Movie 18min

Faust (1910)

Faust sells his soul to the devil for youth and pleasure, and falls for the beautiful Marguerite.
Rating:

+ 15 images
Facts
Director Enrico Guazzoni
Country Italy
Language Italian
Production
Distribution
(USA, 1910) Eclair Film Company
Categories
Based on Play Black and White Death Death of Child Drama Duel Forgiveness Gothic Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Murder Pact with the Devil Prison Short Silent Film Temptation The Devil Tragedy
Descriptions

This entrancing story, drawn from the world-renowned tragedy of Goethe, opens in the mysterious working den of Dr. Faust, who, old and worn out with years of stern study, and on the verge of despair through longing for the pleasures of his bygone youth, all of which he has surrendered to his learning, thinks of resorting to in order to end the weariness of his declining days. He, however, dashes down the cup at the last moment, and calls upon the infernal powers to aid him. Immediately Mephistopheles appears and offers him youth and pleasure in exchange for the surrender of his soul. Faust, dazzled by the splendor of the vision which is to him by his alluring companion, accepts the compact, signs the fatal paper, and is at once transformed into a handsome young man. Mephistopheles then shows Faust the beautiful Marguerite, and immediately he falls desperately in love with the innocent girl. Finally, aided by the perfidious suggestions of his companion, Faust succeeds is in winning the heart of poor Marguerite. Valentine, eager to revenge his sister's honor, is killed in a duel by Faust, who seeks safety in flight. Betrayed, deserted, demented from sorrow, the unfortunate Marguerite is thrown into a dungeon and left to her grief. Meanwhile, Mephistopheles endeavors to make Faust forget the unhappy girl, but in vain; love has overcome the powers of evil, and all his magic is In vain. Faust hastens to the prison and seeks Marguerite; his passionate words of love restore her for a moment to reason, but only for a moment. She is just able to offer him forgiveness, and then dies in his arms. Rarely has there been a better representation of this wonderful drama. The pitiful story of Marguerite and Faust makes its appeal to all humanity, and words cannot add to its charm and effectiveness.

Source: Moving Picture World


An entrancing piece of dramatic work
A presentation of Goethe's famous tragedy which will appeal to lovers of the drama as an unusually accurate interpretation of the great play. Its principal theme, the triumph of love over evil, and Faust's hastening to the prison, where Marguerite, restored briefly to reason, dies in his arms, is admirably managed and constitutes an entrancing piece of dramatic work. The three principal characters are admirably acted, each one performing his or her part in a manner that indicates the most careful and elaborate preparation. In dramas of this type there is always some theme around which it all centers, and in this instance the real feature of the play has never for a moment been lost. The result is that one acquires a deeper comprehension of the play and what it means, with a more searching analysis of the fundamental elements of human life upon which it is based.

Source: The Moving Picture World, July 16, 1910

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Cast
Alfredo Bracci - Faust
Fernanda Negri Pouget - Margherita
Ugo Bazzini - Mefistofele
Giuseppe Gambardella - Auerbach, the Innkeeper
Crew
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe - Author (Play)
Michel Carré - Music (Libretto)
Enrico Guazzoni - Director
Charles Gounod - Writer (Opera)
Jules Barbier - Writer (Libretto)
Reviews
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Faust story, retold, again

When Film d'Art goes and does a remake, they usually make sure it is something more than what is made before - and this one is... kind of that. It is very similar to the earlier Pathé Freres version albeit improved in most ways. The acting and the sets are better, and it all just feels more complete. The story here is easy to follow and there are lots of attention to detail. Most memorable is Mephistoles played by Ugo Bazzini.