Lady Windermere's Fan (1925)

Mrs Erlynne, the mother of Lady Windermere - her daughter does not know about her - wants to be introduced in society, so that she can marry Lord Augustus Lorton. Lord Windermere, who ... See full summary »

Director:

Ernst Lubitsch

Writers:

Oscar Wilde (by), Julien Josephson (adapted to the screen by),

Stars:

Ronald Colman, May McAvoy, Bert Lytell

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ronald Colman	...	Lord Darlington
May McAvoy	...	Lady Windermere
Bert Lytell	...	Lord Windermere
Irene Rich	...	Mrs. Erlynne
Edward Martindel	...	Lord Augustus Lorton (as Edw. Martindel)
Carrie Daumery	...	The Duchess of Berwick (as Mme. Daumery)

Storyline

Mrs Erlynne, the mother of Lady Windermere - her daughter does not know about her - wants to be introduced in society, so that she can marry Lord Augustus Lorton. Lord Windermere, who helped her with a cheque, invites her to his wifes birthday-party, but Lady Windermere thinks, she has reason to be jealous, so she decides to leave her husband and go to Lord Darlington, who is pining for her. Mrs Erlynne finds this out and tries to prevent her of this mistake, but her daughter leaves her fan in Lord Darlingtons residence.

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Plot Keywords:

mother | fan | society | motherhood | racetrack | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 December 1925 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lady Windermeres Fächer

Box Office

Budget:

$320,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 89 min (2004 National Film Preservation Foundation print)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ronald Colman appeared courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn.

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Quotes

Opening title card: Lady Windermere faced the grave problem of seating her dinner guests.

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Connections

Featured in Historia del cine: Epoca muda (1983)

User Reviews

Antique Wilde comedy needs sound.

In "Lady Windermere's Fan" the great Ernst Lubitsch may have bitten off a bit more than he can chew. First and foremost, how can you reproduce Oscar Wilde's witty dialogue in a SILENT FILM?? True, the famous 'Lubitsch touch' is apparent, but minus Wilde it becomes a romantic drama.

The players are excellent and above reproach, in particular Irene Rich as Mrs. Erlynne - in fact, it is basically her picture. A youthful Ronald Colman as Lord Darlington underplays his role but is urbane and charming (in truth, I have not read or seen the play before but that is my perception). I have always liked Colman in everything I have seen him in, but, of course, you can't hear his marvelous voice and diction here.

Despite these drawbacks I enjoyed the film and felt the photography was exceptionally good. I just felt it would have been even better with a soundtrack, as it lacks the requisite bite and panache.

Sadly, a drawing room comedy of manners such as "Lady Windermere's Fan" wouldn't work today, as modern day audiences would be baffled by the subtlety and lack of action. That may be why it hasn't been remade successfully in the sound era. I give it a rating of 7.