Three Women (1924 film)

Last updated

Three Women
Three Women lobby card.jpg
Lobby card
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch
Screenplay by Hanns Kraly
Story byErnst Lubitsch
Hanns Kraly
Based onLillis Ehe
by Yolande Maree
Produced byErnst Lubitsch
Starring May McAvoy
Pauline Frederick
Marie Prevost
Cinematography Charles Rosher
Charles Van Enger
Distributed by Warner Brothers (US)
UFA (Germany)
Release dates
  • October 2, 1924 (1924-10-02)(Germany)
  • September 16, 1924 (1924-09-16)(U.S.)
CountryUnited States
Language Silent (English intertitles)
Budget$329,000 [1]
Box office$438,000 [1]

Three Women, also known as Die Frau, die Freundin und die Dirne, is a 1924 American silent drama film starring May McAvoy, Pauline Frederick, and Marie Prevost, directed by Ernst Lubitsch, and based on the novel Lillis Ehe by Yolande Maree (Iolanthe Mares).

Contents

Plot summary

Sleazy bon vivant Edmund Lamont continues to live the high life despite being up to his eyebrows in debt. He begins wooing wealthy socialite Mabel Wilton, conning her into giving him $100,000 to "invest" for her. Meanwhile, her daughter Jeanne unexpectedly arrives from private school, and when Lamont sees her, he promptly begins seeing her surreptitiously. Inevitably both women find out the deception, but the smitten Jeanne agrees to marry him anyway. True to form, Lamont starts seeing Harriet (the third woman of the title), leading to a night club brawl in which he's knocked out with a champagne bottle. He is taken home by Fred, newly graduated from medical school, who is shocked to learn that Jeanne, his presumptive fiancée, is already married to the man he brought home. Things begin to escalate even more, culminating in a shooting death and a murder trial.

Cast

Box Office

According to Warner Bros records the film earned $344,000 domestically and $94,000 foreign making it the studio's most popular film of 1924–25. [1]

Preservation status

Prints of Three Women are in the collections of the George Eastman House and Filmmuseum München. [2] [3] It was transferred onto 16mm film by Associated Artists Productions [4] in the 1950s and shown on television. A restored version running approximately 70 minutes, with a new orchestral score by Andrew Earle Simpson, has aired on Turner Classic Movies and was released on blu-ray disc in 2022 by Kino Lorber.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marie Prevost</span> Canadian actress

Marie Prevost was a Canadian-born film actress. During her 20-year career, she made 121 silent and sound films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">May McAvoy</span> American actress (1899–1984)

May Irene McAvoy was an American actress who worked mainly during the silent-film era. Some of her major roles are Laura Pennington in The Enchanted Cottage, Esther in Ben-Hur, and Mary Dale in The Jazz Singer.

<i>Cain and Mabel</i> 1936 film by Lloyd Bacon

Cain and Mabel is a 1936 American romantic comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and designed as a vehicle for Marion Davies in which she co-stars with Clark Gable. The story had been filmed before, in 1924, by William Randolph Hearst's production company, Cosmopolitan, as a silent called The Great White Way, starring Anita Stewart and Oscar Shaw. In this version, Robert Paige introduced the song "I'll Sing You a Thousand Love Songs", with music by Harry Warren and words by Al Dubin, who also wrote "Coney Island", "Here Comes Chiquita", and other songs.

<i>The Marriage Circle</i> 1924 film

The Marriage Circle is a 1924 American silent comedy film produced and directed by Ernst Lubitsch and distributed by Warner Bros. Based on the play Only a Dream by Lothar Schmidt, the screenplay was written by Paul Bern. The "circle" of the title refers to the ring of infidelities central to the plot.

<i>Mabel at the Wheel</i> 1914 film

Mabel at the Wheel is a 1914 American motion picture starring Charles Chaplin and Mabel Normand, and directed by Mabel Normand and Mack Sennett. The film is also known as Hot Finish.

<i>The Sea Hawk</i> (1924 film) 1924 film by Frank Lloyd

The Sea Hawk is a 1924 American silent adventure film about an English noble sold into slavery who escapes and turns himself into a pirate king. Directed by Frank Lloyd, the screen adaptation was written by J. G. Hawks based upon the 1915 Rafael Sabatini novel of the same name. It premiered on June 2, 1924, in New York City, twelve days before its theatrical debut.

<i>Colleen</i> (1936 film) 1936 American film directed by Alfred Edward Green

Colleen is a 1936 American romantic musical comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, and Joan Blondell. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros. and was the seventh and final picture starring both Keeler and Powell.

<i>On Trial</i> (1928 film) 1928 film

On Trial is a 1928 American talking drama film produced and distributed by Warner Bros., and directed by Archie Mayo. The film starred Pauline Frederick, Lois Wilson, Bert Lytell, Holmes Herbert, and Jason Robards. The film is based on the 1914 Broadway play of the same name by Elmer Rice. A silent version of the film was also released on December 29, 1928.

<i>His Jazz Bride</i> 1926 film

His Jazz Bride is a 1926 American silent drama film released by Warner Brothers Pictures. The movie starred Marie Prevost and Matt Moore.

<i>Lady Windermeres Fan</i> (1925 film) 1925 film

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. The film is being preserved by several archives. It was transferred onto 16mm film by Associated Artists Productions in the 1950s and shown on television. In 2002, Lady Windermere's Fan was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

<i>The Beautiful and Damned</i> (film) 1922 film by William A. Seiter

The Beautiful and Damned is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by William A. Seiter and released by Warner Bros. The film, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1922 novel The Beautiful and Damned, starred Kenneth Harlan and Marie Prevost.

<i>Brass</i> (film) 1923 film by Sidney Franklin

Brass is a 1923 American silent romantic drama film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. It was directed by Sidney A. Franklin. This movie stars Monte Blue, Marie Prevost, and Irene Rich. The well-regarded film survives in 16mm format.

<i>The Caveman</i> (1926 film) 1926 film

The Caveman, also styled as The Cave Man, is a 1926 American silent comedy film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Lewis Milestone directed the Darryl Zanuck scripted story taken from the play The Cave Man by Gelett Burgess. Matt Moore, Marie Prevost, and Hedda Hopper star. A small role is played by a young Myrna Loy, who was just starting out in her long career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sennett Bathing Beauties</span> Bevy of American actresses

Sennett Bathing Beauties was a bevy of women performing in bathing costumes assembled by film producer Mack Sennett during the silent film era.

<i>The Lover of Camille</i> 1924 film by Harry Beaumont

The Lover of Camille is a 1924 American silent romantic drama film directed by Harry Beaumont, and starring Monte Blue. The film was based on the French play Deburau by Sacha Guitry, which was also adapted into a Broadway play by Harley Granville-Barker.

<i>A Small Town Idol</i> 1921 film

A Small Town Idol is a 1921 American silent feature comedy film produced by Mack Sennett and released through Associated First National. The film stars Ben Turpin and was made and acted by many of the same Sennett personnel from his previous year's Down on the Farm. Sennett and Erle C. Kenton directed.

<i>Conductor 1492</i> 1924 film

Conductor 1492 is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by Charles Hines and starring Johnny Hines. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros.

<i>How to Educate a Wife</i> 1924 film

How to Educate a Wife is a lost 1924 American comedy film directed by Monta Bell and written by Grant Carpenter and Douglas Z. Doty. The film stars Marie Prevost, Monte Blue, Claude Gillingwater, Vera Lewis, Betty Francisco and Creighton Hale. The film was released by Warner Bros. on May 1, 1924.

<i>The Dark Swan</i> (film) 1924 film by Millard Webb

The Dark Swan is a 1924 American drama film directed by Millard Webb and written by Frederick J. Jackson. It is based on the 1924 novel The Dark Swan by Ernest Pascal. The film stars Marie Prevost, Monte Blue, Helene Chadwick, John Patrick, Lilyan Tashman, and Vera Lewis. The film was released by Warner Bros. on November 26, 1924.

<i>Recompense</i> (film) 1925 film

Recompense is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Harry Beaumont and written by Dorothy Farnum. It is based on the 1924 novel Recompense by Robert Keable. The film stars Marie Prevost, Monte Blue, John Roche, George Siegmann, Charles Stevens, and Virginia Brown Faire. The film was released by Warner Bros. on April 26, 1925.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Warner Bros financial information in The William Shaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 3 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
  2. "Progressive Silent Film List: Three Women". Silent Era. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  3. LoC America Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Three Women
  4. 1957 Movies from AAP Warner Bros. Features & Cartoons Sales Book Directed at TV