Our Betters - DaaVeeDee

Our Betters (DVD) (*)

~~$20.99~~ $14.97

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Spain ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
83 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Black & White

Movie filmed in 1933 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
George Cukor

Written By:
W. Somerset Maugham
Jane Murfin

Actors:
Constance Bennett ..... Lady Pearl Grayston
Violet Kemble Cooper ..... Duchess
Phoebe Foster ..... Princess
Grant Mitchell ..... Thornton Clay
Charles Starrett ..... Fleming Harvey
Anita Louise ..... Bessie
Gilbert Roland ..... Pepi D'Costa
Minor Watson ..... Arthur Fenwick
Hugh Sinclair ..... Lord Bleane
Alan Mowbray ..... Lord George Grayston
Harold Entwistle ..... Pole
Virginia Howell ..... Mrs. Saunders
Walter Walker ..... Mr. Saunders

Synopsis:

Our Betters is adapted from Somerset Maugham's play about the shallowness and hypocrisy of the idle rich. American heiress Constance Bennett snares a titled British husband (Alan Mobray), but when she discovers that he is merely marrying her for her money, she decides to carry on a few affairs of her own. Going from wide-eyed innocent to bitter cynic, Bennett tries to maneuver her own sister (Anita Louise) into a titled marriage so that the 'gravy train' of privileges and sexual liaisons will never end. Bennett ultimately ends up alone and miserable, though she retains her wealth and puts up a good front right to the final fade-out. Maugham's original play was intended to satirize wealthy Americans who buy their way into European society, but the film version of Our Betters is far rougher on the Continental Set than it is on Constance Bennett.

American heiress Pearl Saunders marries Lord George Grayston but later sees him embracing his lover on their wedding day. She has his title and he has her money; thereafter they are rarely seen together. Pearl is accepted by the British aristocracy and is presented at court, but creates a scandal by wearing black. She encourages her younger sister, Bessie, who idolizes her, to respond to the attentions of Lord Harry Bleane despite Bessie preferring American Fleming Harvey. Pearl gives a weekend party at the Grayston estate inviting close friends, including her lover, Arthur Fenwick; her friend, Duchess Minnie and Minnie's gigolo companion, Pepi D'Costa; as well as Bessie, Lord Bleane and Harvey. Pepi, who had been meeting Pearl on the sly, discretely suggests a rendezvous with her in the new teahouse on the property. Both make some pretext to leave but are seen by Minnie entering the teahouse. Vindictive Minnie pretends to have left her purse in the teahouse and sends Bessie to fetch it. Bessie finds the door locked but peeks through the window and is shocked by what she sees. Minnie, Fenwick, and Bessie are outraged at the lovers' ill-advised meeting, but Pearl sets out to assuage their anger.

Although the British upper class may be thought our betters in society, but they are certainly not our betters, and perhaps our equals, in morality.

This product was added to our catalog on Saturday 24 May, 2014.

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