Parsifal
(1904) American
B&W : Two reels / 1975 feet
Directed by Edwin S. Porter

Cast: Robert Whittier, Adeleide Fitz-Allen

Edison Manufacturing Company production; distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company and Kleine Optical Company / From the opera Parsifal by Richard Wagner. Set design by Harley Merry. Cinematography by Edwin S. Porter. / © 13 October 1904 by Thomas A. Edison [H51619, H51620, H51621, H51622, H51623, H51624, H51625, H51626]. Released November 1904. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.37:1 format. / The film was possibly intended for projection with sound supplied on phonograph records. The film was copyrighted on eight reels, each reel containing a separate scene running from 20 feet to 382 feet in length: (part one) “Parsifal Ascends the Throne” [H51619]; (part two) “Ruins of Magic Garden” [H51620]; (part three) “Exterior of Klingson’s Castle” [H51621]; (part four) “Magic Garden” [H51622]; (part five) “Interior of the Temple” [H51623]; (part six) “Scene Outside the Temple” [H51624]; (part seven) “Return of Parsifal” [H51625]; and (part eight) “In the Woods” [H51626]. Originally shown in two parts. The film was rereleased in the USA in 1906.

Drama.

Survival Status: Print exists in the Library of Congress film archive (paper print collection) [35mm paper positive].

Keywords: Early sound film - Synchronized sound film

Listing updated: 15 March 2008.

References: Musser-Emerge p. 2; Niver-Early pp. 245-246; Niver-First pp. 28, 73-74; Shipman-Cinema p. 30 : Website-AFI.