Captain Fitzgerald (Alec B. Francis), a retired guardsman on a modest pension, has to support three daughters: Theodora (Gloria Swanson) and her older half-sisters. Theodora's sisters pin their hopes on her marrying a wealthy man.
One day, Theodora goes out on a rowboat off the coast of Dorset and falls into the water. She is rescued by Lord Hector Bracondale (Rudolph Valentino). He is young, handsome and wealthy, but "not the marrying kind". Out of a sense of duty to her beloved father, she reluctantly agrees to wed the middle-aged, short, stout Josiah Brown (Robert Bolder), a former grocer's assistant who is now a multi-millionaire.
They honeymoon in the Alps. By coincidence, Bracondale stops at the same inn. Rich American widow Jane McBride (Mabel Van Buren) persuades the young bride to accompany her on a climbing excursion. Theodora slips and dangles precariously by her safety line over a cliff. Bracondale appears and climbs down to her, but they are too heavy for the others to pull up. Bracondale has them lower him and Theodora to a ledge below. While they wait for more help to arrive, Theodora tells Bracondale (who does not initially recognize her) where they last met.
They meet a third time in Paris, and finally acknowledge their love for each other. However, Theodora refuses to run away with Bracondale.
Bracondale strives to do the right thing. He asks his sister, Lady Anna Anningford (June Elvidge), to befriend Theodora. Lady Anningford invites the Browns to her country estate. Bracondale, however, cannot stay away. He tries once again to persuade Theodora to change her mind, without success. Meanwhile, Josiah is persuaded by another guest, renowned explorer Sir Lionel Grey, to fund his dangerous expedition. Bracondale leaves, and Josiah is called away on business. Theodora writes a letter to each; to Bracondale, she declares her love, but stresses once more that it cannot be fulfilled. Morella Winmarleigh (Gertrude Astor), who desires Bracondale for herself, secretly opens the letters and, after perusing them, switches them.
After Bracondale reads the message meant for Josiah, he rushes to stop Josiah from reading his, but is too late. Josiah accuses Bracondale of stealing his wife, but the nobleman denies that Theodora has been unfaithful.
After further consideration, Josiah decides to put his wife's happiness ahead of his own and joins Grey's expedition to Northern Africa. His death makes it possible for the young lovers to be together.
A 1922 American silent romantic drama film directed by Sam Wood, produced by Jesse L. Lasky, screenplay by Jack Cunningham, based on Elinor Glyn's 1906 novel of the same name, cinematography by Alfred Gilks, starring Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino, Edythe Chapman, Alec B. Francis, Robert Bolder, Gertrude Astor, June Elvidge, Mabel Van Buren, Helen Dunbar, Raymond Brathwayt, Frank Butler, and Gino Corrado.
Valentino and Swanson, two of the biggest stars of the silents work together for their only time.
Swanson's tango dance, and the dress that was talked about for a year, did not survive nitrate decomposition.
While the book mostly takes place at dinner parties, picnics and balls, the film version changes many of the events to take place during perilous outdoor sports. Relatedly, the book's Bracondale never saves Theodora's life, as there's no particular danger for her to get into. Josiah in the book is chronically ill and dies after a long period of health problems; in the film he dies relatively quickly during an ambush while in Africa. The film also has added historical sequences, inspired by Cecil B. DeMille's work. Director Sam Wood had been an assistant director for DeMille.
Sam Wood (1883 - 1949), born Samuel Grosvenor Wood, was an American film director and producer who is best known for having directed such Hollywood hits as "A Night at the Opera" (1935), "A Day at the Races" (1937), "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1939), "The Pride of the Yankees" (1942), and "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1943), and for his uncredited work directing parts of Gone with the Wind. He was also involved in a few acting and writing projects. Paramount's appreciation of Wood's quick, efficient and professional execution of his film assignments, and his excellent rapport with his cast and crew landed him the honor of directing their recently acquired actor Gloria Swanson in her first starring vehicle, The Great Moment (1921).
A lost Rudolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson silent treasure found in 2003. A true gem featuring excellent direction, top stars, beautifully understated acting, and high regalia 20s-style costumes. A fascinating, slickly-produced potboiler, served with unabashedly old-fashioned romance. A curiosity, but no masterpiece, a relatively early production in a style unfamiliar to modern eyes, worth seeing by any amateur film historian or Valentino completist. While not the world's greatest movie, the fact that it exists at all makes it one of the most exciting.
29 сен 2024
