Week One: Turin and the Alps

Week One: Turin and the Alps

After our introductory presentation, we begin with  André Deed's comedy, Come Cretinetti paga i debiti (1908), filmed in Turin's Valentino Park.

Our feature tonight is Maciste Alpino (1916) a patriotic adventure film starring Maciste (Bartolomeo Pagano). A dockworker from Genoa, Pagano was cast in Cabiria (1914) and his epic strength, humour and natural performances made him Italy's greatest male film star, known for the Maciste series throughout Europe and the Americas.

In Maciste Alpino, Maciste is making a film just across the Austro-Hungarian border, but is taken prisoner when the First World War begins. Maciste helps the Italians to escape and eventually dons the Italian Alpine Corps uniform, getting his revenge on his Austro-Hungarian enemies and reuniting a young Italian couple. Although set in the Dolomites, where the First World War was raging, the film was entirely produced in the Alps and in Turin. Pagano's humour, good supporting  performances and Segundo de Chomón's special effects make this a wonderful start to the Italian Silent Film Series.

The film has been recently restored by the Italian National Cinema Museum, and is accompanied by  our pianist George Hetherington.

This film programme will be shown from 7:30pm until 9:30pm on the 11th October 2011 at Durham Clayport Library, Millenium Place, Durham.