The White Sister (1923)

Set in Italy in a small village below Mount Vesuvius. After their father (Charles Lane) dies, a wicked stepsister (Gail Kane) destroys the father's will which results in her inheriting the estate. She banishes her stepsister (Lillian Gish) from the palace. Meanwhile the soldier (Ronald Colman) she loves is sent off to North Africa. She promises to wait for him but fate has a cruel destiny for them. Based on the novel by Frances Marion Crawford and directed by Henry King (SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO). At over two hours, this is a lot of Lillian Gish suffering and suffering with close ups of her piously looking upward toward heaven which I found heavy going. Unusual for the day, the movie was actually shot entirely on location in Italy which gives the film some authenticity. With Mount Vesuvius bubbling and smoldering in the background, you just know that it's going to erupt by the end of the movie. The special effects are quite decent for its day. If you're a fan of Gish, you might find something to like about the movie. Others may not be so inclined. Remade in 1933 by MGM. With J. Barney Sherry, Juliette La Violette and Gustavo Serena.