The Essential Watchlist that Capture the Essence of Noris: Cult Guide

Dir: Augusto Genina

A bank employee who stole money at work falls in the hands of a dangerous escaped convict whose girlfriend is going to help him out of this mess.

Dir: Augusto Genina

Olga, a French girl of good social position, marries Ali Benvert Bey, an Arab, against the advice of her friends, including Dr. Alex Werner, medical man to the Bey. Olga sails with her husband to Arabia, where for a time, she is extremely happy. She soon finds that she is expected to conform to Arab customs. Her husband objects to her meeting European friends and will not even allow her to see Dr. Werner without his permission. When the Bey learns that his wife and Werner have met secretly, he carries her off to a dancing hall where he tells her that she will remain imprisoned. She is rescued and carried away by Werner, the Bey follows in pursuit and is shot dead. Olga is taken back to Europe to presumed happiness.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of The White Slave perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Augusto Genina

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Augusto Genina

Lucienne, typist and gorgeous bathing beauty, decides to enter the 'Miss Europe' pageant sponsored by the French newspaper she works for. She finds her jealous lover Andre violently disapproves of such events and tries to withdraw, but it's too late; she's even then being named Miss France. The night Andre planned to propose to her, she's being whisked off to the Miss Europe finals in Spain, where admirers swarm around her. Win or lose, what will the harvest be?

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of La moglie bella perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Augusto Genina

A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.

Dir: Augusto Genina

Cyrano de Bergerac is a joyous and witty poet filled with plenty of charisma and bravado in 17th-century France. He has only one flaw: an unusually long nose which makes him unattractive to any woman.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Prix de beauté (Miss Europe) perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Augusto Genina

The cruise ship Oceania is crossing the Atlantic toward Europe when it sinks, torpedoed by a submarine. A wealthy man then entrusts the captain with the secret of his family treasure to pass on to his daughter.

Dir: Augusto Genina

At the outbreak of the great war in Europe, Marion Duval, a mischievous schoolgirl, is infected with the patriotic fervor that swept over the European State in which she lives. She runs away from school disguises herself in boy's clothing, and joins the Boy Scouts. In this disguise she shares with a dashing cavalry lieutenant several thrilling adventures. In later years she makes a determined effort to renew her acquaintance with this hero of her dreams, who is still unaware of her sex. When she finally meets him once more, she finds him, now a member of his government's secret service, enmeshed in the toils of an adventuress. Taking a hand in the game, she is able to save the lieutenant from disgrace, but only after a series of stirring episodes culminating in a scene when she and the adventuress, locked together in a room, engage in a struggle for the possession of plans of importance. Naturally, her heroism is rewarded with the heart of the handsome lieutenant.

A visual fragment from the archive: The thematic resonance of Lucciola perfectly mirrors the editorial trajectory of our deep dive.

Dir: Augusto Genina

Mario, student at the University of Turin, has a romantic relationship with the milliner Dorina, daughter of the lady who rents him the room. However, the boy is fascinated by a rich lady, Elena, who courts him, inducing him to betray her.

Dir: Augusto Genina

The student arrives in the University City and takes apartments. Love immediately springs up between him and his landlady's daughter, who waits on him and mends his clothes. But a brazen damsel intervenes and he is temporarily fascinated. An interview between the rivals takes place and the woman gives way. The youth passes his examinations and returns to his faithful sweetheart.