Italia Vitaliani

Giuseppe Sterni directs and Italia Vitaliani stars in the Italian Golden Age drama.

In the beautifully coloured Phèdre, we witness how the Greek queen Fedra takes revenge on her stepson Hippolytus after he rejects her advances. The lead role is played by Italia Vitaliani, cousin of the famed Eleonora Duse and herself a prominent stage actress. Eye previously rediscovered and restored her once-lost film La madre (1917).

Hippolytus, the handsome son of Theseus, the great legendary hero of the Greeks, is beloved by all the women. His father's second wife, Phaedra, is also charmed by his magnificent looks. He, terrified, spurns her, and in his rage treats her roughly. Theseus, who has been at the wars for some years, returns a conqueror, and is met by his son and together they proceed in triumph to their home. Here Phaedra, thinking to be avenged on Hippolytus for his treatment of her, informs Theseus that in his absence Hippolytus had made love to her. Theseus, enraged, curses his son and banishes him from Athens. Hippolytus accordingly starts off in his chariot drawn by three fiery horses. His course is directed along the seashore, but Poseidon, the god of the Mediterranean, in accordance with the curse of Theseus devoting his son to destruction, causes a wave to dash up and frighten his horses, who bolt, with the result that the chariot is overturned and Hippolytus is killed.

Actress Italia Vitaliani visits director Giuseppe Sterni to discuss her role in the upcoming film La Madre.