blogging by Andrew Wickliffe


The Miracle Water (1914, Eleuterio Rodolfi)


A scene from THE MIRACLE WATER, directed by Eleuterio Rodolfi for Società Anonima Ambrosio.

The Miracle Water is so exceptionally confusing–and it’s only ten minutes–I wonder if something had been lost or if the theaters handed out a plot summary.

In fact, it’s so confounding, I read some descriptions online and they characterize the film as family friendly fare. A husband wants children, ships the wife off to the titular miracle waters and gets babies a year later.

Only these descriptions ignore the wife and her doctor lusting for each other, something seemingly consummated at the miracle water place.

The confusion stems from director (and star) Rodolfi not doing establishing close-ups. Instead, he relies on the title cards to announce people. His patient, played by Gigetta Morano, doesn’t get a close-up until the end.

Rodolfi either intentionally confuses or it’s missing footage.

Besides a cool shot of a cross section of an apartment building, there’s nothing to recommend the short.

1/3Not Recommended

CREDITS

Directed by Eleuterio Rodolfi; written by Arrigo Frusta; released by Società Anonima Ambrosio.

Starring Eleuterio Rodolfi and Gigetta Morano.


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