The Fire
About The Fire
The film is in three parts: La favilla, La vampa, and La cenere. An unknown painter, Mario Alberti (Febo Mari), is working beside a reedy river when a famous poetess (Pina Menichelli) comes up to him. She talks him into leaving the mother he lives with and moving to her manor. There he paints again and makes his name. A telegram says her husband is coming back. She leaves Mario, and he goes mad.
Cast & crew
More about The Fire
Giovanni Pastrone wrote and directed it under the name Piero Fosco, with Febo Mari on the story. Segundo de Chomón photographed it for Itala. It is loosely taken from Gabriele D'Annunzio's novel Il fuoco. Italian censors held the release. Spain saw it on 7 April 1916, and Italy on 29 April 1916. The negative is about 1,100 meters.
Themes
Making
This was Menichelli's first large Itala role. The Spanish opening was used while the Italian censorship file was still open.
Look
Segundo de Chomón photographed the riverbank meeting and the manor interiors for Itala.
Music
Silent on release. Giardini di Mirò later recorded a rock score with the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, released as the album Il fuoco.
Preservation
A print is held by the Museo Nazionale del Cinema in Turin.
Notes
- Menichelli's poetess is not given a personal name. She is introduced as a celebrated poet and an aristocrat.
- One seduction is staged by smashing an oil lamp on a table so the flames can be watched.
- Pastrone did not put his own name on the film. A 1916 notice in Film still treated Piero Fosco as an unknown.
- The Museo Nazionale del Cinema in Turin later worked with the band Giardini di Mirò on a new rock score, issued as the album Il fuoco.
Scenes
- She smashes an oil lamp on the table and watches it burn.
- The telegram about her husband ends the affair, and Mario breaks down.
Influenced by
- Il fuoco (Gabriele D'Annunzio)
Also available
- Internet Archive (silent-il-fuoco-la-favilla--la-vampa--la-cenere-aka-the-fire)
