Great Actresses of the Past

Compiled by The Museum of Modern Art Film Library in 1938, the film is a glimpse of the early 20th century’s finest stage performers— Gabrielle Réjane, Eleonora Duse, Sarah Bernhardt, and Minnie Maddern Fiske. The compliation contains excerpts from four films, adapted from four timeless stories: Madame Sans-Gêne (1911), Cenere (1916), La Dame aux Camélias (1912), and Vanity Fair (1915).

Directed by —, Great Actresses of the Past leans on a strong ensemble — Gabrielle Réjane, Eleonora Duse, Sarah Bernhardt — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1938.