Stacia Napierkowska

Two men, lost in the desert, meet Queen Antinea, ruler of Atlantis.

A young intellectual, J. Powers, loses his faith in God after the untimely death of his wife. He devotes his great talents to writing a shockingly blasphemous book, debunking all religion, and then embarks on a trip to Jerusalem. Far from reconciling him to God, the sight of all the different sects worshipping in that ancient city only serves to embitter him and deepen his unbelief. One day, wandering in the country, he loses his way and stops to ask directions at a small house. The inhabitants are a poor but devout family whose daughter, Ruth, revives his broken heart. At the risk of losing her, he confesses to her his loss of faith, and she gently declares that meditation on the Gospels will heal him. He sorrowfully tells her that he wishes he could believe as she does, but it is impossible.

No synopsis available yet.

No synopsis available yet.

A wealthy theatre owner decides to leave his wife for a dancer.

Esmeralda, a beautiful gypsy street dancer, arouses the desire of men, especially of Claude Frollo, the archdeacon of Notre Dame. The latter asks Quasimodo, the deaf and deformed bell-ringer of the cathedral, to kidnap the girl. Quasimodo, who has been adopted by Frollo and obeys his every word, captures the gypsy but she is saved thanks to Phoebus, a handsome captain, and his archers. Arrested by Phoebus, the hunchback is condemned to be flogged at the pillory. When Esmeralada, moved to pity by his lot, gives him water to drink, Quasimodo falls in love with her. Later, Phoebus is stabbed to death and Esmeralda is wrongly accused of the murder. Sentenced to hang, she is saved by Quasimodo who offers her asylum and... the love of his heart.

The Model is a Italian film directed by Ugo Falena.

No synopsis available yet.

No synopsis available yet.

Paris is prey to an invisible terror against which the police can do nothing: a sinister organization that sows chaos and death. The intrepid journalist Philippe Guérande and his partner embark on a long crusade to put an end to the crimes of the Great Vampire and Irma Vep, his dangerous accomplice. (A ten episode movie serial.)

Silent film.

Like Max Ophüls, Capellani set many films in the theatre – backstage, on stage, in the public eye; Here is a rags-to-riches story of a dancer and her older benefactor, a kind-hearted piano tutor.

No synopsis available yet.

No synopsis available yet.

Directed by Camille de Morlhon. Set in ancient Babylon.

Psyche, the daughter of a king, and a mortal, is so beautiful that even the God of Fame is fascinated by her charm. He hurries to tell Venus, Goddess of Beauty, that her loveliness is surpassed by a mortal. The jealousy of Venus is aroused and she orders her son, Cupid, the God of Love, to avenge the indignity. One glance at Psyche and Cupid revolts. He beseeches his mother to relent, but Venus is deaf to his pleading and swears to destroy her rival's powers. While joy reigns in the court of Psyche's father, Venus strikes at Psyche by inflicting an illness upon the king. His malady baffles all, and in desperation the queen consults the oracle. The oracle decrees that when Psyche marries a mortal her father will be saved. However, Psyche's husband will be a monster who will devour her.

No synopsis available yet.

Fernand Pradier (Gabriel Signoret) is an honest merchant and a simple person at heart who tries to make her daughter Germaine (Gabrielle Robinne) happy. She is engaged to a rich banker St-Bris (René Alexandre). However, the fiance once belonged to a criminal organization and, despite his efforts of rehabilitation, one of his ancient accomplices makes their engagement impossible. Eventually imprisoned, she escapes with the help of a beautiful typist (Stacia Napierkowska)...

Maxime Vermont tries to get a financial help from his father-in-law, to no avail. Inspired by an idea from a pulp serial, Maxime sets out to kill his father-in-law in order to repay his massive debts. Later, opportunistic Maxime scams the poor and needy out of their savings and celebrates lavishly.

After the murder of her lover Julius Caesar, Egypt's queen Cleopatra needs a new ally. She seduces his probable successor Mark Antony. This develops into real love and slowly leads to a war with the other possible successor, Octavius.

A historical short film inspired by the Biblical story of Belshazzar's Feast.

Max relates to Mona, staying for the winter sports in Switzerland, that he killed a magnificent bear on the previous day, but that the dogs ate it, skin and all; but for that, concludes Max, Mona should have had his skin. Mona is sceptical, and insists that Max shall shoot another bear.

Max, awakening on his wedding morning, discovers that it is close on the hour when he should be at the church. He dresses hastily, and in struggling with a refractory collar, allows his boots to be burnt by the fire. There is no time to change them, and he hastens off to the bride's house. On the way his soles part company with their uppers, and poor Max enters into negotiations with a passing labourer for the purchase of his footgear.

1912 French silent short drama directed by René Leprince.

After a quarrel Pedro walks out of the cafe leaving his fiancée (Stacia Napierkowska) alone. Heartbroken, she visits the flower garden and there, flowers metamorphose into women and begin to dance.

The artist awakens. His maid brings him a letter from the Gaumont Studio. After a quick glance to it, he hastens to get dressed and runs to the studio followed by his wife, his maid and his son, Bout-de-Zan who want a part in the movie.

Stacia Napierkowska (1886-1945) was one of the most successful of the many dancers who appeared onstage, in Paris and internationally, as Hindu priestesses, Esmeraldas, Greek nymphs and maenads, oriental harem favourites or Cambodian temple maidens. After her film debut in 1908, she quickly became a film star, first with Pathé and later with Film d’arte Italiana, creating her own roles in the manner of pantomimes; at the same time she continued her brilliant stage career. Napierkowska was an influential fashion leader, and her dark slender beauty certainly looks like the role model of Josette Andriot. La Danseuse de Siva (1911), a film by Albert Capellani deemed to be lost until recently, has been identified by Tamara Shvediuk in the collection of the Gosfil’mofonds. The print originally belonged to Sergey Ivanovich Osipov, a cinema owner and distributor.

The film presents documents, photos, and pictures of the places where Mihai Eminescu, Veronica Micle, and Ion Creangă lived and the things they experienced.

Robert the Silent earned his nickname with his dejected and taciturn demeanor. One day, a run through the forest led him to a Gypsy encampment. He interrupted the dance of one of the Gypsy women, but she resumed her dance, and the Duke was captivated by her grace and charm. The following day, he invited her to his castle, which she accepted. When she arrived at the castle, the Duke had fallen asleep. So, while waiting, she practiced a few steps. In his dream, the Duke saw Gyska dancing the same dance before her family. A kiss awakened him, and he joyfully found her ready to give him her love. But as they made love, the bed curtain was drawn back by the Duchess, who summoned two guards and ordered them to seize the young woman and make her disappear. Then she appeared to the young Gypsy woman, who tried to leave. Arrested, she was thrown into a dungeon. Robert, learning the truth from his wife, tries to intervene but it is too late. So, beside Gyska's body, he drinks poison in one gulp.

A Italian short film by Ugo Falena & Ercole Luigi Morselli.

Max and his friend, who came to visit him in Paris both fall in love with his new maid. The girl is very friendly, and while one plays the piano, she dances with the other - and they are so happy that even the decor dances at the rhythm.

No synopsis available yet.

As a struggling artist, Max is not allowed to pay attentions to a girl by her father. Max decides to win by persistency, and it is a case where persistency meets obstinacy to come off victorious. The artist is required to follow the father and daughter through the Alps. He finally gets the old man's promise to give his consent to the marriage in payment for his rescue.

Max Linder finds himself obsessed with bull fighting. This seems to echo the nature of the actual man, who is reported to have mastered most of the skills that his character attempts within a rapid amount of time; when you see Max challenging a bull or several towards the end of the film, you can be quite confident that it is the real Linder triumphing out on the arena.

Commonly confused with Max ne se mariera pas

The work of Jacques Serval.

In all the arts the ancient Greeks excelled and their statuary, their music, their poetry, their dances, have remained to subsequent generations a standard to be followed and emulated. Terpsichore was the goddess of the dance, and if we read our mythology aright, taught the poetry of motion to her devotees. To all but a few who have made a study of Hellenic dancing such grace of action, such lithesomeness of body as was essential to the art when Grecian beauties tripped lightly and rhythmically over the green sward, is impossible. Mesdemoiselles Napierkowska and Marly, however, are superb in an exquisitely graceful ballet by Sacha Dezac, entitled "In Ancient Greece." The dance is perfect and the quality of the film is such that it is difficult to believe that the dancers do not themselves appear in the flesh before the eyes of the spectators, instead of being a mere photographic reproduction of their swaying rhythmic movements.

Who killed this man to rob him of his money in this notorious neighborhood of Paris? The usual local scoundrel such as the one that has almost been lynched by the mob and arrested by the police? Not at all. In fact the poor man is innocent, even though appearances are deceiving. The real culprit is a respectably-looking man who, to divert suspicion, has put some blood of his victim on his fingers and some of the stolen money in his pockets while he was asleep.

Le Grand Vampire, in disguise as Count de Noirmoutier, reads that ballerina Marfa Koutiloff, who is engaged to Philipe, will perform a ballet called The Vampires. To prevent her from publicizing the Vampires’ activities and to deter Philipe, he gives Marfa a poisoned ring before her performance.

No synopsis available yet.