At first, melodrama was a literary and dramatic genre and was very popular among the public. When cinema arose, at the beginning of the century, in the 1900s, the first melodramas were also shot by the French. They brought a sharp intrigue to the cinema, virtue and villainy were contrasted in them in a bright, contrasting manner. And how beautifully the heroines of the silent melodramas suffered! Dark shadows around the eyes, thin beautiful faces were inspired by torment ... Villains, too, could be immediately recognized by unpleasant grimaces. As a result, good moralizing triumphed, and evil was always intelligibly punished.
The silent Russian melodrama (one-part) “Life for Life”, shot in 1916 by Eugene Bauer, is remarkable for the fact that Vera Kholodnaya starred in it in one of the main roles. This film was destined to become one of the most successful in the artistic career of the actress. After a screening of this particular melodrama, Vera acquired the title of Queen of the Screen and became the first star of Russian silent cinema.
Bauer was a world-class director. The above-mentioned Russian melodrama (one-part) was created by him at a very high level and is in no way inferior to the films shot in the Scandinavian countries and in America during the same period. He made a great contribution to the creation of a special cinema language, his directorial style was distinguished by a special style, it contained symbolism, depth and sophistication.
Russian melodrama (one-part) about rival sisters is based on the novel by the French writer Georges Onet. The story told in the film concerns the problems of the wealthy Khromov family, owning millions. The widow has two daughters: her native - charming but frivolous Musya (the magnificent actress of the Moscow Art Theater Lydia Koreneva) and the reception - Nata (already famous, but not famous Vera Kholodnaya). Both of them are married, are in love with the player and prickly cutie of Prince Bartinsky, although the decent and sensible Zhurov, a successful entrepreneur, adores her to the beautiful Nate. He is an ideal positive character.
Silent Russian melodrama (one-part) was distinguished by the clarity and inviolability of the roles of the characters. Mandatory was the presence in the script of the ideal hero, a suffering heroine and an insidious villain.
The prince swears to Nate in love, but she is not able to pay his debts and ensure a continued comfortable life. Zhurov and Bartinsky conclude a secret agreement. The businessman promises to arrange a marriage of the prince with the heiress of millions of Muses in exchange for his marriage to Nata.
A double wedding is a key scene beautifully built by Bauer. This is the "heart" of the entire film, now the viewer can feel the drama of the plot. The omens are alarming.
In the hall near the dance floor, suffering Nata, she turns away from the groom and does not want to dance with him. Left alone, wringes his hands, throws his head up in silent prayer, as if asking for advice and intercession from a higher power, chilly wraps himself in a veil. Nata admits Khromova in feelings for Vladimir Bartinsky and says that they are mutual, and he will marry Musa because of money. Mother asks her to be silent so as not to cloud Musi’s happiness. The snow-white veil of the bride and groom either envelops the figure of Nata, then tears and winds in the wind as a symbol of her grief and a broken hope for happiness.
At the dawn of the twentieth century, Russia produced a huge amount of cinema-melodrama; they were shot by film factories for three weeks. Faith was in demand. The images of sad lyrical heroines created by her always turned out to be victims of deception of notorious villains. Her sincere manner of playing has always found a response in the hearts of sentimental public. In the film about her rival sisters, Vera Kholodnaya, without having an acting education, became more popular with the public and was ahead of professional actress and beauty Lidia Koreneva.
On a global scale, the lyrical genre is one of the most popular among the public, especially the beautiful half. In the domestic distribution of movie melodrama, Russians are also loved by spectators, they are only slightly behind the leader genre - action movie.