Lady Windermere's Fan

I've got to say that I approached this with much apprehension. An adaptation - admittedly by the genius that was Ernst Lubitsch - of an Oscar Wilde play sans dialogue? No pithy wit, no innuendo or irony? Well, I take my hat off. It's not a great film, but perhaps that's because it's not actually a great story. "Lord Darlington" (Ronald Colman) is keen on "Lady Windermere" (May McAvoy) who is contentedly married to "Lord Windermere" (Bert Lytell). It is only when the glamorous "Mrs. Erlynne" (Irene Rich) gets in touch with Lord "W" with some sensitive information that could upset the entire apple cart that the story starts to take shape. Lord "D" becomes aware that there is something going on between the pair and, bit of a cad that he is, starts sowing some seeds of uncertainty in their marriage. Neither Lord "W" nor "Mrs. E" wish to disclose the nature of their new found relationship, and given the courtesan-like reputation of the older lady, naturally Lady "W" jumps to a few conclusions of her own... Now the intimate camera work comes into it's own. It can't replace the spoken words, but together with some well considered performances it offers us a truly acceptable alternative - indeed it is almost as much fun to try to lip read or, even better, substitute the words we may have chosen ourselves as the scenario gets more precarious. Rich is exactly that, glamorous and stylish…

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