(Vidor, 1926) Music composed by William Axt.
Lillian Gish as the tragic Mimi in bohemian Paris. It is 1830 and the rent is due for a bunch of artists, but the money is not there. An article here, a painting there and a monkey with a cup give them enough money for the rent, but not for food. Fortunately, Musette from downstairs has enough food for everyone including Mimi – the woman next door who Rodolphe, a playwright, has met. But Count Paul also has his eye on Mimi and uses the promise of purchasing her embroidery to get close to her. Rodolphe and Mimi fall in love, and Mimi works endlessly to support Rodolphe while he is writing his play. Mimi wants to get his play produced and Count Paul offers to help, but there is a terrible fight when Rodolphe thinks that Mimi’s realtionship with the Count amounts to infedility. After the fight, Rudolph seeks out a doctor for Mimi, but she has left when Rodolphe returns and stays away until his play is produced, after which they reunite but she dies.
Performing forces Minimum | 11 players (violin I and II, cello, bass, flute/piccolo, clarinet I, trumpet I, trombone, percussion/timpani, piano, organ/synthesizer) |
Performing forces Maximum | 44 players (strings 7,7,6,5,4, flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet I & II, bassoon, 2 Fr. Horns, 2 trumpets, trombone, 2 percussion, tympani, organ, piano). |
Percussions | 2 timpani, drums, bells, temple gong, bass drums, cymbals, snare drum, triangle, doorbell (real bell), xylophone, chimes, iron rod, bells, castanets |
Rehearsals | One 2 ½ hour rehearsal with orchestra One 2 ½ hour tech rehearsal One 3 hour 10 minute dress rehearsal |
Performance time | 95 minutes without intermission |
Film speed | 19.02 frames per second |
Film source | Raymond Rohauer Collection sepia colored print (NOT THE TECHNICOLOR) The British Film Institute Lending Library technicolor print. |
Projection | variable speed 35 mm film projector DVD projector |












