Lewis Cody as Edmund Lamont is a debonair man about town who is in dire financial straights. At a gala he meets the very wealthy and self centered Mrs. Mabel Wilton, played by Pauline Frederick. Lamont sees her as his way out of his financial difficulties and she quickly is taken in by his charm and attention. Mrs. Wilton has a daughter, Jeanne (May McAvoy) who she has not seen for some time. When Jeanne, just after her eighteenth birthday, unexpectedly shows up, Mrs. Wilton is angry and simply ignores her daughter. Lamont however, upon learning that that Jeanne has a substantial trust fund, turns his attention from the mother to the daughter. He seduces her and Jeanne then marries him. It doesn't take Lamont long to start cheating on his wife with the flapper Harriet (Marie Prevost). Jeanne's college boyfriend shows up and she realizes that it is he she truly loves (since he is so much the better man, this is easy to believe). After Lamont's infidelity is discovered, Mrs. Wilton realizes how much she cares for her daughter's well being and confronts him and demands that he give Jeanne a divorce - which he refuses to do. Unbelievably, Lamont hits on her. In self defense and anger, she shoots him and to the viewer's glee, the jury acquits her. The cast does a wonderful job, especially Cody as the complete cad and Frederick as the middle aged woman worried about her fading beauty. Lubitsch's direction is spot on and there are no draggy parts in the movie which makes for a thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience.
Review of Three Women
Three Women
(1924)
A very interesting although lessor Lubitsch movie
18 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers