Lady Windermere's Fan (1925 film)

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Lady Windermere's Fan
Lady Windermere's Fan (1925 film poster).jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch
Written by Julien Josephson (adaptation)
Maude Fulton and Eric Locke (titles)
Based on Lady Windermere's Fan
by Oscar Wilde
Produced byErnst Lubitsch
Darryl F. Zanuck (uncredited)
Starring
Cinematography Charles Van Enger
Edited by Ernst Lubitsch
Distributed by Warner Brothers
Release date
  • December 26, 1925 (1925-12-26)
Running time
120 minutes (Denmark)
89 minutes (2004 National Film Preservation Foundation print)
CountryUnited States
Language Silent (English intertitles)
Budget$320,000 [1]
Box office$398,000 [1]
Lady Windermere's Fan

Lady Windermere's Fan is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Ernst Lubitsch. It is based on Oscar Wilde's 1892 play Lady Windermere's Fan , which was first played in America by Julia Arthur as Lady Windermere and Maurice Barrymore as Lord Darlington. [2] [3] The film is preserved in multiple archives. [4] It was transferred to 16mm film by Associated Artists Productions [5] in the 1950s for television. In 2002, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." [6] [7]

Contents

Plot

In London, Lady Margaret Windermere fends off Lord Darlington's flirtations while her husband receives a letter from Mrs. Erlynne, a notorious woman who claims to be Lady Windermere's mother. Believing her mother is dead, Lady Windermere reveres her memory. To prevent her from learning the truth, Lord Windermere gives Mrs. Erlynne £1500 in exchange for her silence.

Mrs. Erlynne reenters society and draws attention, especially from Lord Augustus Lorton. Suspicious of her husband's behavior, Lady Windermere finds the cheque and confronts him. He admits helping Mrs. Erlynne and reveals she will attend their ball. Lady Windermere is outraged.

Lord Windermere later rescinds the invitation, but Mrs. Erlynne arrives anyway. She gains entry through Lorton and is introduced at the ball. Lady Windermere, unaware of her efforts, flees to Lord Darlington's house, leaving a note for her husband.

Mrs. Erlynne follows, finds the note, and persuades Lady Windermere to return home. When the men arrive, Mrs. Erlynne claims the fan Lady Windermere left behind is hers. Scandal is avoided.

The next morning, Mrs. Erlynne returns the fan, asks Lady Windermere to remain silent, and declines Lorton's proposal. He follows her as she leaves for France.

Cast

May McAvoy and Bert Lytell May McAvoy & Ronald Colman.jpg
May McAvoy and Bert Lytell

Box office

According to Warner Bros. records, the film earned $324,000 domestically and $74,000 abroad. [1]

Home media

The film is available on DVD in the More Treasures from American Film Archives collection. [8]

Preservation and screenings

Lady Windermere's Fan is scheduled to be screened by the George Eastman House at their Dryden Theater on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Live piano accompaniment will be performed by Dr. Philip Carli. The 35 mm print to be shown is cited as "Restored by The Museum of Modern Art, with the financial support of Matthew and Natalie Bernstein." [9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Warner Bros financial information in The William Schaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1–31 p. 4 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
  2. ↑ Pictorial History of the American Theatre 1860–1970 by Daniel Blum, c.1970
  3. ↑ "Progressive Silent Film List: Lady Windermere's Fan". SilentEra.com.
  4. ↑ "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Lady Windermere's Fan".
  5. ↑ "1957 MOVIES FROM AAP Warner Bros Features & Cartoons SALES BOOK DIRECTED AT TV".
  6. ↑ "Films Selected for the National Film Registry in 2002 (January 2003) – Library of Congress Information Bulletin". Library of Congress. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Complete National Film Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  8. ↑ Dave Kehr (September 7, 2004). "The Story of Film, From Peep Shows to Art Form". The New York Times .
  9. ↑ "Lady Windermere's Fan | George Eastman Museum". George Eastman Museum. March 1, 2025. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
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