Madeleine Céliat was a lovely theatre actress and later in films as well. She was sent to the Film d’Arte Italiana by Charles Pathé in order to replace Francesca Bertini who had just left for the Celio company. In Rome, she was the lead in a half dozen films, among which Stellina, pescatrice di Venezia which was shot in Venice and softened by Pathécolor pastel tones.
Ready in April 1912, the film was previewed in Venice. The local press, which had never cared much for cinema, condemned the film, accusing it of exploiting the lagoon city for a dark affair suitable for the Grand Guignol (Paris theatre of the macabre). The newspaper L’Adriatico, in particular, complained about how Venice was unfairly used as a vehicle for drawing attention to an unworthy film in which the actors were motivated by feelings and acted in ways which were not typical of the local people. The Film d’Arte recalled the film and represented it only in 1913, avoiding further showings in the Veneto region.
(Vittorio Martinelli)