| Set List | Film screening - 'Quo Vadis?', dir. E Guazzoni (1913, 120mins) |
| Royal Presence | HRH Princess Henry of Battenberg |
| Performance Notes | 'Quo Vadis?' is based upon novel by Henryk Sienkievikz of the same title, the story of St. Peter in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero.
The original booking for the screening was for two weeks from 26 April 1913 with the option of two extra weeks. The film was further shown from 10-25 May 1913.
On 5 May 1913, King George V and Queen Mary attended the film in a private capacity.
On 21 May 1913, the film was seen by Princess Henry of Battenburg.
The Daily Telegraph (7 May 1913) reported that Signor Casteliani who played the Giant Slave in the film appeared at the Hall in person and in being recognised by the audience was greeted with loud applause.
'Sienkievikz's immortal novel put into action. A Story of Ancient Rome before your eyes, 5,000 actors. Real lions. Real Chariot races. Real combats in the Circus. The Burning of Rome in most vivid colours."
(Advertisement, The Times, 7 May 1913).
"Presented on Saturday by the Bine Halls (Ltd.) at the Albert Hall, the film "Quo Vadis?" which is taken from Henryk Sienkiewicz's novel, claims to be the greatest and most expensive which has ever reached London. In such a vast hall it is naturally difficult to realise the size of the screen, though it is the largest in the world. The picture inevitably looks small in comparison with its setting. It is interesting to note that 30,000 square feet of glass in the roof have had to be covered in with black cloth.
A peculiarity of the film which makes it different from others hitherto seen is that the whole of its development takes place in the actual places in ancient Rome where the scene is supposed to have occurred about two thousand years ago. The film measures over 8,000ft, a record of its kind, as the average length seldom exceeds 1,200ft. Special permission was granted to the Cines Company by the Italian authorities to make use of all the historical buildings still existing. The pictures constitute a year's work, and involved the engagement of some 5,000 people."
(The Daily Telegraph, 28 April 1913) |