Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great

Movie spotlight

Alexander the Great

1917
Movie
110 min
Swedish

In a small provincial town there is a hotel run by one of those eccentric cooks of long ago who made generous meals that have nothing in common with the extravagant restaurateurs of nowadays and their meagre menus. The manager is named after Alexander the Great and in his restaurant the town bourgeoisie meet and discuss various issues, especially matters of the heart. Morals are part of the conversations and prove to be complicated issues even for strict and serious Nordics. 28 minutes of runtime are missing and presumed lost.

Insights

Director: Mario CaseriniGenres: Historical, Drama, War

Plot Summary

This silent film epic chronicles the life and military campaigns of Alexander the Great, from his youth and education under Aristotle to his vast conquests across Persia and India. It depicts his strategic brilliance, his ambition to unite the world under his rule, and the eventual challenges he faced in maintaining his empire. The film highlights key battles and personal relationships that shaped his legendary reign.

Critical Reception

As a silent film from 1917, comprehensive modern critical reception is scarce. However, films of this era were often appreciated for their spectacle and historical scope, aiming to educate and entertain audiences with grand narratives. Its focus on historical events suggests it was likely viewed as an ambitious cinematic undertaking for its time.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its ambitious historical scope in the silent era.

  • Noted for its visual spectacle and reenactments of ancient battles.

  • A significant undertaking in early historical filmmaking.

Google audience: Audience reviews for this specific silent film are not available. However, films from this period that tackled epic historical subjects were generally well-received for their scale and narrative ambition.

Fun Fact

Mario Caserini, the director, was a prolific filmmaker in early Italian cinema, known for his historical epics, and this film was one of his many contributions to the genre.

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