Carmen

Entertaining film and story. The woman playing Carmen does a good acting job, but she still doesn't quite sell the role to me. Everything else is about what you'd expect from a 1915 film. It's well made and has some well composed shots but it's very simple and doesn't have much special.

Features one of the finest cat fights of 1915

Nicely shot in the way you'd expect from DeMille, with impressive crowds, shadowy tavern scenes, etc. ; and a plot that's pared down nicely enough to work in this format. Really, though, it all comes down to Geraldine Farrar, who attacks her role with manic gusto, delivering plenty of presence--and plenty of sensuality and violence. It's a great look at what one of the biggest celebrities of her day brought to the operatic stage, and it fits in well with the kind of tone DeMille did well.