Nero (1922 film)
| Nero | |
|---|---|
_-_Gretillat.jpg) Jacques Grétillat as Nero with Violet Mersereau during the film. | |
| Directed by | J. Gordon Edwards |
| Produced by | William Fox |
| Written by |
Charles Sarver Virginia Tracy |
| Starring |
Jacques Grétillat Sandro Salvini Guido Trento Enzo De Felice |
| Music by | Erno Rapee |
| Cinematography | Horace G. Plympton |
| Edited by | Hettie Grey Baker |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Fox Film Corporation |
Release dates | May 22, 1922 |
Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country |
Italy United States |
| Language |
Silent Italian/English intertitles |
| Budget | $358,000 |
Nero is a 1922 American-Italian silent historical film directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starring Jacques Grétillat, Sandro Salvini and Guido Trento.[1] It portrays the life of the Roman Emperor Nero.
The film was made by an Italian subsidiary of the Fox Film Corporation as part of an ambitious plan to make major films in Europe (with Britain and France planned as destinations as well as Italy). The film was shot on location in and around Rome, including at the Colosseum. Despite the fact that production costs were cheaper in Italy than Hollywood, the film's budget continued to grow. Some differences in labor demands (Italian extras insisting on lap breaks in the afternoons) caused some difficulty for the production as well.[2] The film ultimately cost $358,000 to make.[3] Although the film was eventually able to gross $522,000 this came out as a nearly $60,000 loss due to advertising and distribution costs. The film ended Fox's European scheme after only one production, with an announced film of Mary, Queen of Scots never being made.
Cast
- Jacques Grétillat as Nero
- Sandro Salvini as Horatius
- Guido Trento as Tullius
- Enzo De Felice as Otho
- Nerio Bernardi as The Apostle
- Adolfo Trouché as Hercules
- Nello Carotenutoa s Galba
- Americo De Giorgio as Gracchus
- Alfredo Galoar as Garth
- Ernando Cecilia as Roman General
- Enrico Kant as Roman Captain
- Paulette Duval as Poppea
- Edy Darclea as Acte
- Violet Mersereau as Marcia
- Lina Talba as Julia
- Lydia Yaguinto as 1st handmaiden
- Maria Marchiali as 2nd handmaiden
Reception
The film received very positive reviews from critics. Variety observed "There are many who will say after viewing Nero that Edwards is the only director with a legitimate claim as a rival of D.W. Griffith.[4]
Preservation status
This film is now considered a lost film.[5]
See also
References
Bibliography
- Solomon, Aubrey. The Fox Film Corporation, 1915-1935: A History and Filmography (McFarland, 2011)