Bélisaire (Original)
1910
Alternative Titles
Belisar (Alternative)
BFI identifier
125776Synopsis
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 reward for a victory. The Empress Theodora, jealous of Belisarius' love for his betrothed Antonia, charges two men with the task of blinding him by pouring poison in his eyes. Antonia follows them on their mission and switches the poison for a harmless liquid while they sleep. She hurries on to the Roman camp to forewarn Belisarius. He pretends to sleep when the two villains approach him, then feigns agony when the liquid is poured in his eyes. Justinian becomes worried by the disappearance of his general who, with Antonia, has taken refuge with a priest. Spokesmen for the people arrive at Justinian's court to plead for Belisarius. Soldiers are sent to summon him back to court, where he denounces Theodora and her accomplices to the Emperor. Justinian condemns the accomplices, but Belisarius pleads for Theodora to be spared (645ft). (Shotlist)
- Production Country: France
- Production Company: Éclipse
- BFI Category: Fiction
- Source: N/A
Cast
No Cast information is available.
Credits
Production Company: Éclipse
Film Technical Information
- Original Length: 225 m
- Length of BFI Viewing Print: 645 ft
- Support: Viewable
- Black and White
- Format: 35 mm
Comments on the print:
As far as we have been able to discover, the BFi print is unique. It is based on a tinted nitrate positive from the Abbé Joye Collection, has German intertitles and lacks the main title. In 1989 the film was preserved by the BFI in black-and-white.
Source for original length: Cine-Journal, 19 November 1910.
Visual Resources
