The Circle (1925)

Director:

Frank Borzage

Writers:

Kenneth B. Clarke, W. Somerset Maugham (play)

Stars:

Eleanor Boardman, Malcolm McGregor, Alec B. Francis

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Eleanor Boardman	...	Elizabeth Cheney
Malcolm McGregor	...	Edward 'Teddy' Luton
Alec B. Francis	...	Lord Clive Cheney
Eugenie Besserer	...	Lady Catherine "Kitty" Cheney
George Fawcett	...	Lord Hugh "Hughie" Porteous
Creighton Hale	...	Arnold Cheney
Otto Hoffman	...	Dorker
Eulalie Jensen	...	Mrs. Alice Shenstone
Buddy Smith	...	Young Arnold
Joan Crawford	...	Young Lady Catherine
Frank Braidwood	...	Young Hugh Porteous
Derek Glynne	...	Young Clive Cheney

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

1920s | old young relationship | estranged mother | 30 year time span | mother son reunion | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 1925 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Dança dos Amores

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

American Film Institute Catalog of Feature Films 1921-1930 erroneously places the last four cast members from this film and the roles in which they appear - Buddy Smith, Joan Crawford, Frank Braidwood and Derek Glynne - in the cast of The Only Thing, a different film entirely, in which they do not appear.

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Connections

Version of Strictly Unconventional (1930)

User Reviews

The Circle Comes Undone

In an opening flashback to the late 1890s, we see Joan Crawford (in a small early role, as young Catherine) deciding to leave her husband and run away with a lover. Thirty years later, the son she left behind is married to beautiful Eleanor Boardman (as Elizabeth). Like her mother-in-law, Ms. Boardman is contemplating running away with a lover

• handsome Malcolm McGregor (as Edward "Teddy" Luton). Mistakenly

thinking her father-in-law will be absent for the duration, Boardman has invited older lovers Eugenie Besserer and George Fawcett (as Catherine "Kitty" and Hugh "Hughie" Porteous) over for a visit...

"I want to see how runaway love wears after thirty years, If they're still happy, then…"

Naturally, original deserted husband Alec B. Francis (as Clive Cheney) arrives home unexpectedly. More startling surprises follow. Reportedly, MGM changed the ending of the original W. Somerset Maugham play; it is still amusing, but the alteration no longer fits the story's thesis. This is evident in the final scenes with Ms. Besserer and Mr. Fawcett, who act up a storm. Boardman, stuffy husband Creighton Hale (as Arnold Cheney) and the others are fine, too. There is outstanding work from director Frank Borzage, photographer Chester A. Lyons and the "Cheney Castle" MGM production crew. Happily, a beautiful print survives.

******* The Circle (9/22/25) Frank Borzage ~ Eleanor Boardman, Eugenie Besserer, George Fawcett, Malcolm McGregor