14 June 2018

Favilla (1921)

The Italian silent film Favilla/Love's Labour Won (Ivo Illuminati, 1921) was a romantic comedy by Medusa-Film in Rome. The two female leads were played by Linda Pini and Paola Pô.

Linda Pini in Favilla
Italian postcard by Ed. G.B. Falci, Milano (Milan), unnumbered. Photo: La Fotominio. Linda Pini in Favilla (Ivo Illuminati, 1921).

Paula Pô in Favilla
Italian postcard by Ed. G.B. Falci, Milano. Photo: La Fotominio, number unknown. Paola Pô in the Italian silent film Favilla (Ivo Illuminati, 1921).

Favilla (1921)
Italian postcard by G.B. Falci, Milano, no. 106. Photo: La Photominio. Linda Pini in Favilla (Ivo Illuminati, 1921).

Favilla (1921)
Italian postcard by G.B. Falci, Milano, no. 123. Photo: La Photominio. Linda Pini in Favilla (Ivo Illuminati, 1921).

Favilla (1921)
Italian postcard by Ed. G.B. Falci, Milano, no. 182. Photo: La Photominio. Linda Pini in Favilla (Ivo Illuminati, 1921).

Sparkle


In Favilla (Ivo Illuminati, 1921), Linda Pini stars as the title figure, Favilla (lit. Sparkle, Linda Pini), who, after her father's, death has moved in with her uncle Terenzio. She secretly falls in love with her cousin, the young engineering student Cesare (Carlo Gualandri).

One day, lady d'Etemps (Paola Po) and her cousin Guglielmo visit the house of Favilla's uncle. The lady tries to seduce Cesare, because she loves his money and future inheritance.

For these reasons she also tries to match her own cousin with Favilla. When Favilla unmasks the lady's financial interests, the other unmasks Favilla's love for Cesare.

While the others leave, Cesare and Favilla exchange their first kiss...

At the time, this film of the Roman Medusa-Film company was not so much praised for its story by Guido Clorti as rather for its performances and the cinematography.

Favilla (1921)
Italian postcard by Ed. G.B. Falci, Milano, no. 231. Photo: La Photominio. Left, Carlo Gualandri and Linda Pini, in Favilla (Ivo Illuminati, 1921).

Paola Pô in Favilla
Italian postcard by Ed. G.B. Falci, Milano, no. 219. Photo: La Fotominio. Paola Pô in the Italian silent film Favilla (Ivo Illuminati, 1921). The man in the middle is Carlo Gualandri (Cesare).

Favilla (1921)
Italian postcard by Ed. G.B. Falci, Milano, no. 122. Photo: La Fotominio. Linda Pini, Carlo Gualandri and Paola Pô in Favilla (Ivo Illuminati, 1921).

Linda Pini in Favilla (Ivo Illuminati 1921)
Italian postcard by Ed. G.B. Falci, Milano, no. 121. Photo: La Fotominio. Publicity still for Favilla (Ivo Illuminati, 1921). Favilla looks unsure to Gugliemo, the cousin of lady d'Etemps, while the lady (the woman in white on the left) tries to match them.

Favilla (1921)
Italian postcard by G.B. Falci, Milano, no. 103. Photo: La Photominio. Carlo Gualandri and Paola Pô in Favilla (Ivo Illuminati, 1921).

Favilla (1921)
Italian postcard by G.B. Falci, Milano, no. 91. Photo: La Photominio. Paola Pô in Favilla (Ivo Illuminati, 1921).

Favilla (1921)
Italian postcard by Ed. G.B. Falci, Milano, unnumbered. Photo: La Fotominio. Linda Pini and Carlo Gualandri in Favilla (Ivo Illuminati, 1921).

Sources: Vittorio Martinelli (Il cinema muto italiano, 1921-1922 - Italian) and IMDb.

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