Romola (film)

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Romola
Poster - Romola 03.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byHenry King
Written byWill M. Ritchey
Jules Furthman
Don Bartlett
Based onRomola
by George Eliot
Produced byHenry King
StarringLillian Gish
Dorothy Gish
William Powell
Ronald Colman
Bonaventura Ibáñez
CinematographyRoy F. Overbaugh
William Schurr
Edited byW. Duncan Mansfield
Music byLouis F. Gottschalk
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • December 6, 1924 (1924-12-06)
Running time
120 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)

Romola is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Henry King and shot on location in Italy.[1] The film stars Lillian Gish, Dorothy Gish, William Powell, and Ronald Colman, and is based on the 1863 George Eliot novel of the same name.

This was the second film in which Henry King directed Lillian Gish and Ronald Colman for Inspiration Films, an independent production company which chiefly consisted of King, Charles Duell, and stars Lillian Gish and Richard Barthelmess.

Plot[]

As described in a review in a film magazine,[2] a boat approaching Italy is set upon by pirates and Baldassaro, a noted scholar, gives his adopted son Tito a ring that will be a passport with all men of learning. Tito escapes but Baldassaro is captured. Tito reaches Florence at the time that the people incited by the priest, Savonarola, has risen and cast out their ruler, Piero de Medici. Accidentally he aids Bardi, a blind man and noted scholar and is received with honors, finally winning consent to his marriage to his daughter Romola who loves Carlo, an artist. Through the aid of Spini, an adventurer who has become the real power behind the government, Tito rises to the post of chief magistrate. In the meantime he flirts with Tessa, a peasant girl, going through a mock marriage during a carnival, which is very real to Tessa, so he installs her in a house. A child is born to them. Tito shows his real nature when he sells the priceless books of Bardi, and Romola leaves him. He issues a decree that means death to Savonarola, but his ambition overleaps itself and he is chased by the mob. Jumping into the river, he meets death by drowning at the hands of Baldassaro, whom he has refused to recognize. Romola meets Tessa and befriends her, and finally finds happiness with Carlo who has remained faithful to her.

Cast[]

Preservation[]

A print of the film survives at the UCLA Film and Television Archive.[3]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Progressive Silent Film List: Romola". silentera.com. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  2. ^ Sewell, Charles S. (December 13, 1924). "Romola; Lillian Gish Starred in Pictorially Beautiful Adaptation of George Eliot's Classic Novel". The Moving Picture World. New York City: Chalmers Publishing Co. 71 (7): 625. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "Romola". UCLA. Retrieved November 26, 2012.

External links[]

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