Nowadays May McAvoy is famous for appearing in the ground breaking "The Jazz Singer" - but it didn't help her break the sound barrier. In fact in those early primitive, learn as we go, talkie days the word was put about that May talked with a lisp. Years later the comment still rankled and she told Dewitt Bodeen in a 1968 Films in Review article that the real reason for her leaving films was that she had decided to marry and retire. Before all this fuss May McAvoy had been one of the sweetest leading ladies of the silent screen. Lady Windermere was a completely different part for her though. Directed by the king of sophistication, Ernst Lubitsch, she played a frivolous socialite but McAvoy didn't like the unappealing character or the film - even though it proved to be one of her best. She walked out just before shooting began and had to be coaxed back by the smooth tongued Lubitsch.
This production elegantly captures the sophistication of the twenties and even though it is silent, Lubitsch still manages to convey the witty word and world of Oscar Wilde. All stars do
well but it is the under-rated Irene Rich who puts her stamp on the movie. She plays the shunned Mrs. Erlynne who has chosen a life of adventure abroad rather than maintaining her social standing in London society and is now paying the price. She visits Lord Windermere (Bert Lytell) and in exchange for money and connections, she will keep her secret - that she is Margaret Windermere's mother!! Things go along but little does Windermere realise that his name is now being linked with the once notorious Mrs. Erlynne. That is all the debonair Lord Darlington (Ronald Colman) needs, to sow a few seeds of doubt in Lady Windermere's mind and on the night of her birthday, confidant in the knowledge that Mrs. Erlynne will not be there....... little does she realise that before the night is over her biggest comfort will be her worst enemy!!!
Ronald Colman showed with a gestured hand or a look from his penetrating eyes that he was the perfect sophisticated man about town, forgotten Bert Lytell was Margaret's "out of her depth" husband and while May McAvoy dazzled with her peaches and cream beauty (there was no doubting her eyes were a beautiful bright blue) as well as her lovely wardrobe, Irene Rich had the most substantial role. Rich who was only a few years older than McAvoy always seemed destined to play mothers, matrons and "other woman" roles from the start but she certainly impressed in her depiction of the desperate Mrs. Erlynne.
This production elegantly captures the sophistication of the twenties and even though it is silent, Lubitsch still manages to convey the witty word and world of Oscar Wilde. All stars do
well but it is the under-rated Irene Rich who puts her stamp on the movie. She plays the shunned Mrs. Erlynne who has chosen a life of adventure abroad rather than maintaining her social standing in London society and is now paying the price. She visits Lord Windermere (Bert Lytell) and in exchange for money and connections, she will keep her secret - that she is Margaret Windermere's mother!! Things go along but little does Windermere realise that his name is now being linked with the once notorious Mrs. Erlynne. That is all the debonair Lord Darlington (Ronald Colman) needs, to sow a few seeds of doubt in Lady Windermere's mind and on the night of her birthday, confidant in the knowledge that Mrs. Erlynne will not be there....... little does she realise that before the night is over her biggest comfort will be her worst enemy!!!
Ronald Colman showed with a gestured hand or a look from his penetrating eyes that he was the perfect sophisticated man about town, forgotten Bert Lytell was Margaret's "out of her depth" husband and while May McAvoy dazzled with her peaches and cream beauty (there was no doubting her eyes were a beautiful bright blue) as well as her lovely wardrobe, Irene Rich had the most substantial role. Rich who was only a few years older than McAvoy always seemed destined to play mothers, matrons and "other woman" roles from the start but she certainly impressed in her depiction of the desperate Mrs. Erlynne.