Vittorio Di Maio (lost films from Italian director; existence unconfirmed; 1897)
Vittorio Di Maio was an Italian pioneer in film exhibitions in Brazil. In 1897, he supposedly recorded films that years later were considered the first films produced in Brazil.[1]
On the 1st and 6th of May 1897, Vittorio Di Maio exhibited 21 films at the Teatro Cassino Fluminense. The exhibitions can be confirmed in advertisements in the newspaper "Gazeta de Petrópolis".[2] [3] These films are considered the first films produced in Brazil.
Controversies
Di Maio could not have made these shorts, as he only worked with projection devices that are still unknown today, and it would have been extremely complicated for the time, because there was no cinematographic material available.
The researchers Paulo Roberto Ferreira and Jorge J.V. Capellaro, in the book "Verdades Sobre o Início do Cinema no Brasil" argue the short films exhibited in 1897 are Brazilian. The only evidence raised by the researchers is the fact that the titles of some films refer to places in Brazil, such as "Petrópolis" and "Polytheama".[4]
However, other researchers indicate that Di Maio changed the titles of foreign films to deceive the population of Petrópolis. Another thing that reinforces the theory is that Di Maio never mentioned or explained the screenings or the whereabouts of the films, even before he died in 1926.
List of Films
Of all the films, only 4 are defended as being Brazilian, which are:
- Uma Artista Trabalhando no Trapézio do Polytheama
- Chegada do Trem em Petrópolis
- Bailado de Crianças no Colégio, no Andaraí
- Ponto Terminal da Linha de Bondes de Botafogo, Vendo-se os Passageiros Subir e Descer
Number | Name | Literal Translation | Original Airdate |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Uma Artista Trabalhando no Trapezio do Polytheama | An Artist Working on the Polytheama Trapeze | May 1, 1897 |
2 | Uma Dama Preparando a Sua Toilette Para ir a Um Baile | A Lady Preparing Her Toilet To Go To A Ball | May 1, 1897 |
3 | Uma Dança de Africanos | A Dance of Africans | May 1, 1897 |
4 | Chegada do Trem em Petrópolis | Arrival of the Train in Petrópolis | May 1, 1897 |
5 | Bailado de Creanças no Collegio, no Andarahy | Children's Ballet at the College, in Andarahy | May 1, 1897 |
6 | Boulevard des Itahiens en Paris | Boulevard of the Italians in Paris | May 1, 1897 |
7 | Escola de Patinação | Skating School | May 1, 1897 |
8 | Saída do Pessoal de Uma Fabrica | People Leaving a Factory | May 1, 1897 |
9 | Um Bailado, Tendo os Dançarinos na Mão um Chapéu de Sol | A Ballet, with the Dancers Holding an Umbrella | May 1, 1897 |
10 | Um Almoço em Família | A Family Lunch | May 1, 1897 |
11 | Um Circo de Cavalinhos | A Horse Circus | May 1, 1897 |
12 | Desfilar das Tropas Francesas | Parade of French Troops | May 1, 1897 |
13 | Praça da Concordia em Paris | Concorde Square in Paris | May 1, 1897 |
14 | Um Professor de Violino, Lecionando as Suas Discipulas | A Violin Teacher, Teaching His Disciples | May 1, 1897 |
15 | Saída de Devotos de Uma Igreja | Departure of Devotees from a Church | May 1, 1897 |
16 | Lavadeiras (Lavando Roupa) | Laundresses (Washing Clothes) | May 1, 1897 |
17 | Uma Serpentina (Bailarina) | A Serpentine (Ballerina) | May 1, 1897 |
18 | Jogadores Surpreendidos pela Policia | Players Surprised by the Police | May 6, 1897 |
19 | Ponto Terminal da Linha de Bondes de Botafogo, Vendo-se os Passageiros Subir e Descer | Terminal Point of the Botafogo Tram Line, Seeing Passengers Getting On and Off | May 6, 1897 |
20 | Uma Decapitação Praticada pelos Inquisidores na Espanha | A Decapitation Practiced by the Inquisitors in Spain | May 6, 1897 |
21 | Banhistas (No banho) | Bathers (In the bath) | May 6, 1897 |
Gallery
Images
See Also
Brazilian Films
- Acabaram-se os Otários (partially found Brazilian comedy film; 1929)
- Amazonas, o Maior Rio do Mundo (found Brazilian documentary film; 1918-1920)
- Apuros do Genésio (found Brazilian comedy short film; 1940)
- Augusto Aníbal Quer Casar (lost Brazilian comedy film; 1923)
- Barcarola (lost first Brazilian sound film; 1908)
- Hei de Vencer (partially found Brazilian drama film; 1924)
- Luiz de Barros (partially found films from Brazilian director; 1916-1977)
- Nhô Anastácio Chegou de Viagem (lost Brazilian first comedy film; 1908)
- O Kaiser (lost Brazilian first animated film; 1917)
- Os Óculos do Vovô (partially found Brazilian film; 1913)
- Presente de Natal (partially found Brazilian animated film; 1971)
- Um Bravo do Nordeste (lost Brazilian western film; 1931)
- Um Crime Sensacional (lost Brazilian drama film; 1913)
- Uma Encrenca no Olimpo (lost unreleased Brazilian comedy film; 1929)
- Vista da Baía de Guanabara (lost first Brazilian film; existence unconfirmed; 1898)
- Vocação Irresistível (lost Brazilian comedy short film; 1924)
References
- ↑ Article that cites Di Maio as being responsible for the first recordings made in Brazil.
- ↑ First advertisement in the newspaper "Gazeta de Petrópolis".
- ↑ Second advertisement in the newspaper "Gazeta de Petrópolis".
- ↑ Verdades Sobre o Início do Cinema no Brasil, book written by Roberto Ferreira and Jorge J.V. Capellaro.