On the set of this film Ugo Falena first met the woman who would become his favorite leading lady, as well as his wife: Silvia Malinverni. Here, the actress plays the male role of the protagonist Silvio. Satisfied with the experiment, Falena had her repeat it in two other films he directed: La figlia del mare (Tespi, 1916) and Il trittico dell’amore (Bernini film, 1920). Critics received the film warmly: “Silvio e lo Stradivarius is a tasteful little gem, rather simple and well acted. It narrates a gentle, moral event. The photographic results are quite accurate, and the film, especially in the first part, is excellent” (“La cinematografia italiana ed estera”, 5.4.1916). The copy was restored by the Amsterdam Filmmuseum from a positive tinted print from the period and Dutch intertitles.

Alessia Navantieri