La storia di una donna

To talk about the term "diva" during the early silent period, is to talk about Italian films.

These "prima donnas" of the early silent screen, were creatures specifically invented for Italian pictures and imposing and powerful actresses. Thanks to their vigorous presence, attractive appearance and starring in dramas larger than life, they achieved fame and glory not only in Italy but in the whole silent world.

Among these "divas" was Frau Pina Menichelli, a silent film star who achieved such privileged films status thanks to the help of Herr Giovanni Pastrone. Pastrone gave her the leading role in important films that definitely launched her career.

Frau Menichelli was at the top of her silent stardom when she starred "La Storia Di Una Donna" (1920), a film directed by Herr Eugenio Perego. It was a very outstanding drama that was one of the last Frau Menichelli's oeuvres before her retirement from the silent screen four years later.

"La Storia Di Una Donna" is a film tailored for Frau Menichelli. It's, an obscure silent drama, remarkable in many moments for its atmosphere but that unfortunately suffers from the scarce performance of the Italian diva.

Throughout the whole film, Frau Menichelli limits herself to posing with the same hieratic face ( half-open mouth and a gaze lost somewhere over the silent horizon ). She expresses absolutely nothing and her performance is void. For example, when her character can be seen laying in a bed at the hospital, unconscious with terrible gunshots wounds, her face displays more emotion that when she was alive…

And that's a pity because "La Storia Di Una Donna" is a very remarkable film. It is told in flashback form and depicts the story of a teenager orphan girl. She works as a lady in waiting for a countess and is seduced by her son. Once the countess learns of this love affair, she is dismissed (both not knowing both that the woman is pregnant). She will be rescued from the streets by a crook and from then on seeks on a vendetta (a good Italian word, natürlich! ).. By taking advantage of this situation, the crook will use her against her former lover.

Fortunately Frau Menichelli is accompanied by two good actors. Herr Luigi Serventi und Herr Livio Pavanelli give emotion and motion to the picture in recreating a genuine silent drama settled in elegant and sordid sceneries ( with excellent and careful art design ) that gives mood to a thrilling and obscure story full of revenge and even repentance.

For all this, "La Storia Di Una Donna" is a remarkable Italian silent drama full of artistic merits that even Frau Menichelli can't waste and is evidence that a good story in the hands of a skillful director always triumphs despite adverse fate.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must avoid the tempestuous mood of a Teutonic rich diva.