The Last Days of Pompeii (1908 film)

The Last Days of Pompeii (1908 film) is an Italian silent film directed by Arturo Ambrosio. It is one of the earliest cinematic adaptations of Edward Bulwer-Lytton's 1834 novel of the same name. The film is notable for its ambitious scale, particularly for its time, depicting scenes of Roman life in Pompeii and the dramatic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Although details about the film's production are scarce, it is believed to have been shot on location, contributing to its perceived realism. The film is a landmark example of early Italian cinema and helped to popularize historical epics as a genre. While a complete print of the film is not known to survive, fragments and reconstructed versions exist, offering a glimpse into its historical significance. The film's narrative likely focused on the key plot points of the novel, including the love story, religious conflicts between Christians and pagans, and the eventual destruction of Pompeii.