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MUSEUM of DREAMWORLDS

MUSEUM of DREAMWORLDS

Silent Antiquity Films in the BFI National Archive

Amour d’esclave (original)

1907

Ancient Athens. Polymos falls in love with the slave Chloë. No main title. Polymos is bored by the attention of merchants and their rich goods. …

Antico Romano (original)

1909

Comedy. 3 archaeologists discover a tomb and liberate an ancient Roman soldier into modern Rome.

Antigone (original)

1911

Based on the tragedy Antigone by Sophocles. Eteocles and Polyneices, sons of Oedipus, engage in single combat to decide who shall reign in Thebes and…

Bélisaire (original)

1910

The Roman general Belisarius survives an attempt by Justinian's wife to blind him. The Emperor Justinian I presents Belisarius with a sword as a …

Ben-Hur A Tale of the Christ

1925

Boadicea

1927

Prasutagas, King of the Iceni, lies ill. One of his tribe, Caradoc, has his grain seized by Roman soldiers and his son Madoc is taken by them to the …

Bruto (original)

1911

Brutus, who has been brought up as a son by Julius Caesar, is pursuaded by Cassio to conspire against him. Despite warnings by his wife, Caesar goes …

Cabiria (original)

1914

The story of the abduction of a young girl, Cabiria, by pirates during the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage and her rescue by a slave friend, Mac…

Caduta di Troia, La (original)

1910

HISTORICAL DRAMA. The story of the Trojan war. Rl.1. Homer sings to the Greeks of the exploits of the heroes of the Trojan war. Menelaus, King of Spa…

Cajus Julius Caesar (original)

1914

Historical drama about the Emperor Julius Caesar and the plot against him. (NFA Catalogue)

Caprice du vainqueur, Le (original)

1910

The attempt to set fire to an Egyptian Palace where Caesar is being entertained. (NFA Catalogue)

Cirzensische Spiele (original)

1910

ACTUALITY. Scenes from a historical pageant/festival in an Italian stadium, involving a chariot race. A procession of men in Roman uniform, with deco…

Città eterna, La (original)

1911

Rome (the "Eternal City"). Main title (5). LS of the skyline of Rome dominated by the dome of St. Peter's with a fountain in the foregr…

Cléopâtre (original)

1910

The story of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, and her love for the Roman Mark Antony. Cleopatra is seen at her court prior to departing for Mark Antony'…

Clio e Filete (original)

1911

Phyletes rescues Clios, his betrothed, from the rapacious Haxar. Haxar, returning in triumph from conquest, asks for Clios as his wife, but her fathe…

Dall'amore al martirio (original)

1910

Marcus Lycinius is in love with a young girl, Livia. His jealous mistress finds out that Livia is a Christian and has her arrested. Marcus tries to m…

Elettra (original)

1909

From the Greek myth. Agamemnon lies dying, murdered by his wife Clytemnestra. Before he is sent away from the palace, Orestes is begged by his sister…

Esclave de Phidias, L' (original)

1917

Ancient Athens. The devotion of a slave girl, Callyce, to her master, the sculptor Phydias, takes her into exile with him. Rl.1. [Lacks initial secti…

Excavations at Ostia (catalogue)

1909

The results of excavations at Ostia, showing the streets, citygate and the Ostian way. (NFA Catalogue)

Excursions Aux Ruines Romaines D'Ampurias (original)

1911

The Roman ruins at Ampurias in the Gulf de Rosas in North Eastern Spain. A number of views of the Roman ruins which have been excavated. Shots of the…

Fedra (original)

1909

Ancient Greece: Phaedra, wife of Theseus, loves her stepson Hippolytus. Repulsed, she falsely accuses him. He drives off in his chariot and is killed…

Fille du centurion, La (original)

1910

The slave and daughter of a centurion become Christians in Rome. Main title and credits (13). The slaves of the centurion Vicinius attend to their du…

Filming a Dead City

1922

Aerial views of the remains of the Roman city of Ostia at the mouth of the Tiber (37ft) (Shotlist)

Giulio Cesare (original)

1909

The rise and fall of Julius Caesar. Calpurnia welcomes her husband, the triumphant Caesar back to Rome. Caesar, confiding his tyrannical aspirations …

Helena 2.Teil: Der Untergang Trojas (original)

1924

Part two of a film released in two parts. The story tells of the events which lead up to the siege of Troy by Menelaus, husband of Helen, to avenge h…

Héliogabale (original)

1910

The abduction of a Vestal Virgin by the Emperor Heliogabalus leads to his overthrow. Heliogabalus arrives arm-in-arm with two of his court favourites…

Idylle Corinthienne (original)

1909

DRAMA. A young shepherd drives his sheep through the courtyard of a house in Corinth. He stops to place a garland round the neck of a bust of the God…

Idylle romaine, une (original)

1908

A couple are in love but the man has an admirer who kidnaps his lover and throws her down a pit. The man rescues her and throws his admirer down the …

Jone o Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei (original)

1913

Set in Pompeii and featuring the eruption of AD79. Based on the novel by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. Rl.1. Ione and Glaucus, who are in love, buy flowers f…

Jugement de Paris, Le (original)

1902

Julius Caesar

1908

No credits. Scene opens on the steps of the Capitol where a soothsayer is speaking to the court. Caesar leaves with Marc Antony whilst Cassius is see…

Légende de Midas, La (original)

1910

Classical myth: Midas prefers Pan's music to Apollo's, so Apollo curses him with asses' ears. His barber whispers the secret to a hole in…

Martire Pompeiana (original)

1909

A woman helps her friend to escape from prison and as a result is crucified. No titles. The film opens with a scene in the garden of a Roman brothel …

Martyre, Le (original)

1910

Historical, religious. The son of a Prefect in Rome is condemned to death for being a Christian. No main title. The household try to entertain the Pr…

Martyrs Chrétiens, Les (original)

1905

Christian martyrs in the Roman arena. A lion trainer rounds up one of his animals, which is obedient to his orders, and rolls over to be stroked. Att…

Morte di Socrate, La (original)

1909

The death of Socrates. The judges condemn Socrates to drink hemlock. In his prison cell, Socrates is surrounded by his weeping family. The judges ent…

Neapolitan Dance at the Ancient Forum of Pompeii

1898

A folk dance staged in the ruins of Pompeii. With the Arch of Tiberius in the near distance and Arch of Caligula in far distance. A troop of soldiers…

Nerone (original)

1909

The life of Emperor Nero. Based on the dramatic poem by Arrigo Boito. No main title. Nero and his servant talking in the palace. They leave (6). Two …

Odissea, L' (original)

1911

The legend of Odyseeus. Rl.1. Main title (20). Odysseus takes leave of his wife Penelope, his son Telemach and his fatehr Laertes. With his family he…

Parapluie fantastique, La (original)

1903

TRICK. A conjuror evokes women in national dress from an umbrella and then transforms them into an ancient Greek tableau. Library of Congress data (6…

Patrizia e schiava (original)

1909

An African slave girl kidnaps her mistress's child, who is then abandoned and cared for by mermaids until returned to her mother. A man talks to …

Principessa e Schiava (original)

1909

Ancient Rome. Roman princess is jealous of general's love for captured slave girl. Roman general Vitellius returns after conquering the Dacians, …

The Private Life of Helen of Troy

1927

Burlesque of the Trojan legend. Note: The NFTVA holds the following. 200027A (485ft). The final 485ft (sequence ends `The End') 207006A (727ft). …

Promenade dans Rome (original)

1913

Black and white: St. Peter's; "the city of fountains"; various shots. Stencil coloured: Horses at drinking trough; Piazza del Popolo; V…

Pygmalion and Galatea

1912

Story of Pygmalion and Galatea. Based on the Roman poet Ovid's Metamorphoses. Main title. (1) Intertitles. (13) Pygmalion is seen at work on his …

Quo Vadis? (original)

1913

HISTORICAL DRAMA. A story of the persecution of the Christians by the Emperor Nero. Rl.1. [Section missing] Petronius persuades Nero to have the beau…

Quo Vadis? (original)

1924

A story of the persecution of the Christians by the Emperor Nero. Rl.1. Nero amuses himself by watching his victims being cast into the wayer to feed…

The Road to Rome or Ruin

1926

University student's film of activities and a trip to Rome. (Synopsis) "ASHTON ST FILM CORP INC PRESENTS THAT ANCIENT MONUMENT OF CINEMATIC …

Roaming Romeo

1928

Slapstick comedy loosely parodying MGM's epic BEN HUR. (NFA Catalogue)

Roman Britain

1927

INSTRUCTIONAL: A reconstruction of life in Britain in Roman times. R.1. A British village in AD49 of mud huts with thatched roofs (36-46); when dange…

Roman Scandal, A

1926

No main title. Mutt and Jeff stand outside a tent advertising `PROF FEEP CRYSTAL GAZER REVEALS PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE.' After arguing, Jeff uses…

Saffo (original)

1909

The Greek poetess, Sappho, cares only for the arts and rejects several suitors. One day strolling by the sea she sees Phaon, a handsome fisherman, an…

San Paolo Dramma Biblico (original)

1910

DRAMA. Biblical. Scenes from the life of St Paul the Apostle. The archive holds several versions: Paul, a merchant in Tarsus, hears of a Christian ga…

Santa Cecilia (original)

1911

The story of the Christian martyr Saint Cecilia. Unknown to her parents, Cecilia, a Roman patrician, has become a Christian. She has two suitors for …

Temptation of St. Anthony

1900

TRICK - stop-action. St Anthony sits reading at a desk, on which a skull is visible. A young woman wearing a skin-coloured body suit appears before h…

Tentation de Saint-Antoine (original)

1899

Though Your Sins Be As Scarlet (original)

1911

A Roman courtesan repents of her wanton life to follow Christ. Lydia, a Roman courtesan, refuses the caresses of a Roman man. A leper passes by, seek…

Ultimi Giorni di Pompei, Gli (original)

1926

Set in Pompeii and based on the novel by Edward Bulwer- Lytton. Rl.1. Various shots of the ruins of Pompeii and Vesuvius (137). A reconstruction of l…

Vestale, La (original)

1908

The scene depicts the Forum and the Temple of Vesta. Cinna returns victorious from the Gauls and is about to receive the honours of triumph, but Act&…

Virginia

1911

Virginius, a Roman soldier, leaves his daughter Virginia under the protection of her betrother, Icilius. Apiius Claudius, a patrician, tells his frie…

Visit to Pompeii

1901

Panoramas of the ruins of Pompeii with Vesuvius in the background. Ascending vesuvius by the funicular railway, (one of the railway carriages is conf…

The Way of the Cross

1909

No main title. A group of Christians march through Rome. Meanwhile, Valerius gambles and drinks with his friends. He leaves his friends and comes upo…

Wege zu Kraft und Schönheit (original)

1925

The culture of the body, made as a health propaganda picture Six parts. 1. The Greeks and ourselves 2. Hygiene and exercise. 3. Dancing. 4. Eurythmic…