Expert: DM - 3/14/2008

Question
Dear David,
I note with interest that you have written a book about Bernhardt's films. I am working with the Puccini Festival in Italy on an exhibition for this summer dedicated to  Puccini and the Cinema. Could you please tell me where Sarah's Tosca is preserved and whether it is one or two reels as I have contrasting information on this.
Do you also know if Lina Cavalieri's 1914 "Manon Lescaut" film is preserved somewhere?
Very many thanks,
Vivien Hewitt

Answer
Dear Vivien,
Thank you for your very interesting question.
Please feel free to visit my web site www.thegreatstars.com for information about Sarah Bernhardt's existing films and recordings.

I have had a hand in the restoration of her 1911 films Camille, and her 1912 film, Queen Elizabeth, and have discovered her lost 1921 film, Daniel, which is currently under restoration. I am currently also involved in the restoration of her 1917 film, Mothers of France.

As for La Tosca, I have been searching for years for a print of this film. It is a one-reeler, which covers the story line, but in a condensed "highlights" synopsis of the story. Recently, a collector sent it to me, but it turned out to be a copy cat film that was made at the same time, followed the same story line, and was the same length, but alas, it was not the Bernhardt film.

I have been told that a print may be in the archives at the Cinematheque Francaise in France. Over here in the USA, I did procure some footage from the Bernhardt film, and stills from that footage was featured in my book, Sarah Bernhardt in the Theater of Films and Sound Recordings, as well as a great deal of other information about the film.

Manon Lescaut has been a popular story in motion pictures. I do not believe the Lina Cavalieri version exists. The following is a list of known titles:
 
1. Manon Lescaut (1980) (TV)
aka "Live from the Met: Manon Lescaut" - USA (series title)
 
2. Manon Lescaut (1983) (TV)
 
3. Manon Lescaut (1998) (TV)
4. Manon Lescaut (1911)
5. Manon Lescaut (1912)
6. Manon Lescaut (1914)
7. Manon Lescaut (1918)
8. Manon Lescaut (1926)
9. Manon Lescaut (1940)
10. Manon Lescaut (1976) (TV mini-series)
11. Manon Lescaut (1990) (TV)
12. Manon Lescaut (1997) (TV)
13. Manon Lescaut (2002) (TV)
14. Manon Lescaut (2005) (TV)


Sincerely,
David Menefee