Created during a time when heroic thieves were common in European popular culture, Filibus – the first of thirty films directed by actor Mario Roncoroni – featured as protagonist a roguish female modelled on Ponson du Terail’s anti-hero Rocambole. The Baroness Troixmonde is a respectable member of society but in the guise of »Filibus« she terrorises Sicily from her zeppelin, which is full of technologically advanced equipment. The zeppelin is manned by a staff of mask-wearing male assistants who obey the Baroness’ every command. The zeppelin is her headquarters and her home, and she descends to land only to rob, have a quick affair and or dance with women such as the dandy Count de la Brieve. At the end of the film, she eludes her enemy, Detective Hardy, and flies off into the sunset. Filibus is probably one of the first lesbian characters in the history of film.