Easy Virtue
Encyclopedia
Easy Virtue is a silent film
directed by Alfred Hitchcock
, and loosely based on a play by Noël Coward
.
) is married to a drunken brute. After he catches her almost being seduced by the artist who has been painting her picture, he brings suit for divorce
on the grounds of adultery. Since she is now a disgraced woman of "easy virtue", Larita takes to the French Riviera
where she meets and marries a rich younger man, John Whittaker (Robin Irvine). She doesn't tell him about her past and they return to England to meet his family. His mother strongly disapproves of her, suspecting Larita of immorality.
Larita's past comes to light and she decides to allow John to divorce her so he can marry Sarah, a local girl whom his mother had in mind as a suitable match.
Alfred Hitchcock's cameo is a signature occurrence in almost all of Hitchcock's films. He can be seen walking past a tennis court carrying a walking stick at about 15 minutes into the film.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
, and loosely based on a play by Noël Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
.
Synopsis
The heroine Larita (Isabel JeansIsabel Jeans
Isabel Jeans was an English stage and film actress known for her roles in several Alfred Hitchcock films, among others.-Career:...
) is married to a drunken brute. After he catches her almost being seduced by the artist who has been painting her picture, he brings suit for divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
on the grounds of adultery. Since she is now a disgraced woman of "easy virtue", Larita takes to the French Riviera
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
where she meets and marries a rich younger man, John Whittaker (Robin Irvine). She doesn't tell him about her past and they return to England to meet his family. His mother strongly disapproves of her, suspecting Larita of immorality.
Larita's past comes to light and she decides to allow John to divorce her so he can marry Sarah, a local girl whom his mother had in mind as a suitable match.
Cast
- Isabel JeansIsabel JeansIsabel Jeans was an English stage and film actress known for her roles in several Alfred Hitchcock films, among others.-Career:...
— Larita Filton - Franklin DyallFranklin DyallFranklin Dyall was an English actor.He appeared in 26 films between 1916 and 1948...
— Aubrey Filton - Eric Bransby Williams — Claude Robson
- Ian HunterIan Hunter (actor)Ian Hunter was a British character actor.Among dozens of film roles, his best-remembered appearances include That Certain Woman with Bette Davis, The Adventures of Robin Hood , The Little Princess and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...
— The plaintiff's counsel - Robin Irvine — John Whittaker
- Violet FarebrotherViolet FarebrotherViolet Farebrother was an English film actress. She appeared in 25 films between 1911 and 1965, including three films directed by Alfred Hitchcock...
— Mrs. Whittaker - Frank ElliottFrank Elliott (actor)Frank Elliott was an English film actor. He appeared in 77 films between 1915 and 1966.He was born in Cheshire.-Selected filmography:* The Impossible Mrs. Bellew * Easy Virtue -External links:...
— Colonel Whittaker - Dacia Deane — Marion Whittaker
- Dorothy BoydDorothy BoydDorothy Boyd was an English film actress. She appeared in 38 films between 1926 and 1940. She was born in Sanderstead, Surrey and died in England.-Career:...
— Hilda Whittaker - Enid Stamp TaylorEnid Stamp TaylorEnid Stamp Taylor was a British actress.Taylor first became known when she won a beauty pageant at a young age and this led parts in musical comedies on stage, including The Cabaret Girl , in which she was billed as simply "Enid Taylor"...
— Sarah (as Enid Stamp Taylor) - Alfred HitchcockAlfred HitchcockSir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
— Man with stick near tennis court (uncredited) - Benita HumeBenita HumeBenita Hume was an English film actress. She appeared in 44 films between 1925 and 1955.She was married to actor Ronald Colman from 1938 to his death in 1958; they were the parents of a daughter, Juliet...
— Telephone receptionist (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock's cameo is a signature occurrence in almost all of Hitchcock's films. He can be seen walking past a tennis court carrying a walking stick at about 15 minutes into the film.