About Nero, or The Fall of Rome
Nero, out with his wife Claudia Octavia, notices the patrician Poppea and has his freedman Epaphroditus fetch her from a party to the palace. He shows her to the people as empress, throws Octavia out when she asks for the empire she brought as dowry, and has her killed at Poppea's urging. A maid takes the news to Rome and the people rise. Told the revolt is coming, Nero burns the city and watches from a terrace with his lyre, then, condemned by the Senate, flees with Epaphroditus to Phaon's villa and kills himself with his sword.
Cast & crew
More about Nero, or The Fall of Rome
Luigi Maggi and Arturo Ambrosio directed for Ambrosio, from Pietro Cossa's 1872 play Nerone. Arrigo Frusta and Decoroso Bonifanti wrote the scenario, and Giovanni Vitrotti was cameraman. Alberto Capozzi plays Nero, Lydia De Roberti Poppea, Mirra Principi Octavia, and Maggi himself Epaphroditus.
Themes
Background
Cossa's verse drama Nerone, from 1872, supplies the Octavia, Poppea, and Phaon outline.
Making
Bonifanti is also credited with the décor.
Look
Giovanni Vitrotti photographed the palace, the terrace over the fire, and the flight to Phaon's villa.
Preservation
A print survives.
Notes
- The Italian title is Nerone, o la caduta di Roma.
- Italian release is given as 1 November 1909, after a German opening on 28 October.
- About 300 copies were sold abroad.
- It is one of the oldest surviving Italian films set in ancient Rome.
Scenes
- Nero presents Poppea to the crowd and drives Octavia away.
- He plays the lyre on a terrace while the city burns.
- Hunted into the woods with Epaphroditus, he falls on his sword.
Influenced by
- Pietro Cossa's 1872 play Nerone
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (Nerone (1909) .webm)
