Carmen (1915)

In the rugged mountains bordering Spain's coast, a band of audacious gypsies and smugglers live a life of lawless liberty, dominated by their captivating queen, Carmen. Born a gypsy, Carmen is a wild tempest, a fascinating enchantress who weaves a web of allure around any man who dares to cross her path. Her hypnotic charm becomes a weapon when the group's smuggling efforts are thwarted by Don Jose, a dutiful officer in the regiment stationed in the nearby town. Carmen, at the behest of Pastia - the cunning tavern keeper and leader of the smugglers, is tasked with ensnaring Don Jose in her bewitching net. She weaves her presence into the fibers of the town, securing work at a local tobacco factory near the city wall and announcing nightly dances at the tavern. The night Carmen unveils her sensuous dance, she becomes the pulsating heart of the gathering, enchanting all who lay eyes upon her. Among the bewitched is Escamillo, a young toreador en route to Seville, a man who has loved Carmen from afar for a long time. But Carmen, a slave to her freedom, clings to her liberty, despite Escamillo's pleas for her companionship. Her dance leaves Don Jose helpless, his heart ensnared by Carmen's wild charm. In his entranced state, he neglects his duties, allowing the smugglers to infiltrate the city. Trouble brews the following morning when Carmen, in a heated altercation at the factory, injures a fellow worker, prompting the soldiers' intervention. Amidst the chaos, Carmen persuades Jose to let her speak with Pastia, leading to a deadly confrontation between Jose and Morales, a fellow officer and one of Carmen's unsuccessful suitors. Carmen escapes to the mountains, with a smitten and now fugitive Jose hot on her heels. With the mountains as her backdrop, Carmen summons Escamillo, deciding to accompany him to the grand bullfight in Seville. As they make their grand entrance, all eyes are drawn to them, their magnetism undeniable. But Jose, obsessed and heartbroken, has followed them to the arena. A dire confrontation follows as Carmen, fearless to the end, rejects Jose's pleas for her love. In a fit of despair and jealousy, Jose ends Carmen's life, her death toll ringing out against the cheers for Escamillo's victory in the arena. The tragic tale of Carmen, a woman of magnetic charm and indomitable spirit, ends at the gates of the arena, a symbol of her fierce pursuit of liberty.

Carmen is a drama movie featuring Jeanie Macpherson.

Carmen is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Public Domain Movies and it's also available on MUBI Amazon Channel.