Editing The Italian (1915 film) (section)

===Initial reviews===
[[File:Clara Williams (The Italian).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Clara Williams as Beppo's wife, Annette, with "Little Tony"]]
Upon the release of ''The Italian'', the ''Los Angeles Times'' gave the film a positive review which included the following comments:<blockquote>"There are possibilities in the role of Pietro, in 'The Italian' ... that a less clever character artist than George Beban might overlook ...  The story is full of human interest, requiring a full understanding of the character, and Beban by look and gesture is at all times in fullest sympathy with the difficult role. ... [A]ll go to make a story that pulsates with human interest.  The pathos of the child's death because of the lack of necessities and the imprisonment of the poor Italian furnish the real lesson of the Ghetto."<ref>{{cite news|author=Grace Kingsley|title=Vaudeville and Films|date=1915-01-12}}</ref></blockquote>

''The Washington Post'' called it "a fascinating story,"<ref>{{cite news|title=Potash and Perlntotter" and "Today" Chief Playbills of Week: Garden—'The Italian." Washington Post|date=1915-01-10}}</ref> and "a simple story of ghetto life, showing that love, faith, and loyalty are not unknown quantities in this dark sphere."<ref name=WP>{{cite news|title=Heard and Seen at the Theaters: Garden - "The Italian." The Washington Post|date=1915-01-02}}</ref>

A newspaper in [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]] praised the film for its "rare quality of charm and a warmth of appeal that is truly unique" and concluded: "Here is a story beautiful and exquisite in theme ...  Its simplicity and utter humanness have an appeal that reaches straight to the heart of the onlooker."<ref>{{cite news|title=GEORGE BEBAN, IN "THE ITALIAN": Celebrated Character Actor Appears in Title Role of This Brilliant Paramount Drama|publisher=Fort Wayne News|date=1915-01-13}}</ref>  Another review in the same paper also commended the "simple beauty of the story itself" and also praised Beban's performance:<blockquote>"George Beban, who has the difficult role of Pietro Donnetti, gives a piece of character work that is truly marvelous.  This artist has developed mimicry to its highest form of expression.  His mobile countenance mirrored every emotion so perfectly, each varying mood was portrayed so truly, that it was hard to believe that this man was naught but a pantomimist.  The upward glance when the heart was bitten again by the fangs of emotion, the hysterical joy of the Latin nature when in high spirits, all these phrases were delineated by this artist in a way that moved and thrilled."<ref>{{cite news|title=BEBAN IN "THE ITALIAN": Famous Character Actor Gives a Marvelous Bit of Acting in Drama|publisher=Fort Wayne News|date=1915-01-14}}</ref></blockquote>

A newspaper in [[San Antonio, Texas]] praised the "vein of innocent humor" that runs through the film at the expense of Beppo and concluded: "'The Italian' is regarded as Thomas H. Ince's masterpiece and is said to be greater than his 'Wrath of the Gods,' 'The Typhoon' and 'The Bargain.'"<ref>{{cite news|title="THE ITALIAN" COMING: Thomas Ince's Masterpiece to Be Shown Thursday and Friday|publisher=San Antonio Light|date=1915-01-31}}</ref>