''Conquering the Woman'' is a 1922 American silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

King Vidor King Wallis Vidor ( ; February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose 67-year film-making career successfully spanned the silent and sound eras. His works are distinguished by a vivid, ...

. A print of the film exists at the Cinematheque Royale de Belgique in Belgium.

Plot

As described in a film magazine, Judith Stafford (Vidor) returns to her San Francisco home after a lengthy sojourn abroad during which Aunt Sophia (Brundage), a social climber, was her chaperon. While aqua-planing off the south coast of France, Judith intentionally falls off her plane and is very much annoyed when Larry Saunders (Butler) of Oklahoma, whose yacht is nearby, dives to her rescue. Judith berates Larry and she swims to the boat of her host, Count Henri (Burke). Later, when Larry comes to San Francisco, he visits his old friend Tobias Stafford (Sprotte), and is amazed to discover that Judith is Tobey's daughter. Judith becomes engaged to the Count. Her father opposes this match and tricks her and Larry on board one of his merchant ships. He gives Captain Sandy MacTavish (Todd) certain orders which result in Judith and Larry being marooned on an uninhabited island in the

South Seas Today the term South Seas, or South Sea, most commonly refers to the portion of the Pacific Ocean south of the equator. The term South Sea may also be used synonymously for Oceania, or even more narrowly for Polynesia or the Polynesian Triangle ...

. Larry tries drastic means of taming Judith but is unsuccessful. He adopts gentler but persuasive methods and wins. Judith is happily in love with him. The Count turns up unexpectedly and kidnaps Judith. Tobey arrives and he and Larry start in pursuit of the abductor. After a thrilling chase, Judith is rescued by her lover.

Cast

* Florence Vidor as Judith Stafford * Bert Sprotte as Tobias Stafford * Mathilde Brundage as Aunt Sophia * David Butler as Larry Saunders *

Roscoe Karns Roscoe Karns (September 7, 1891 – February 6, 1970) was an American actor who appeared in nearly 150 films between 1915 and 1964. He specialized in cynical, wise-cracking (and often tipsy) characters, and his rapid-fire delivery enlivened many ...

as Shorty Thompson * Peter Burke as Count Henri de Marcellus * Harry Todd as Sandy MacTavish

Production

The third of four pictures that Vidor and his spouse Florence Vidor (a rising actor at

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

) had contracted to film for Associated Exhibitors, all of which were completed in 1922. Vidor considered the film “out of my line.” Vidor was unable to complete the final film of the contract, Alice Adams, as his marriage to Florence was deteriorating. He arranged for Rowland V. Lee to handle the direction.Durgnat and Simmon 1988 p. 26

Footnotes

References

* Durgnat, Raymond and Simmon, Scott. 1988. ''King Vidor, American.'' University of California Press, Berkeley.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Conquering The Woman 1922 films 1922 drama films Silent American drama films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films directed by King Vidor Associated Exhibitors films 1920s American films 1920s English-language films English-language drama films