Bella Donna, a seductive woman snares Nigel Armine into marriage and he takes her to Egypt to live. Tired of her simple husband, Bella becomes involved with brutish Baroudi.
Reportedly the film played with sound provided by the De Forest Phonofilmsound-on-film process. This was probably music and sound effects but no dialogue, and was only at the April 1, 1923 premiere at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City.
Paramount also premiered The Covered Wagon in New York City on March 16, 1923. All or about two reels of The Covered Wagon had a music track recorded in the Phonofilm process, but was only shown this way at the premiere at the Rivoli Theater in New York City.[3] On April 15, 1923, Lee de Forest presented a program of 18 short films made in the Phonofilm process, also at the Rivoli Theater.
"Famous Rosary in "Bella Donna"". The Airship Log. Vol. 1, no. 1. Belleville, Illinois: Meyer & Farrell. May 4, 1923. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com. (subtitle) Pola Negri wears historic ornament in first American-made photoplay
References
^The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30 c.1971 by The American Film Institute
_a.png)
_b.png)
