Tag Archives: cinema of 1921

In search of Astrea, mysterious ‘strongwoman’ of the Italian silent cinema

Posted on 8 June 2016 by silentsplease

The silent era was something of a golden age for athletic female stars. American serial queens were beloved by audiences around the world—it would be hard to overestimate how popular (and bankable) stars like Pearl White were at their peak. … Continue reading →

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Stacia Napierkowska on film

Posted on 29 May 2016 by silentsplease

As dancer Marfa Koutiloff in Les Vampires (FR 1915-16), Stacia Napierkowska gave the silent cinema one of its most iconic images: a woman in a black bodystocking and great black bat wings, stretching and swirling as if to take flight. Later, she … Continue reading →

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Asta Nielsen’s Hamlet (DE 1921)

Posted on 9 September 2014 by silentsplease

What if Hamlet was actually … a woman? That is the central premise of the 1921 film adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, starring Asta Nielsen in the role of Prince Hamlet. The concept is drawn from an 1881 publication, The Mystery … Continue reading →

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