Alfredo de Sousa
Actor
About Alfredo de Sousa
Alfredo de Sousa was a pioneering Portuguese actor who appeared during the very dawn of Portuguese cinema, making his mark in the silent film era. His most notable and perhaps only known appearance was in the 1911 film 'Crimes de Diogo Alves,' which was one of the earliest narrative feature films produced in Portugal. This historical drama was based on the real-life story of Diogo Alves, a notorious serial killer who terrorized Lisbon in the 1840s. As an actor in this groundbreaking Portuguese production, de Sousa was part of the first generation of performers to work in the nascent Portuguese film industry. The film itself was directed by João de Barro and represented a significant milestone in Portuguese cinematic history, attempting to bring national folklore and historical events to the screen. Unfortunately, like many actors from this early period of European cinema, detailed records of de Sousa's life and career are extremely scarce, and his contribution to Portuguese film history remains largely undocumented beyond this single appearance.
The Craft
Milestones
- Appeared in 'Crimes de Diogo Alves' (1911), one of Portugal's earliest feature films
- Participated in the pioneering era of Portuguese silent cinema
Best Known For
Iconic Roles
Must-See Films
Working Relationships
Worked Often With
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Alfredo de Sousa, though his career was brief and largely undocumented, represents an important part of Portuguese cinema's foundation. As an actor in one of Portugal's earliest narrative films, he was among the first generation of Portuguese performers to embrace the new medium of cinema. His participation in 'Crimes de Diogo Alves' contributed to the establishment of a national film identity in Portugal, helping to bring Portuguese historical stories and folklore to the screen. The film itself was significant for its time, representing Portugal's efforts to develop its own film industry in the early 20th century, and actors like de Sousa were instrumental in this cultural movement.
Lasting Legacy
Alfredo de Sousa's legacy is that of a pioneer in Portuguese cinema, representing the very beginnings of film acting in Portugal. While his name may not be widely recognized today, his contribution to Portuguese film history is significant as part of the first wave of actors who helped establish the country's cinematic tradition. The film 'Crimes de Diogo Alves' stands as an important historical artifact of early Portuguese cinema, and de Sousa's participation in it marks him as a foundational figure in the nation's film history, even if his individual story remains largely untold.
Who They Inspired
Due to the extremely limited documentation of his career and the early stage of Portuguese cinema during his time of activity, it's difficult to trace Alfredo de Sousa's direct influence on other performers. However, as one of the early actors in Portuguese cinema, he would have been part of establishing the initial approaches to screen acting in Portugal, helping to define how Portuguese stories could be told through the new medium of film.
Off Screen
Very little is known about Alfredo de Sousa's personal life, which is typical for actors from the very early period of Portuguese cinema. Records from this era are scarce, and many details about early film performers have been lost to history.
Did You Know?
- Appeared in one of Portugal's earliest feature films
- Worked during the silent era of Portuguese cinema
- Participated in a film based on a real historical serial killer
- The film 'Crimes de Diogo Alves' is considered a milestone in early Portuguese cinema
- Very few records survive about actors from this period of Portuguese film history
- His career spanned only the year 1911 according to available records
- The film he appeared in dealt with one of Portugal's most notorious criminals from the 19th century
- Early Portuguese cinema was heavily influenced by theater traditions
- Many early Portuguese films from this era have been lost
- Actors in early Portuguese cinema often came from theatrical backgrounds
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Alfredo de Sousa?
Alfredo de Sousa was a Portuguese actor who worked during the silent film era, best known for his appearance in the 1911 film 'Crimes de Diogo Alves,' one of Portugal's earliest narrative feature films.
What films is Alfredo de Sousa best known for?
Alfredo de Sousa is known for his role in 'Crimes de Diogo Alves' (1911), which appears to be his only documented film appearance and represents a significant milestone in early Portuguese cinema.
When was Alfredo de Sousa born and when did he die?
Unfortunately, specific birth and death dates for Alfredo de Sousa are not available in historical records, which is typical for actors from this very early period of Portuguese cinema.
What awards did Alfredo de Sousa win?
No awards or nominations for Alfredo de Sousa are documented, which is common for actors from the silent era in Portugal, as formal award systems for cinema were not yet established.
What was Alfredo de Sousa's acting style?
Specific details about Alfredo de Sousa's acting style are not documented, though actors in this early period of cinema typically used theatrical techniques adapted for the silent medium.
Films
1 film
