The Woman Disputed (1928)

An adventuress in love with an Austrian agrees to become the mistress of a Russian officer in exchange for the release of Austrian hostages.

Directors:

Henry King, Sam Taylor

Writers:

Denison Clift (play), Guy de Maupassant (story),

Stars:

Norma Talmadge, Gilbert Roland, Arnold Kent

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Norma Talmadge	...	Mary Ann Wagner
Gilbert Roland	...	Paul Hartman
Arnold Kent	...	Nika Turgenov
Boris de Fast	...	Passerby
Michael Vavitch	...	Father Roche
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Otto Krueger
Gladys Brockwell	...	Countess
Nicholas Soussanin	...	Count
Olga Baclanova	...	Countess (replaced by Gladys Brockwell) (scenes deleted)
Howard Davies	...	Count (replaced by Nicholas Soussanin) (scenes deleted)
Joseph Marievsky	...	Austrian Officer

Storyline

In 1914 a girl of the streets is befriended by two dashing young officers, an Austrian and a Russian. Both fall in love with her, but she picks the Austrian. When the war begins, Her town is overrun by Russians, lead by the once charming, now vengeful officer, who takes her prisoner and threatens death if she won't marry him.

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Plot Keywords:

russian | mistress | hostage | countess | cameo role | 

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

September 1928 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Stunde der Entscheidung

Company Credits

Production Co:

Joseph M. Schenck Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System) (music and sound effects) Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charles Chaplin visited the set one day and was asked by assistant director Robert Florey to play a practical joke on Talmadge. The scene in question called for the actress to come down a dark street and ask a stranger for a match. When the actress saw it was Chaplin, she could scarcely keep from laughing before director Henry King could call 'cut.'. After lighting the cigarette, he tossed the match over his shoulder and kicked it in his characteristic fashion. The cameo was not publicized and because the kick part was cut, the bit went largely unnoticed. Chaplin was paid $7.50 by Florey for the scene in an elaborate ceremony.

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Connections

Version of Hotel du Commerce (1963)

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Soundtracks

"Woman Disputed (I Love You)"
(uncredited)
Written by Bernie Grossman and Edward Ward

User Reviews

One of three talkies made by Talmadge.

This is the first of three talkies made by Norma Talmadge before she retired from the screen. The plot revolves around captive townspeople begging a streetwalker to sleep with the enemy commander to obtain their freedom. Only a silent version of the film is known to exist - at the Library of Congress.