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Cabiria

Cabiria (1914)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 0

audience

63

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 1,063

My Rating

Movie Info

Cabiria is an Italian historical epic that ran a full 14 reels (well over three hours) at a time when most American films were still short subjects. The plot hinges on the abduction of wealthy and virginal Cabiria (Lidia Quaranta) by pirates during the Roman/Carthaginian War of ancient times. Highlights (many of which were filmed on tinted stock) include the burning of the Roman fleet, an effect accomplished with miniatures and mirrors, and Hannibal's crossing of the Alps -- with real Alps, and

Nov 7, 2000

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All Critics (7) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (0) | DVD (1)

Both one of the most influential films ever made and one of the most rarely shown.

March 27, 2013 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
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In its particular way, Cabiria is beautiful and enthralling.

July 12, 2006 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
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The mechanical effects are thrilling and excellent, and the photo drama is one of the most effective ever shown here.

March 25, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Times
New York Times
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Giovanni Pastrone's 1914 film is one of several early Italian epics that significantly influenced the form and flow of the feature film, then in its developmental infancy.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader
Chicago Reader
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. The exotic drama, suspense, and daring stunts on display in Pastrone's film of "12,000 shots" is every bit, if not more effective, than that of modern filmmakers whose use of green-screen CGI is frequently used more as a crutch than a meaningful storyte

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com
ColeSmithey.com

This stunning silent epic was a huge influence on D.W Griffiths when he came to make Intolerance, and matches that film for scope, vision and spectacle.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4
Film4

Audience Reviews for Cabiria

"Cabiria," made in Italy in 1914 by Giovanni Pastrone, had a huge impact on cinema, encouraging countless directors worldwide (among them America's D.W. Griffith) to take their craft more seriously and create longer, more artistically ambitious films.

Unfortunately, I found the film a bore. I couldn't watch it for more than an hour. Set during ancient Roman times, it tells the story of a young girl named Cabiria born at the foot of Mount Etna in Sicily. After a volcano wipes out her home, she is sold to a Carthaginian priest seeking children to sacrifice in his religious rituals. The only gripping scenes were those in the Temple of Moloch, where naked children are sacrificed one by one as frenzied dancers cheer the priest on.

Cabiria is rescued and ends up on the run under the protection of a fellow Roman and his slave. That's when the boredom really sets in.
September 29, 2012
Bill D 2007
William Dunmyer

Super Reviewer

This movie appears to be 10 or 15 years ahead of its time with such advancements as intercut dialogue boxes (though they often contain entire paragraphs with a lot of the story), complex and sprawling sets, and excellent costuming. There are still a few things that can date it. For example, almost the entire film is done with a stationary camera, and there are no matching action shots that Griffith introduced in his chase scenes for Birth of a Nation. In the second half of the film though, there are two moving camera shots. Basically, it is a huge period drama with excellent sets and costumes, and a story that is good enough to keep your interest. Cabiria is also a good film to view for those with an interest in the history of cinema as the viewer can precisely deliniate cinematic advancements and compare it to other early silent features. It is as enjoyable as a movie from the late 1920s and I recommend it for those who can enjoy silents.
January 20, 2009
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