Friends and Lovers (1931 film)
| Friends and Lovers | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster for the film | |
| Directed by | Victor Schertzinger |
| Produced by | William LeBaron |
| Written by |
Wallace Smith (adaptation) Jane Murfin |
| Based on |
Le sphinx a parlé 1930 novel by Maurice Dekobra |
| Starring |
Lili Damita Adolphe Menjou Laurence Olivier Eric von Stroheim |
| Music by |
Victor Schertzinger Max Steiner |
| Cinematography | J. Roy Hunt |
| Edited by | William Hamilton |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 68 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Friends and Lovers (1931) is an American Pre-Code drama film released by RKO Radio Pictures, directed by Victor Schertzinger, and starring Adolphe Menjou, Lili Damita, Laurence Olivier, Erich von Stroheim, and Hugh Herbert.[1][2]
The film recorded a loss of $260,000.[3]
Plot
British Army captain Geoff Roberts (Adolphe Menjou) carries on an affair with Alva (Lili Damita), the wife of the cruel Victor Sangrito (Erich Von Stroheim). Sangrito, however, is well aware of the affair, as he uses his beautiful wife to lure men into romance with her, then blackmailing them to save their careers.
When Roberts falls into Sangrito's trap, he pays the blackmail and leaves for India, hoping to forget Alva, whom he loved but now believes betrayed him. After some time in India, he is joined by his young friend and bosom companion Lt. Ned Nichols (Laurence Olivier). Nichols, too, is in love with a woman back in England—the same woman.
Although the two friends nearly come to blows over Alva, they eventually realize that she has been false to them both and that their friendship far outweighs their feelings for a mendacious woman. However, when the two are invalided home, they encounter Alva again, and learn that she may not have betrayed them after all.
Cast
- Adolphe Menjou as Captain Geoffrey Roberts
- Lili Damita as Alva Sangrito
- Laurence Olivier as Lieutenant Ned Nichols
- Erich Von Stroheim as Colonel Victor Sangrito
- Hugh Herbert as McNellis
- Frederick Kerr as General Thomas Armstrong
- Blanche Friderici as Lady Alice
- Jean Del Val as Marquis Henri De Pezanne
References
- ↑ Friends and Lovers (1931) - IMDb
- ↑ BFI | Film & TV Database | FRIENDS AND LOVERS (1931)
- ↑ Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, The RKO Story. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982. p41
External links
- Friends and Lovers at the Internet Movie Database
- Friends and Lovers at AllMovie
- Friends and Lovers at the TCM Movie Database
- Friends and Lovers at the American Film Institute Catalog