Hitchcock: The British Years The Silent Era

Easy Virtue

Easy Virtue

 


          From one divorce to another.  

          Larita Filton (Isabel Jeans) is nearly seduced by a young artist painting her portrait.  That's enough for her boozing husband to initiate divorce proceedings.  Before the issue is settled, while the divorce is still big news, the artist commits suicide.  It's all just too scandalous.

          The husband gets his divorce based on the false charge of adultery, branding Larita a fallen woman of easy virtue.  Larita escapes to the French Rivera.  There she meets John Whittaker (Robin Irvine) of the wealthy, respectable Whittakers.  John and Larita marry.   John's family investigates the background of this new Whittaker bride.  Larita's scandalous past is discovered and John divorces her.  Poor Larita.   Some years nothing goes right.

            Easy Virtue is based on a Noel Coward play. 

 Production: Michael Balcon, Gainsborough Prod.. 1927. Director: Alfred Hitchcock. Scenario: Eliot Stannard, from the play by Noel Coward. Director of Photography: Claude McDonnell. Editing: Ivor Montagu. Studio: Islington. Distributors: Wardour & F., 1927, 6,500 feet; USA, World Wide Dist., 1928. Principal Actors: Isabel Jean (Larita Filton), Franklin Dyall (M. Filton), Eric Bransby Williams (the correspondent), Ian Hunter (Plaintiff's Counsel), Robin Irvine (John Whittaker), Violet Farebrother (his mother, Mrs. Whittaker) and Frank Elliot, Darcia Deane, Dorothy Boyd, Enid Stamp Taylor.

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