In some ways, "The Italian" is a rather archaic film. After all, the intertitle cards are descriptive, not dialog. In other words, like the earliest films, it describes what action the audience is seeing or is about to see and there is no dialog--just the actors pantomiming the story. In later silent films, this was rarely the case--with the dialog being much more important. However, despite this older style used in the film, "The Italian" is still an exceptional film--one that tells a tragic tale that is important because it shows a side of the American immigrant experience seldom talked about in films.
The film begins in Venice. Beppo is a happy gondolier but his future father-in-law wants his daughter to marry someone who can afford to care for her. So, Beppo immigrates to American to make his fortune. After a year of hard work, he pays for Annette to join him and life seems very good--especially when they are blessed with a son. However, through a series of small tragedies, Beppo is arrested and the child dies. Later, after his release, Beppo decides to seek revenge on the uncaring Alderman to whom he'd appealed for help--but who rebuffed him so cruelly. This Alderman now has a sick child and Beppo decides to show him what it is like to lose someone he loves. Can the decent man, Beppo, actually follow through with such a horrid plan?! This film is a bit overly melodramatic but also very effective, as it pulls the viewer into Beppo's world and creates much sympathy for the guy. While this might no excite most modern viewers, it is a very well made silent and a must-see for lovers of the genre.
The film begins in Venice. Beppo is a happy gondolier but his future father-in-law wants his daughter to marry someone who can afford to care for her. So, Beppo immigrates to American to make his fortune. After a year of hard work, he pays for Annette to join him and life seems very good--especially when they are blessed with a son. However, through a series of small tragedies, Beppo is arrested and the child dies. Later, after his release, Beppo decides to seek revenge on the uncaring Alderman to whom he'd appealed for help--but who rebuffed him so cruelly. This Alderman now has a sick child and Beppo decides to show him what it is like to lose someone he loves. Can the decent man, Beppo, actually follow through with such a horrid plan?! This film is a bit overly melodramatic but also very effective, as it pulls the viewer into Beppo's world and creates much sympathy for the guy. While this might no excite most modern viewers, it is a very well made silent and a must-see for lovers of the genre.