Eclipse of the Sun (film)

Eclipse of the Sun is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starring Montagu Love, Theda Bara, and Edward Roseman. The film is based on the novel Thais by Anatole France.

Plot Summary:

The film tells the story of Nicias, a wealthy and hedonistic young man who seeks to convert Thais, a famous and beautiful courtesan, to Christianity. Nicias, driven by a desire to prove the power of faith and escape his own dissolute life, travels to Alexandria to find her. He eventually succeeds in his mission, but in the process, he falls deeply in love with Thais. After Thais' conversion, she enters a convent, dedicating her life to religious devotion. Nicias, however, finds himself unable to return to his former life and is tormented by his feelings for her. He visits her at the convent, only to find her on her deathbed, happy and at peace. Nicias is left to grapple with the conflicting forces of earthly desire and spiritual redemption.

Cast:

• Montagu Love as Nicias
• Theda Bara as Thais
• Edward Roseman as Ascalio
• Albert Law as Abbot
• Genevieve Hamper as Albine

Production:

The film was produced by Fox Film Corporation and was known for its elaborate sets and costumes, typical of Theda Bara's films. Eclipse of the Sun is now considered a lost film, as no known copies have survived.

Significance:

The film is notable as one of Theda Bara's portrayals of a strong and alluring female character in a period drama. Although lost, it represents a significant example of early 20th-century silent filmmaking and the adaptation of classic literature for the screen. It also demonstrates the popular themes of religious conversion, redemption, and the conflict between spiritual and earthly desires prevalent in films of the time.