Cabiria

Watch Cabiria

"All Nations Bow to This - The Greatest Spectacle the World Has Seen!"
  • NR
  • 1914
  • 3 hr 20 min
  • 7.1  (3,890)

Cabiria is a 1914 Italian epic silent film that tells the story of a young Roman girl, Cabiria, and her trials and tribulations before and during the Second Punic War, which took place between Rome and Carthage. Directed by the renowned Italian film director, Giovanni Pastrone, the film was a landmark in cinematic history, setting the standard for epic films for decades to come.

The film is set in ancient Rome, around 240 BC, during the Second Punic War. The story begins with Cabiria, a young girl from a wealthy Roman family, being kidnapped by pirates and sold as a slave. She is rescued from the pirates by Maciste, a strong and brave man who becomes her protector throughout the film. Cabiria is later sold to a wealthy noblewoman, who takes her in as a slave, but also raises her like a daughter.

As the war between Rome and Carthage rages on, Cabiria is caught up in the turmoil and chaos of the conflict. She witnesses the brutal and bloody battles between the two armies, and sees the devastation that war can inflict on those caught in its path. Along the way, Cabiria falls in love with Fulvius, a Roman soldier who is also captured by the Carthaginians.

The film is notable not just for its epic scale and grandiose set pieces, but also for its innovative and ground-breaking special effects. Pastrone used a variety of techniques to create the illusion of massive crowds of soldiers, elephants, and other animals on-screen. He also used cutting-edge camera techniques, such as tracking shots and close-ups, to capture the action and drama of the film in a way that had never been seen before.

Another notable aspect of the film is its use of intertitles, which are a type of caption that appears between scenes to provide exposition and dialogue. Pastrone was one of the first filmmakers to use intertitles in this way, and it helped to make the film more accessible to audiences around the world.

The film's cast is led by Italia Almirante-Manzini, who plays the titular character, Cabiria. Almirante-Manzini gives a powerful and emotional performance, conveying the fear, despair, and hope of her character in equal measure. Lidia Quaranta, who plays the noblewoman who takes Cabiria in as a slave, is also notable for her nuanced and complex portrayal of a character torn between love and duty.

Bartolomeo Pagano, who plays Maciste, is another standout performance in the film. Known for his hulking physique and muscular prowess, Pagano was a major box-office draw in Italy at the time. His character is a brave and loyal protector of Cabiria, and he brings a sense of physicality and strength to the role that is truly impressive to watch.

In conclusion, Cabiria is a landmark in cinematic history, setting the standard for epic films for decades to come. It is a powerful and emotional story that deals with themes of war, love, and loyalty, and it features some of the most innovative and ground-breaking special effects and camera techniques of its time. With a talented cast led by Italia Almirante-Manzini, Lidia Quaranta, and Bartolomeo Pagano, Cabiria remains a classic example of Italian cinema at its finest.

Cabiria is a 1914 drama with a runtime of 3 hours and 20 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.

Cabiria
Description
Where to Watch Cabiria
Cabiria is available to watch free on Vudu Free. It's also available to stream, download and buy on demand at Amazon and Vudu. Some platforms allow you to rent Cabiria for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    1914
  • MPAA Rating
    NR
  • Runtime
    3 hr 20 min
  • Language
    Italian
  • IMDB Rating
    7.1  (3,890)
Watch all of
Do you have Hulu?
Ad Info - This movie may not be available on Hulu
No thanks, I'm not interested in Hulu