Roberto Omegna

Directing

Biography

Roberto Omegna, (born May 28, 1876, Turin, Italy—died Nov. 9, 1948, Turin), motion picture cameraman, director, and producer ofdocumentaries, one of the pioneers of the Italian cinema. His thorough research and filmmaking skills place him in the forefront of early documentarians. After receiving degrees in physics and mathematics, Omegna attended the Bassi and Ristori school of acting in Turin. In 1901 he and a partner opened the Edison Cinema in Turin, where he began to make short travel documentaries to both show at his theatre and sell to other exhibitors. He helped found the Ambrosio film studio in 1905 and went on to produce almost 100 films during his 18-year tenure with the company, serving as artistic director for all films and sometimes as cameraman or director (or both) as well. A pioneer of the documentary, Omegna produced some of the first films on travel, nature, and medicine. These includedTraversata del Chaco (1906; “Crossing the Chaco”), Buenos Aires (1906),Matrimonio abissino (1908; “Abyssinian Wedding”), La caccia al leopardo (1908; “Hunting the Leopard”), La neuropatolagia (1908; “Neuropathology”), Usi e costumi indiani (1911; “Customs and Practices of India”), Templi indiani (1911; “Indian Temples”), Una fabbrica di ombrelli in Birmania (1911; “An Umbrella Factory in Burma”), Funerali cinesi (1911; “Chinese Funerals”), and La vita delle farfalle (1911; “The Life of Butterflies”). In 1926 Omegna joined the management of LUCE (Union for Educational Cinematography), whose acronym spells the Italian word for “light.” From 1926 to 1942 he produced some 150 scientific and educational documentaries, mostly for schools and universities; they were also well received by the general public. Several of his works, including Uno sguardo al fondo del mare (1936; “A Look at the Bottom of the Sea”) and Un mondo meraviglioso (1938; “A Wonderful World”)—both of which received awards at the Festival of Venice—remain interesting and scientifically accurate even today. (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Known For

4.9

Pompeii 79AD, mere days before the Vesuvian eruption. Glaucus and Jone are in love with each other. Arbaces, the Egyptian High Priest, is determined to conquer Jone. Glaucus purchases Nydia, the blind and long-suffering slave. Nydia falls in love with Glaucus and asks Arbaces for his help. He gives her a potion to make Glaucus fall in love with her-- In fact, a poison which will cause violent insanity.

The Last Days of Pompeii

1908Movie

N/A

In 1911 the International Exposition of Industry and Labour took place in Turin to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Italian National Unity. The first part of the film, "Nei cantieri dell'Esposizione", shows an unusual view of the river Po with the construction sites of the pavilions. The construction sites are also visited by the then Prime Minister Luigi Luzzatti. The second part of the video presents "La giornata d'esultanza", or the celebrations for the inauguration on April 29, 1911, in the presence of royalties of Italy.

Esposizione di Torino

1911Movie

No image

N/A

Invited by Duke Alfonso II to the court of Ferrara to read his poems, the poet Torquato Tasso finds himself at the center of court intrigue because of his secret love for the Duke’s sister, Eleanora d’Este.

Torquato Tasso

1909Movie

6.5

Italian silent film

The Slave of Carthage

1910Movie

5.0

Maude, engaged to a doctor, was adopted years earlier by the president of an anti-alcoholic league. A Gypsy violinist falls in love with her, who, after having kidnapped and immobilized the girl's boyfriend, takes her to a villa and, to try to make her give in to his coaxing, has some gypsies offer her champagne.