SALAMBO (1911) ¢ ¢ 1/2
D: Arturo Ambrosio
Gigetta Morano, Giovanni Coppo, Oreste Grandi,
Alberto Capozzi, Ercole Vaser, Maria Bay
Some mercenaries help the Carthaginians fight off the invading Romans, but then the Carthaginians try to cheat the mercenaries out of their payment in gold, which turns out to be a bad idea. Italian filmmakers were the first to realize there was money to be made (and spent) on grandiose historical epics. This one has hundreds of extras, opulent sets and costumes, horses, camels and a lion. You can bet Cecil B. DeMille was watching and taking notes.
