L'orgie romaine (The Roman Orgy, 1911)

In The Pirates of Penzance, when Major-General Stanley sings that he can “quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus,” he hadn’t seen Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema’s famous painting “The Roses of Heliogabalus” (it wouldn’t be created until nine years after the operetta’s premiere in 1879), but film director Louis Feuillade must have. Rumor had it that the emperor Heliogabalus invited guests to dine one day and then buried them alive in flower petals when a false ceiling opened releasing a deadly bower.

This incident is referenced in Feuillade’s A Roman Orgy, although no one is killed by bower power.

The film is short and presents Heliogabalus as a raging psychopath. We see the last afternoon of the emperor’s life in five scenes. Although there is much action within the frame, the camera is static and stationed as if it were the audience for a staged drama. 

Scene 1: Rome, the year 218.

“The debauched emperor presides over a congregation of women whose job it is to determine the dress and duties of the courtesans.”

Guards keep watch over a roomful of women who pet each other and snuggle while Heliogabalus examines them and nods his approval. The women fawn over his every word and toss petals in the air as he leaves. The emperor is dressed as one of them.

Scene 2:

“Heliogabalus’s bath.”

Gender non-specific youths give him manicure and pedicure. Musicians play and sing. The emperor rewards the manicurist with a kiss on the head but when the foot mechanic scratches him, Heliogabalus orders him thrown to the lions. 

Scene 3:

“Above the Coliseum floor.”

Emperor and court look down on the lions, which are fairly lethargic. The youth is shoved in through the gates and immediately rushes out of frame right. The lions follow and we assume rip him to pieces off screen. 

Scene 4:

“After the sacrifice, the banquet and the orgy.”

We see a roomful of people hoisting their wine cups in the air and occasionally even taking a sip. General lollygagging. Two women enter and climb on the table to dance, although it’s mostly posing. Petals start to fall, “but suddenly, a frightening howl” and “Heliogabalus unleashes unexpected guests.” The “guests” are a pack of lions. The banqueters rush off and the lions follow listlessly.

Scene 5:

“The courtiers decide to put an end to the reign of madness and vice before which they have trembled”

They surround Heliogabalus, shouting at him and waving their arms about threateningly, then leave him alone. The Praetorian guard enter. The emperor begs for his life but they shove him off screen and do him in. One of the guards beheads him, again off screen, and the gang leaves with what we are to assume is Heliogabalus’s head on a pike.

Thus ever to tyrants.

The film stars Jean Aymé as Heliogabalus and features Louise Lagrange, Luitz-Morat, Renée Carl, Edmond Bréon, and Léonce Perret. It was produced by Société des Etablissements L. Gaumont. 

It is well-costumed and acted and generally good enough that you wish it ran for longer than 11 minutes, although if it were much longer it might climb to the top and then go over.