The Last Days of Pompeii (1908 film)

The Last Days of Pompeii
The Last Days of Pompeii
Directed by	Arturo Ambrosio; Luigi Maggi
Written by	Roberto Omegna
Based on	The Last Days of Pompeii; 1834 novel; by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Produced by	Arturo Ambrosio
Starring	Luigi Maggi; Lydia De Roberti; Umberto Mozzato
Cinematography	Roberto Omegna; Giovanni Vitrotti
Production; company	Ambrosio Film
Distributed by	Ambrosio Film
Release date	December 1908;
Running time	17 minutes
Country	Italy
Languages	Silent; Italian intertitles

The Last Days of Pompeii (Italian:Gli ultimi giorni di Pompeii) is a 1908 Italian silent historical film directed by Arturo Ambrosio and Luigi Maggi and starring Lydia De Roberti and Umberto Mozzato.^[1] It was loosely based on the novel of the same title by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. The film was a success on its release, and its popularity is credited with starting a fashion for epic historical films.^[2]

The film was made by the Turin-based Ambrosio Film.

Plot

In Pompeii 79AD, Glaucus and Jone are in love with each other. Arbaces, the Egyptian High Priest, is determined to conquer her. Glaucus buys the blind slave Nydia who is mishandled by her owner.

Nydia falls in love with Glaucus and asks Arbaces for his help. He gives her a potion to make Glaucus fall in love with her. In fact it is a poison which will destroy his mind. Ione's brother Apaecides threatens to reveal publicly his wrongdoings. Arbaces kills him and accuses Glaucus of the crime. He locks Nydia in a cellar to prevent her from speaking.

Glaucus is condemned to be thrown to the lions. Nydia manages to escape and rushes to the Circus where she arrives just as the Vesuvius starts erupting.

A widespread panic ensues and under the shock, Glaucus recovers his mind. Blind Nydia, the only one to find her way in the darkness caused by the rain of ashes, leads Glaucus and Jone to safety and finds peace by drowning herself.^[3]

Cast

Luigi Maggi as Arbace
Lydia De Roberti as Nidia
Umberto Mozzato as Glauco
Ernesto Vaser as Il padrone di Nidia
Mirra Principi
Cesare Gani Carini

References

^ Moliterno p.6
^ Moliterno p.6
^ Review, synopsis and link to watch the english version of the film: "A cinema history". Retrieved 16 July 2020.

Bibliography

Brunetta, Gian Piero. The History of Italian Cinema: A Guide to Italian Film from Its Origins to the Twenty-first Century. Princeton University Press, 2009.
Moliterno, Gino. The A to Z of Italian Cinema. Scarecrow Press, 2009.

External links

The Last Days of Pompeii at IMDb

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[1] Moliterno p.6

[2] Moliterno p.6

[3] Review, synopsis and link to watch the english version of the film: "A cinema history". Retrieved 16 July 2020.

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