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ALDO MAGGIOROTT!
OPERA STARS ON THE SCREEN
THIS IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES DEALING WITH THE CONTRIBUTION OF OPERATIC SINGERS TO MOTION PICTURE ENTERTAINMENT.
* THE SILENT ERA AND THE EARLY TALKIES
Ever since the beautiful Lina Cavalieri and her matinee idol tenor husband Incien Muratore were teamed in a silent film version of Manon Lescaut in 1914, opera stars have formed an integral part in the history and development of motion pictures. This popular singing duo appeared together until 1919 when "House of Granada" was released. Their co-starring films were never great box office hits, but Miss Cavalieri did become a Paramount Pictures star in 1917 when she appeared in "The Eternal Temptress", She became better known to film audiences through "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", released in 1956 with Gina Lollobrigida in the role of Lina Cavalieri.
In 1915 Geraldine Farrar was brought to Hollywood by Jesse L. lasky with a contract to make three pictures in eight weeks at the then phenomenal fee of $20,000. She was furnished a house, servant, automobile and groceries (1) during her stay in the film capital, plus a private railroad car for her transportation to and from New York. Her first film, "Carmen", was a financial success. Co-incidentally, that same year, Theda Bara, the famous "Vamp" of the silent screen, also appeared in a film version of Prosper Merimee's fiery and fickle heroine. Of the two, Miss Farrar's was considered to be better directed, acted and produced. The following year (1916), Geraldine Farrar was cast in a supercolossal spectacle based on the life of the Maid of Orleans entitled "Joan the Woman", This was directed by that ace showman of spectaculars,
Cecil B. DeMille. This year also saw Miss Farrar ) (CONTINUED NEXT PAGE)