Bella Donna
Cast & Crew
Edwin S. Porter
Pauline Frederick
Thomas Holding
Julian L'estrange
Eugene Ormonde
George Majeroni
Film Details
Synopsis
Thinking that the Hon. Nigel Armine will soon inherit a title and large fortune, widow Mrs. Chepstow, known to London society as Bella Donna, weds him despite the warnings to Nigel of his friend, Dr. Isaacson, about her scandalous past. They go to live in Egypt, where, while Nigel is away, Bella Donna begins an affair with the wealthy Baroudi, whose brutal manner attracts her. As Nigel's fortune dwindles, his wife's disdain for him increases until she agrees to Baroudi's suggestion that she slowly poison him. After Isaacson saves Nigel's life and fails to convince him of his wife's subterfuge, Bella Donna, exasperated with her husband's naïve trust, confesses the murder attempt in a fit of abuse, and leaves. Baroudi, who is with another woman, tells Bella Donna that she is too dangerous a toy for him, and turns her away. After Isaacson refuses to allow her to re-enter Nigel's home, she wanders into the Sahara and perishes in a sandstorm as a lean jackal watches.
Cast
Pauline Frederick
Thomas Holding
Julian L'estrange
Eugene Ormonde
George Majeroni
Edmund Shalet
Helen Sinnott
Film Details
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Alla Nazimova had her first American triumph in the play which opened in New York on November 11, 1912. Exterior scenes in the film were shot in Florida. According to a news item, the original plan was to shoot these scenes in Egypt, but because of the war, this was not carried out. The Famous Players-Lasky Corp. produced a film from the same source, which was released on April 1, 1923. George Fitzmaurice directed, and Pola Negri, Conway Tearle, and Conrad Nagel starred in it. (See AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.0339.)
