Video id 3792

Guazzoni, in putting on this sensational work must have encountered many difficulties. However, he overcame them brilliantly. He presents the episodes and vicissitudes which characterise the lives of Robespierre, Tallien, Teresa and the others around whom he revolved the plot of the film, with a wonderful sense of reality. The Convention scene is particularly beautiful and successful. The scenes of the masses are truly admirable as they give us an exact, rather than approximate, idea of memorable struggles and famous insurrections in those revolutionary times (the masses are laudably and magisterially disciplined and instructed when one takes into account the innumerable difficulties which cropped up).
Another particular which confers added value to Madame Tallien is the acting. The actors prove themselves to be perfectly in harmony with the action. I would say that they are absolutely informed about about the lives of the persons they depict.
Lyda Borelli plays a part which is not certainly suitable to assess her true value. However, she is natural, beautiful, enchanting and not worried (as I noted on previous occasions) about obtaining a plastic effect which often had a detrimental effect on her performances. Fabiani is very good, he is a perfect Robespierre, with his squinting glance, hard-set features and expression. Novelli is also excellent -an actor of beautiful physical presence and ingenuity, as also is Barni who made up the figure of Guéry with a rare nobility of attitude.
Nino Maggi, "La Vita Cinematografica", 7th/15th January 1917.

Film restored in collaboration with Cineteca Italiana and Cinémathèque Française.