Cyrano de Bergerac (1900 film)

Cyrano de Bergerac (1900) is a French silent film directed by Clément Maurice and Auguste Lumière. It is one of the earliest film adaptations of Edmond Rostand's 1897 play of the same name, Cyrano de Bergerac.

Production and Content:

The film is notable for its use of early colorization techniques, specifically hand-coloring frames. It depicts a scene from Rostand's play, likely a performance excerpt, featuring the character Cyrano de Bergerac. The actor playing Cyrano is not definitively known. Due to the film's age and the fragility of early film stock, extant versions may be incomplete or of varying quality.

Significance:

Cyrano de Bergerac (1900) holds historical significance as a very early example of both film adaptation of theatrical works and the incorporation of color in motion pictures. It represents a nascent stage in cinema history, illustrating the technological advancements and artistic exploration of the medium at the turn of the 20th century. It provides a glimpse into the early interpretations and adaptations of popular stage plays for the burgeoning film industry.

Availability:

The film is in the public domain and can be found on various online archives and film history resources. The quality of available versions varies.