Florence Vidor (née Cobb, later Arto; July 23, 1895 – November 3, 1977) was an American
silent film
A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...
actress.
Early life
Vidor was born in Houston on July 23, 1895, to John and Ida Cobb. Her parents had married in Houston on March 3, 1894, but divorced only three years later. Ida remained in Houston and soon married John P. Arto, a real estate man who later served as deputy chief of the city's fire department.
Career
Florence Vidor started working in
silent movie
''Silent Movie'' is a 1976 American satirical silent comedy film co-written, directed by and starring Mel Brooks, released by 20th Century Fox in summer 1976. The ensemble cast includes Dom DeLuise, Marty Feldman, Bernadette Peters, and S ...
s through the influence of her husband, film director
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, ...
, whom she had married in 1915. She signed her first contract with
Vitagraph Studios
Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907 ...
in 1916. Her early fame was due to her role in the 1921 film '' Hail the Woman''. Throughout the 1920s, she was a major box office attraction for
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 ...
. Her career ended with the advent of
sound film
A sound film is a Film, motion picture with synchronization, synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, bu ...
s. In 1929 she became so frustrated by the difficulties of making the partial sound film '' Chinatown Nights'' that she retired from acting before the production was completed. Director William A. Wellman had to use a voice double to complete some of her scenes.
Personal life and death
Florence and King Vidor divorced in 1924. They had a daughter, Suzanne. Despite the end of their marriage, Florence continued to use Vidor as her surname.
Vidor married classical violinist Jascha Heifetz on August 20, 1928, in New York City. They had two children together and Heifetz also adopted Suzanne before divorcing in 1945.
On November 3, 1977, Vidor died at her home in
Pacific Palisades, California
Pacific Palisades is a neighborhood in the Westside Los Angeles, Westside region of the city of Los Angeles, California, situated about west of downtown Los Angeles. Throughout January 2025, the majority of Pacific Palisades was severely affec ...
A Tale of Two Cities
''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by English author Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long impr ...
The Hidden Pearls
''The Hidden Pearls'' is a surviving 1918 American silent film, silent drama film directed by George Melford and starring Sessue Hayakawa. It was produced by Adolph Zukor and Jesse Lasky and distributed by Famous Players–Lasky and Paramount Pi ...
Old Wives for New
''Old Wives for New'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. It is based on the 1908 novel of the same title by David Graham Phillips.
The initial release of the film was delayed for fear that local censors would ...
Poor Relations
''Poor Relations'' is a 1919 American silent film, silent drama film directed by King Vidor. Produced by the Brentwood Corporation, the film starred Vidor’s wife Florence Vidor and featured comedienne ZaSu Pitts.
The picture is the final of ...
'' (1919) - Dorothy Perkins
* ''
The Family Honor
''The Family Honor'' is a 1920 American silent drama-romance film directed by King Vidor and starring Florence Vidor.The Jack-Knife Man'' (1920) - Mrs. Marcia Montgomery
* '' Lying Lips'' (1921) - Nancy Abbott
* '' Beau Revel'' (1921) - Nellie Steel
* '' Hail the Woman'' (1921) - Judith Beresford
* '' Woman, Wake Up'' (1922, Lost film) - Anne
* '' The Real Adventure'' (1922) - Rose Stanton
* '' Dusk to Dawn'' (1922, Undetermined / presumed Lost) - Marjorie Latham / Aziza
* '' Skin Deep'' (1922) - Ethel Carter
* '' Conquering the Woman'' (1922) - Judith Stafford
* '' Souls for Sale'' (1923) - Himself (uncredited)
* '' Alice Adams'' (1923) - Alice Adams
* '' Main Street'' (1923, Lost film) - Carol Milford
* '' The Virginian'' (1923) - Molly Wood (Woods in credits)
* '' The Marriage Circle'' (1924) - Charlotte Braun
* '' Borrowed Husbands'' (1924, Lost film) - Nancy Burrard
* ''
Welcome Stranger
Welcome Stranger is the name of the largest alluvial gold nugget ever discovered. It was unearthed by Cornwall, Cornish miners John Deason and Richard Oates on 5February 1869 in Moliagul, 9 miles north-west of Dunolly, Victoria, Dunolly in Vi ...
The Mirage
The Mirage is a defunct casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. The 65-acre property included a casino and 3,044 rooms.
Mirage Resorts, Golden Nugget, Inc., led by developer Steve Wynn, purchased the future lan ...
'' (1924, Lost film) - Irene Martin
* '' The Girl of Gold'' (1925) - Helen Merrimore
* ''
Are Parents People?
''Are Parents People?'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film starring Betty Bronson, Florence Vidor, Adolphe Menjou, George Beranger, and Lawrence Gray. The film was directed by Malcolm St. Clair and released by Paramount Pictures
...
'' (1925) - Mrs. Hazlitt
* ''
Grounds for Divorce
Grounds for divorce are regulations specifying the circumstances under which a person will be granted a divorce. Adultery is the most common grounds for divorce. However, there are countries that view male adultery differently than female adulter ...
'' (1925, Incomplete, missing third reel) - Alice Sorbier
* '' Marry Me'' (1925) - Hetty Gandy
* '' The Trouble with Wives'' (1925, Lost film) - Grace Hyatt
* ''
The Enchanted Hill
''The Enchanted Hill'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film directed by Irvin Willat and written by James Shelley Hamilton and Peter B. Kyne. The film stars Jack Holt (actor), Jack Holt, Florence Vidor, Noah Beery ...
Afraid to Love
''Afraid to Love'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Edward H. Griffith and written by Doris Anderson, Francis de Croisset, Fred de Gresac, Alfred Hustwick and Joseph Jackson. The film stars Florence Vidor, Clive Brook, ...
'' (1927, Lost film) - Katherine Silverton
* ''
The World at Her Feet
''The World at Her Feet'' is a 1927 American silent film, silent film comedy directed by Luther Reed and starring Florence Vidor. It was produced by the Paramount Lasky Corporation.
Cast
*Florence Vidor as Jane Randall
*Arnold Kent as Richard ...
'' (1927, Lost film) - Jane Randall
* '' One Woman to Another'' (1927, Lost film) - Rita Farrell
* '' Honeymoon Hate'' (1927, Lost film) - Gail Grant
* ''Doomsday'' (1928) - Mary Viner
* '' The Magnificent Flirt'' (1928, Lost film) - Mme. Florence Laverne
* '' The Patriot'' (1928, Lost film, only one reel exists) - Countess Ostermann
* '' Chinatown Nights'' (1929) - Joan Fry (final film role)