''Assunta Spina'' is a 1909

tragic play Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy i ...

by the Italian writer

Salvatore Di Giacomo Salvatore Di Giacomo (12 March 1860 – 5 April 1934) was an Italian poet, songwriter, playwright and fascist, one of the signatories to the Manifesto of the Fascist Intellectuals. Di Giacomo is credited as being one of those responsible for ...

, based on his earlier short story of the same name. It premiered at the Teatro Nuovo in

Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...

with Adelina Magnetti in the title role and a cast that also included Gennaro Pantalena and

Francesca Bertini Francesca Bertini (born Elena Seracini Vitiello; 5 January 1892 – 13 October 1985) was an Italian silent film actress. She was one of the most successful silent film stars in the first quarter of the twentieth-century. Biography Born in Pra ...

, who would subsequently play Assunta in the 1915 film. A 1927 revival at the

Teatro Manzoni The Teatro Manzoni is a theatre in the northern Italian city of Milan, located on the Via Manzoni. Opened in 1870 it was originally called the ''Teatro sociale di Milano'', before being renamed after Alessandro Manzoni following his death in 187 ...

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

starred

Vera Vergani Vera Vergani (1894–1989) was an Italian stage actress. She also starred in a number of silent films.Goble p.155, p.275 & p.344 She was the mother of the film producer Leo Pescarolo. She played the title role in the 1927 Milan stage production ...

Synopsis

The protagonist Assunta Spina is a young woman of Naples who has many male admirers, including Michele Boccadifuoco a

butcher A butcher is a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat, or participate within any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat and poultry for sale in retail or wholesale food establishm ...

. One day in a fit of jealousy he attacks and scars her in the street. Despite her efforts to cover up for him, he is arrested and sentenced to two years imprisonment in Avellino. In the meantime she begins an affair with a court official, not knowing that he already has a family. When Michele is released from prison, she confessed everything to him. His pride wounded, he goes immediately and stabs her lover to death with a

knife A knife ( : knives; from Old Norse 'knife, dirk') is a tool or weapon with a cutting edge or blade, usually attached to a handle or hilt. One of the earliest tools used by humanity, knives appeared at least 2.5 million years ago, as evidence ...

. However it is Assunta who takes the blame for the crime to the authorities.

Adaptations

The play has been adapted various times in different forms, including three filmsGoble p.125 * ''Assunta Spina'' (1915 film), a silent film starring

* ''Assunta Spina'' (1930 film), a silent Italian film starring

Rina De Liguoro Rina De Liguoro (24 July 1892 – 15 April 1966) was an Italian film actress. Born Elena Caterina Catardi, she changed her name after marrying film actor and director Wladimiro De Liguoro in 1918. She appeared in leading roles in a number of It ...

* ''Assunta Spina'' (1948 film), a film starring

Anna Magnani Anna Maria Magnani (; 7 March 1908 – 26 September 1973) was an Italian actress.Obituary ''Variety'', 3 October 1973, pg. 47 She was known for her explosive acting and earthy, realistic portrayals of characters. Born in Rome, she worked her ...

References

Bibliography

* D'Amora, Mariano. '' A History of Neapolitan Drama in the Twentieth Century''. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015. * Goble, Alan. ''The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film''. Walter de Gruyter, 1999. 1909 plays Italian plays adapted into films Italian plays Plays set in Naples Plays by Salvatore Di Giacomo {{1900s-play-stub