Maciste
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Giovanni Pastrone
Ernest Pagano
Arline Costello
Louise Farnsworth
Robert Ormand
Agnes L. Bain
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
After his wealthy brother dies, the scheming Duke Alexis takes possession of the estate in which his sister-in-law and her daughter Josephine live, and bribes Dr. Knauss to confine Josephine's mother to the Lonely Valley insane asylum. Fearing for her life, Josephine leaves home and eludes the pursuing agents of the duke by going into a theater. She sees the motion picture Cabiria , which chronicles the adventures of the giant Maciste. That night, impressed by Maciste's strength, Josephine dreams that he is her protector, and the next day she sends Maciste a note asking him to meet her. Maciste does not believe her story until they separate and he sees the duke's agent force her into an auto. After several days of searching, Maciste locates the old inn where Josephine is imprisoned and vanquishes eight men to rescue her. The duke attempts to recapture Josephine but Maciste saves her. After Maciste, by a ruse, becomes a servant in the duke's palace, he entraps the duke, takes him and his men to the police and frees Josephine's mother.
Director
Giovanni Pastrone
Cast
Ernest Pagano
Arline Costello
Louise Farnsworth
Robert Ormand
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
This film was also reviewed under the titles The Perplexities of Maciste and Maciste of Turin. It apparently was a joint production of Itala Film in Torino, Italy and the New York based Itala Film Co. of America. The film was shot both in Europe and America. Giovanni Pastrone, the director of Cabiria, a four reel film released in 1914, in which Bartolomeo Pagano, also known as Ernest Pagano, starred as the giant slave Maciste, directed the European section of this film. According to a news item, Gabrielle D'Annunzio, who was credited with creating the character of Maciste, suggested the plot of this film. According to reviews, some of Maciste's exhibitions of strength in this film included carrying a huge tree, breaking through a floor with his back, hanging with one arm from the coach of a speeding train and scooping up a man from a road in his other hand, and carrying two men, whom he felled, one in each hand, like suitcases. This film was not listed in release charts. Before its release, Harry R. Raver, the head of Itala Film Co. of America, speculated that the film might tour legitimate theaters in America.
