''The Last Days of Pompeii'' (Italian:''Gli ultimi giorni di Pompeii'') is a 1908 Italian silent

historical film A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romances, adventure films, and swa ...

directed by

Arturo Ambrosio Arturo Ambrosio (1870–1960) was an Italian film producer who was a pioneering and influential figure in the early years of Italian cinema. Biography Ambrosio was a photographer who owned a shop in Turin. In 1904, after returning from a visit ...

and

Luigi Maggi Luigi Maggi (21 December 1867 – 22 August 1946) was an Italian actor and film director who worked prolifically during the silent era. Working for Ambrosio Film he co-directed the 1908 hit film '' The Last Days of Pompeii'', which launched the h ...

and starring Lydia De Roberti and Umberto Mozzato. It was loosely based on the novel of the same title by

Edward Bulwer-Lytton Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton, PC (25 May 180318 January 1873) was an English writer and politician. He served as a Whig member of Parliament from 1831 to 1841 and a Conservative from 1851 to 1866. He was Secret ...

. The film was a success on its release, and its popularity is credited with starting a fashion for epic historical films. The film was made by the

Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...

-based

Ambrosio Film Ambrosio Film was an Italian film production and distribution company which played a leading role in Italian cinema during the silent era. Established in Turin in 1906 by the pioneering filmmaker Arturo Ambrosio, assisted by cinematographers Gio ...

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.Review, synopsis and link to watch the english version of the film:

Cast

as Arbace * Lydia De Roberti as Nidia * Umberto Mozzato as Glauco * Ernesto Vaser as Il padrone di Nidia * Mirra Principi *

Cesare Gani Carini Cesare, the Italian version of the given name Caesar, may refer to: Given name * Cesare, Marquis of Beccaria (1738–1794), an Italian philosopher and politician * Cesare Airaghi (1840–1896), Italian colonel * Cesare Arzelà (1847–1912), ...

References

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

* 1908 films Italian disaster films Italian epic films Italian historical drama films Italian silent short films 1900s Italian-language films Films directed by Arturo Ambrosio Films directed by Luigi Maggi 1900s historical drama films Films set in ancient Rome Films set in the Roman Empire Films set in 79 AD Peplum films Pompeii in popular culture Films based on The Last Days of Pompeii Films about volcanoes Italian black-and-white films 1900s disaster films Sword and sandal films Silent historical drama films Silent adventure films {{historic-film-stub