True blue Yankee soprano Geraldine Farrar was the first internationally adored entertainer, she reached more people as a film actress than she did singing at the Met, or indeed through her records. Over her career she made 14 films, recorded about 200 sides, and gave 671 performances in 29 operas. She recognised her voice wasn't up to the likes of Melba for instance, but she wanted primarily to be an actress – and when she put her mind to anything she got it, hence her personal motto through life: Farrar Fará (Farrar Will Do It). With endless confidence and a dynamism unusual in opera divas she made this Carmen for DeMille in 1915.
Story of fiery gypsy woman winning the heart of a soldier (cherub faced Wallace Reid) and using him ruthlessly to her and her people's own ends. Farrar wanted the part badly! The version I've just seen was a brilliant restoration production of a print from George Eastman House by VAI, complete with modern orchestral arrangements and perfect tints based on the original production notes and a Pre and Postlude chockful of background information (even with 3 original recordings from Farrar herself). The acting and production were good, sometimes surprisingly so for such an early film. Farrar piled on the drama for the camera, she portrayed a different emotion every 5 seconds to offset the lack of words – or lyrics! Her dress at the bullfight was something to look at, lovingly captured by DeMille and his film crew.
Maybe Joan The Woman was a better picture overall but Carmen is a wonderful little film, a curio as presented now but very easy to watch and at 75 minutes long with all the extras left me wanting more. Bravo!
Story of fiery gypsy woman winning the heart of a soldier (cherub faced Wallace Reid) and using him ruthlessly to her and her people's own ends. Farrar wanted the part badly! The version I've just seen was a brilliant restoration production of a print from George Eastman House by VAI, complete with modern orchestral arrangements and perfect tints based on the original production notes and a Pre and Postlude chockful of background information (even with 3 original recordings from Farrar herself). The acting and production were good, sometimes surprisingly so for such an early film. Farrar piled on the drama for the camera, she portrayed a different emotion every 5 seconds to offset the lack of words – or lyrics! Her dress at the bullfight was something to look at, lovingly captured by DeMille and his film crew.
Maybe Joan The Woman was a better picture overall but Carmen is a wonderful little film, a curio as presented now but very easy to watch and at 75 minutes long with all the extras left me wanting more. Bravo!