In 1915, the Turinese company Pasquali Film produced an adaptation of the classic, nationalistic novel 'Ettore Fieramosca' by Massimo D'Azeglio. The film, La disfida di Barletta/The Challenge of Barletta (1915), was directed by Umberto Paradisi and with scenography by Domenico Gaido, according to film historian Vittorio Martinelli. IMDb claims Gaido was co-director with Paradisi. Acclaimed actors Gustavo Serena and Domenico Gambino had supporting parts in the film.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: During the banquet given in her honour, Elvira Consalvo cannot take her eyes from Ettore Fieramosca.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: The Count of Monreale, who had organised the defense of Capua, returns gravely wounded to his castle, welcomed by his daughter Ginevra.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: Zoraide saves Fieramosca, sucking the venom of the wound and dies.
La disfida di Barletta/Ettore Fieramosca (Umberto Paradisi, 1915) was based on a literary action epic by Massimo D'Azeglio. During the Risorgimento and the rise of Fascism, Ettore Fieramosca was presented as a national hero and became the subject of national celebrations. D'Azeglio wrote his novel in 1833 novel in an effort to boost Italian patriotism.
In 1938, during the Fascist era, Alessandro Blasetti directed a sound film Ettore Fieramosca. Two warships, the protected cruiser Ettore Fieramosca and the submarine Ettore Fieramosca, were named after him. Before that Fieramosca had been the subject of two Italian silent films by the Ambrosio company, Ettore Fieramosca (Ernesto Maria Pasquali, 1909) and La disfida di Barletta/Ettore Fieramosca (Umberto Paradisi, 1915).
In 1503, the French army is walking towards Rome. Ettore Fieramosca (Giovanni Cimara), engaged to Ginevra di Monreale (Laura Darville), is sent to Bari to organise the Resistance. But the invaders proceed and they capture the castle of Monreale.
The old count of Monreale offers his daughter in a marriage to Grajano d'Asti (Nello Carotenuto), a renegade who commands the French troops, if he frees them from the foreign soldiers. Among Grajano's friends is Valentino Borgia, who becomes hot for Ginevra and gives her a potion which creates an apparent death.
Yet when Ettore returns from Bari and hears from her death, he gives her a farewell kiss... and awakens her. The two of them flee, so when Borgia opens the coffin, it is empty. The French now move to Barletta, ruled by Ettore.
During a seize fire, a French captain, prisoner of war of the Italians, insults the honour of the fighting Italians. Ettore then proposes a challenge of 13 Italians against 13 French and their allies. During the fight the Italians win and Grajano dies.
Borgia makes Ginevra believe Ettore has another love, so she has a heart attack. When Ettore returns to her, he finds her dead by grief. He then saddles his horse, storms towards a rock and ends up in sea.
While produced in 1915, La disfida di Barletta/Ettore Fieramosca was released late, e.g. in 1917 in Turin. The critics wrote that the film should have been lauded before the war (the First World War), but now looked old style, for instance in its performances, despite the tasteful sets and shots on location.
Vittorio Martinelli suspects that this oudated reputation may have been enforced by the insertion of fragments from the 1909 version, which is now considered a lost film.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: Duke Valentino confessions his passion to Ginevra.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: Valentino Borgia's local cronies press the sacristan to leave the door of the church open.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: In the still of the night, Ettore Fieramosca lifts the drugged Ginevra from the coffin and thus subtracts her from the infamous Borgia.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: In the name of the Italian armies, Ettore Fieramosca challenges Baron la Motta, who has insulted Italy.
Italian postcard. Pasquali Film. Caption: Ettore Fieramosca reads to the Duke of Nemours, commander in chief of the French armies, the challenge by the Italians.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: Fieramosca hears that Ginevra has stopped suffering.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: Ettore Fieramosca before the dead Ginevra.
Source: Vittorio Martinelli (Il cinema muto italiano, 1915), Wikipedia and IMDb.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: During the banquet given in her honour, Elvira Consalvo cannot take her eyes from Ettore Fieramosca.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: The Count of Monreale, who had organised the defense of Capua, returns gravely wounded to his castle, welcomed by his daughter Ginevra.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: Zoraide saves Fieramosca, sucking the venom of the wound and dies.
A farewell kiss which awakens her
La disfida di Barletta/Ettore Fieramosca (Umberto Paradisi, 1915) was based on a literary action epic by Massimo D'Azeglio. During the Risorgimento and the rise of Fascism, Ettore Fieramosca was presented as a national hero and became the subject of national celebrations. D'Azeglio wrote his novel in 1833 novel in an effort to boost Italian patriotism.
In 1938, during the Fascist era, Alessandro Blasetti directed a sound film Ettore Fieramosca. Two warships, the protected cruiser Ettore Fieramosca and the submarine Ettore Fieramosca, were named after him. Before that Fieramosca had been the subject of two Italian silent films by the Ambrosio company, Ettore Fieramosca (Ernesto Maria Pasquali, 1909) and La disfida di Barletta/Ettore Fieramosca (Umberto Paradisi, 1915).
In 1503, the French army is walking towards Rome. Ettore Fieramosca (Giovanni Cimara), engaged to Ginevra di Monreale (Laura Darville), is sent to Bari to organise the Resistance. But the invaders proceed and they capture the castle of Monreale.
The old count of Monreale offers his daughter in a marriage to Grajano d'Asti (Nello Carotenuto), a renegade who commands the French troops, if he frees them from the foreign soldiers. Among Grajano's friends is Valentino Borgia, who becomes hot for Ginevra and gives her a potion which creates an apparent death.
Yet when Ettore returns from Bari and hears from her death, he gives her a farewell kiss... and awakens her. The two of them flee, so when Borgia opens the coffin, it is empty. The French now move to Barletta, ruled by Ettore.
During a seize fire, a French captain, prisoner of war of the Italians, insults the honour of the fighting Italians. Ettore then proposes a challenge of 13 Italians against 13 French and their allies. During the fight the Italians win and Grajano dies.
Borgia makes Ginevra believe Ettore has another love, so she has a heart attack. When Ettore returns to her, he finds her dead by grief. He then saddles his horse, storms towards a rock and ends up in sea.
While produced in 1915, La disfida di Barletta/Ettore Fieramosca was released late, e.g. in 1917 in Turin. The critics wrote that the film should have been lauded before the war (the First World War), but now looked old style, for instance in its performances, despite the tasteful sets and shots on location.
Vittorio Martinelli suspects that this oudated reputation may have been enforced by the insertion of fragments from the 1909 version, which is now considered a lost film.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: Duke Valentino confessions his passion to Ginevra.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: Valentino Borgia's local cronies press the sacristan to leave the door of the church open.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: In the still of the night, Ettore Fieramosca lifts the drugged Ginevra from the coffin and thus subtracts her from the infamous Borgia.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: In the name of the Italian armies, Ettore Fieramosca challenges Baron la Motta, who has insulted Italy.
Italian postcard. Pasquali Film. Caption: Ettore Fieramosca reads to the Duke of Nemours, commander in chief of the French armies, the challenge by the Italians.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: Fieramosca hears that Ginevra has stopped suffering.
Italian postcard. Photo: Pasquali Film. Caption: Ettore Fieramosca before the dead Ginevra.
Source: Vittorio Martinelli (Il cinema muto italiano, 1915), Wikipedia and IMDb.
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