Dante’s Inferno, L’Inferno

6/1911

Dispatch.ist status:

Not yet seen! Looking forward to the Tangerine Dream soundtrack version. 

Synopsis

Dante journeys through the nine circles of hell, accompanied by Virgil.

Notes

Not only the first adaptations of Dante in film, but the first Italian feature (this seems to be a trend in Italy….) and one of the earliest feature films. Its sets and imagery are particularly well-done, and were “sampled” (to be generous) for the 1936 exploitation film Hell-A-Vision and Go Down Death! (1944), 

Review

We haven’t seen this one yet…

Faithfulness

While we haven’t seen this one yet, it looks like a loving adaptation, and was an early Italian movie.

Watchability

This was one of the first feature films ever, and silent films have their own pacing issues. We haven’t watched this one yet, but the sets look remarkable. Looking forward to the Tangerine Dream soundtrack version.

Dante's Inferno (1911) Adventure, Drama, Fantasy | 71min | July 1911 (USA) 7.1
Director: Francesco Bertolini, Adolfo PadovanWriter: Dante AlighieriStars: Salvatore Papa, Arturo Pirovano, Giuseppe de LiguoroSummary: The poet Dante is lost in a dark and gloomy wood. At the summit of a mountain he sees the light of salvation. He endeavors to ascend to it, but his way is barred by three wild beasts, symbolizing Avarice, Pride and Lust. Beatrice sees his predicament and descends from Paradise into Limbo, where she asks the poet Virgil to rescue and guide Dante. Virgil knows another way to go, but this leads straight through the entire Inferno, before it continues towards Paradise. Virgil leads Dante to the portals of Inferno. Charon ferries them over the river Acheron, and then they start their journey downwards through the different circles of Inferno. Dante meets all kind of sinners and sees the never-ending punishments they have to undergo. The various punishments are adjusted to the different transgressions. Among the sinners Dante recognizes many persons he has met in Florence, when they were still alive. They tell him their sad stories and why they have ended here. At last Dante and Virgil ... Written by Maths Jesperson {maths.jesperson1@comhem.se}

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