Carmen [1915]
“Carmen For Dummies”, completely ditches character development. Instead of the tortured soul of Don José, we just get a handsome-but-lifeless-turned-pissed-off Don José. Instead of marveling at the fiery young willful beauty of Carmen, we're left to assume that all the young dudes have the hots for an ordinary-looking 33-year-old (who looks over 40) simply because she's the only dame in town putting out. Worse, the book and opera's multidimensional Carmen who was torn between her feelings for Don José and her strong need for independence is here simply a shallow manipulator who never feels anything for Don José, only uses him then throws him away. In place of character, we get extended realistic fight scenes - better than the average Western or swashbuckler. In short, a Carmen suitable for an American audience.