Carmen (1915)
** (out of 4)
Carmen (opera star Geraldine Farrar) pretends to be in love with soldier Don Jose (Wallace Reid) so that she and her gypsy pals can sneak smuggled goods in. When Don Jose sees that this is all a fraud love soon turns to outrage. Another early effort from Cecil B. DeMille is probably the weakest film I've seen from him. Like 1914's The Squaw Man, the story is actually pretty interesting but the director does nothing with it and in the end it comes off way too bland. The only major highlight is the performance from Farrar who does a remarkable job throughout the film. She's certainly no beauty but her sexual performance makes us understand why Don Jose would want her.
** (out of 4)
Carmen (opera star Geraldine Farrar) pretends to be in love with soldier Don Jose (Wallace Reid) so that she and her gypsy pals can sneak smuggled goods in. When Don Jose sees that this is all a fraud love soon turns to outrage. Another early effort from Cecil B. DeMille is probably the weakest film I've seen from him. Like 1914's The Squaw Man, the story is actually pretty interesting but the director does nothing with it and in the end it comes off way too bland. The only major highlight is the performance from Farrar who does a remarkable job throughout the film. She's certainly no beauty but her sexual performance makes us understand why Don Jose would want her.