The story of Carmen has been done over and over again
in the history of film. Without looking through my posts I believe I have seen
several versions of Carmen. I decided
to watch this silent version of the story because I have never seen Pola Negri
in a film before.
This version of Carmen
begins with a group of Spanish gypsies around a camp fire. One if the gypsies
tells the story of a woman named Carmen who used men to get whatever she
wanted.
Don Jose is a sergeant in Sevilla, Spain. He has a loving fiancé named Dolores and a
mother he takes care of. When he goes into the city he comes into contact with the
local seductress Carmen. Jose arrests Carmen after she was involved with a
fight at a bar. Alone in her jail cell, Carmen convinces Jose to help her
escape. He goes along with her plan and he is soon demoted in rank.
Jose eventually hits rock bottom. He is no longer with
Dolores and he joins Carmen and group of smugglers. Jose even kills for Carmen
at one point.
Carmen leaves Jose for a famous bull fighter. When Jose
learns that Carmen no longer loves him he kills her by stabbing her.
Around the camp fire the gypsy telling the story
concludes that some believe that Carmen did not die because she made a deal
with the devil.
Carmen: Gypsy Blood
was alright. It was well worth watching it to say I have finally seen Pola
Negri in a film. She was not bad; her acting was pretty good especially for a
silent film. Ernst Lubitsch directed it and I like his direction no matter what
the film. His direction actually kept my interest. Carmen: Gypsy Blood is worth watching at least once if you like
silent films.
No comments:
Post a Comment