Cleopatra is a 1912 American silenthistorical drama film starring Helen Gardner in the title role and directed by Charles L. Gaskill, based on the 1890 play written by Victorien Sardou.[1] It ws the first film to be produced by The Helen Gardner Picture Players.
Cleopatra is one of the early six-reel feature films produced in the United States.[2] Promoted as "The most beautiful motion picture ever made", it was the first to offer a feature-length depiction of Cleopatra,[3] although there had been a short film about Antony and Cleopatra two years earlier.[4]
This section needs expansion with: This synopsis is nearly empty and is an inconclusively-lengthed account of the plot of this theatrical film.. You can help by adding to it. (March 2024)
In a series of elaborately staged tableaux, it depicts Cleopatra and her love affairs, first with handsome fisherman-slave Pharon, then with Mark Antony.
Mr. Howard as Pharon, a Greek slave and fisherman [First name unknown]
James R. Waite as Venditius, a Roman soldier (credited as Mr. Waite)
Mr. Osborne as Diomedes, a rich Egyptian [First name unknown]
Harry Knowles as Kephren, captain of guards to the queen (credited as Mr. Knowles)
Mr. Paul as Octavius, a triumvir and general [First name unknown]
Mr. Brady as Serapian, an Egyptian priest [First name unknown]
Mr. Corker as Ixias, servant to Ventidius [First name unknown]
Productionedit
Cleopatra was the first film produced by The Helen Gardner Picture Players, Helen Gardner's production company, located in Tappan, New York.[5] Gardner created the company in 1910 after finding success in a series of early 1900s Vitagraph shorts.[2]
The film's budget was $45,000 (approximately $1,472,000 today) and featured lavish sets and costumes (Gardner also served as the film's costume designer and editor). Gardner used the natural Tappan scenery for outdoor shots in addition to sets.[2][3]
Releasesedit
Upon its release, Cleopatra played in opera houses and theatres. The film was also featured in a theatrical roadshow accompanied by a publicist, manager and a lecturer/projectionist.[6]
In 1918, Gardner filmed additional scenes and re-issued the film to compete with the 1917 adaptation released by Fox starring Theda Bara.[6]
Receptionedit
Film critic Dennis Schwartz described it as "energetic", giving it a B− rating.[7]
Censorshipedit
Like many American films of the time, Cleopatra was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For the 1918 release, the Chicago Board of Censors required a cut of the two intertitles "If I let you live and love me ten days, will you then destroy yourself?" and "Suppose Anthony were told that she [Cleopatra] had just left the embraces of the slave Pharon".[8]
Status and restorationsedit
The 1912 version of Cleopatra still exists in its entirety. In 2000, Turner Classic Movies had the print restored, using an earlier 1960s restoration, and commissioned a new musical score from the husband and wife team of Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida.[9] The restored version, complete with color tinting, first aired on TCM in August 2000.[2]
Referencesedit
^Ball, Robert Hamilton (2013). Shakespeare on Silent Film: A Strange Eventful History. Routledge. p. 19. ISBN978-1-134-98098-7.
^ abcdWallace Dickinson, Joy (March 25, 2001). . orlandosentinel.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
^ abWallace Dickinson, Joy. . orlandosentinel.com. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
^Everson, William K. (2009). American Silent Film. Da Capo Press. p. 57. ISBN978-0-786-75094-8.
^ abMcCaffrey, Donald W.; Jacobs, Christopher P., eds. (1999). Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 81. ISBN0-313-30345-2.
^. Archived from the original on 2018-01-12. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
^"Official Cut-Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors". Exhibitors Herald. 6 (3). New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company: 31. January 12, 1918.
^King, Susan (1 August 2000). "Helen Gardner's Lavish 1912 'Cleopatra,' Restored in Color". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cleopatra (1912 film).
cleopatra, 1912, film, cleopatra, 1912, american, silent, historical, drama, film, starring, helen, gardner, title, role, directed, charles, gaskill, based, 1890, play, written, victorien, sardou, first, film, produced, helen, gardner, picture, players, cleopa. Cleopatra is a 1912 American silent historical drama film starring Helen Gardner in the title role and directed by Charles L Gaskill based on the 1890 play written by Victorien Sardou 1 It ws the first film to be produced by The Helen Gardner Picture Players CleopatraDirected byCharles L GaskillScreenplay byCharles L Gaskill uncredited Based onCleopatre1890 playby Victorien SardouProduced byHelen GardnerStarringHelen GardnerCinematographyLucien TainguyEdited byHelen Gardner uncredited ProductioncompanyThe Helen Gardner Picture PlayersDistributed byUnited States Film Co Release dateNovember 13 1912 1912 11 13 Running time87 minutesCountryUnited StatesBudget 45 000 1 411 636 today source source source source source Cleopatra Cleopatra is one of the early six reel feature films produced in the United States 2 Promoted as The most beautiful motion picture ever made it was the first to offer a feature length depiction of Cleopatra 3 although there had been a short film about Antony and Cleopatra two years earlier 4 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Releases 5 Reception 6 Censorship 7 Status and restorations 8 References 9 External linksSynopsis editThis section needs expansion with This synopsis is nearly empty and is an inconclusively lengthed account of the plot of this theatrical film You can help by adding to it March 2024 In a series of elaborately staged tableaux it depicts Cleopatra and her love affairs first with handsome fisherman slave Pharon then with Mark Antony Cast editHelen Gardner as Cleopatra credited as Miss Gardner Pearl Sindelar as Iras an attendant credited as Miss Sindelar Miss Fielding as Charmian an attendant First name unknown Miss Robson as Octavia wife of Antony First name unknown Helene Costello as Nicola a child credited as Miss Helene Charles Sindelar as Antony a triumvir and general credited as Mr Sindelar Mr Howard as Pharon a Greek slave and fisherman First name unknown James R Waite as Venditius a Roman soldier credited as Mr Waite Mr Osborne as Diomedes a rich Egyptian First name unknown Harry Knowles as Kephren captain of guards to the queen credited as Mr Knowles Mr Paul as Octavius a triumvir and general First name unknown Mr Brady as Serapian an Egyptian priest First name unknown Mr Corker as Ixias servant to Ventidius First name unknown Production editCleopatra was the first film produced by The Helen Gardner Picture Players Helen Gardner s production company located in Tappan New York 5 Gardner created the company in 1910 after finding success in a series of early 1900s Vitagraph shorts 2 The film s budget was 45 000 approximately 1 472 000 today and featured lavish sets and costumes Gardner also served as the film s costume designer and editor Gardner used the natural Tappan scenery for outdoor shots in addition to sets 2 3 Releases editUpon its release Cleopatra played in opera houses and theatres The film was also featured in a theatrical roadshow accompanied by a publicist manager and a lecturer projectionist 6 In 1918 Gardner filmed additional scenes and re issued the film to compete with the 1917 adaptation released by Fox starring Theda Bara 6 Reception editFilm critic Dennis Schwartz described it as energetic giving it a B rating 7 Censorship editLike many American films of the time Cleopatra was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards For the 1918 release the Chicago Board of Censors required a cut of the two intertitles If I let you live and love me ten days will you then destroy yourself and Suppose Anthony were told that she Cleopatra had just left the embraces of the slave Pharon 8 Status and restorations editThe 1912 version of Cleopatra still exists in its entirety In 2000 Turner Classic Movies had the print restored using an earlier 1960s restoration and commissioned a new musical score from the husband and wife team of Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida 9 The restored version complete with color tinting first aired on TCM in August 2000 2 References edit Ball Robert Hamilton 2013 Shakespeare on Silent Film A Strange Eventful History Routledge p 19 ISBN 978 1 134 98098 7 a b c d Wallace Dickinson Joy March 25 2001 Early Screen Queen Turns Heads Again orlandosentinel com Archived from the original on 2014 02 22 Retrieved 2014 01 30 a b Wallace Dickinson Joy Few Remember Days When Film Queen Lived Among Us orlandosentinel com p 1 Archived from the original on 2014 02 22 Retrieved 2014 01 30 Cleopatre 1910 IMDB Everson William K 2009 American Silent Film Da Capo Press p 57 ISBN 978 0 786 75094 8 a b McCaffrey Donald W Jacobs Christopher P eds 1999 Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema Greenwood Publishing Group p 81 ISBN 0 313 30345 2 Cleopatra1912 Archived from the original on 2018 01 12 Retrieved 2018 02 22 Official Cut Outs by the Chicago Board of Censors Exhibitors Herald 6 3 New York City Exhibitors Herald Company 31 January 12 1918 King Susan 1 August 2000 Helen Gardner s Lavish 1912 Cleopatra Restored in Color Los Angeles Times Retrieved 1 April 2020 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cleopatra 1912 film Cleopatra at IMDb nbsp Cleopatra at the TCM Movie Database Cleopatra at AllMovie Cleopatra at the American Film Institute Catalog Cleopatra at silentera com Cleopatra is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive Cleopatra on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cleopatra 1912 film amp oldid 1214572959, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
