Florence Vidor (née Cobb, later Arto; July 23, 1895 – November 3, 1977) was an American

silent film A silent film is a film with no 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, when ...

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 comedy film co-written, directed by and starring Mel Brooks, released by 20th Century Fox in the summer of 1976. The ensemble cast includes Dom DeLuise, Marty Feldman, Bernadette Peters, and Sid Cae ...

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 ''Hail the Woman'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by John Griffith Wray. Produced by Thomas Ince, it stars Florence Vidor as a woman who takes a stand against the hypocrisy of her father and brother, played by Theodore Roberts a ...

''. Throughout the 1920s, she was a major box office attraction for

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

. Her career ended with the advent of

sound films A sound film is a motion picture with 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, but decades passed befor ...

. 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 William Augustus Wellman (February 29, 1896 – December 9, 1975) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, actor and military pilot. He was known for his work in crime, adventure, and action genre films, often focusing on avi ...

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 Jascha Heifetz (; December 10, 1987) was a Russian-born American violinist. Born in Vilnius, he moved while still a teenager to the United States, where his Carnegie Hall debut was rapturously received. He was a virtuoso since childhood. Fritz ...

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 Los Angeles, California, situated about west of Downtown Los Angeles. Pacific Palisades was formally founded in 1921 by a Chautauqua, Methodist organization, an ...

, aged 82.

Selected filmography

* ''Bill Peter's Kid'' (1916, Short) - (uncredited) * ''Curfew at Simpton Center'' (1916, Short) * ''The Yellow Girl'' (1916, Short) - Flora * ''

The Intrigue ''The Intrigue'' is a surviving 1916 silent film drama produced by Pallas Pictures and released through Paramount Pictures. Frank Lloyd directed the film which was written by Julia Crawford Ivers and photographed by her son James Van Trees. The ...

'' (1916) - Pseudo Countess Sonia * ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by 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 imprisonment in the ...

'' (1917) - Mimi * ''American Methods'' (1917) - Betty Armstrong * ''

The Cook of Canyon Camp ''The Cook of Canyon Camp'' is a lost film, lost 1917 American Drama film, drama silent film directed by Donald Crisp and written by Donald Crisp and Julia Crawford Ivers. The film stars George Beban, Monroe Salisbury, Florence Vidor, Helen Jerom ...

'' (1917, Lost film) - Mrs. Jack * ''

Hashimura Togo ''Hashimura Togo'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by William C. deMille and written by Marion Fairfax and Wallace Irwin. The film stars Sessue Hayakawa, Florence Vidor, Mabel Van Buren, Walter Long, Tom Forman, and Raymond ...

'' (1917) - Corinne Reynolds * '' The Countess Charming'' (1917) - Betty Lovering * ''

The Secret Game ''The Secret Game'' is a surviving 1917 American silent drama film produced by Jesse Lasky and released through Paramount Pictures. It was directed by William C. deMille and starred Sessue Hayakawa. It survives complete at the Library of Congress ...

'' (1917) - Kitty Little * '' The Widow's Might'' (1918, Lost film) - Irene Stuart * ''

The Hidden Pearls ''The Hidden Pearls'' is a surviving 1918 American 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 Pictures. The pr ...

'' (1918) - Enid Benton * ''

The Honor of His House ''The Honor of His House'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by William C. deMille and written by Marion Fairfax. The film stars Sessue Hayakawa, Florence Vidor, Jack Holt, Mayme Kelso, Kisaburo Kurihara, and Forrest Seabury. The fi ...

'' (1918) - Lora Horning * ''

The White Man's Law ''The White Man's Law'' is a surviving 1918 American silent drama film directed by James Young and written by Marion Fairfax and John B. Browne. The film stars Sessue Hayakawa, Florence Vidor, Jack Holt, Herbert Standing, Mayme Kelso, and For ...

'' (1918) - Maida Verne * ''

Old Wives for New ''Old Wives for New'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Prints of the film survive at the International Museum of Photography and Film at George Eastman House. Plot As described in a film magazine, disgusted by ...

'' (1918) - Juliet Raeburn * '' The Bravest Way'' (1918) - Nume Rogers * ''

Till I Come Back to You ''Till I Come Back to You'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. This film is preserved in the George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection. Plot As described in a film magazine, Yvonne (Vidor), the wife of German ...

'' (1918) - Yvonne * ''

A Heart in Pawn ''A Heart in Pawn'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by William Worthington (director), William Worthington. Sessue Hayakawa's Haworth Pictures Corporation produced the film and Worthington played the lead role along with Vola Vale an ...

'' (1919) - Dr. Stone's daughter * '' The Other Half'' (1919) - Katherine Boone * ''

Poor Relations ''Poor Relations'' is a 1919 American 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 four Christi ...

'' (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 ''The Jack-Knife Man'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by King Vidor and his debut film with First National. A story of Christian charity and the virtues of self-help, the work reflects his "Creed and Pledge", a declaration of his ...

'' (1920) - Mrs. Marcia Montgomery * ''

Lying Lips ''Lying Lips'' is a 1939 American melodrama race film written and directed by Oscar Micheaux who co-produced the film with aviator Hubert Fauntlenroy Julian, starring Edna Mae Harris, and Robert Earl Jones (the father of James Earl Jones). ''Lyi ...

'' (1921) - Nancy Abbott * ''

Beau Revel ''Beau Revel'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by John Griffith Wray and written by Luther Reed and Louis Joseph Vance. The film stars Lewis Stone, Florence Vidor, Lloyd Hughes, Kathleen Kirkham, Dick Ryan, and Harland Tucker. Th ...

'' (1921) - Nellie Steel * ''

'' (1921) - Judith Beresford * ''

Woman, Wake Up ''Woman, Wake Up'' is a lost 1922 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Marcus Harrison and starring Florence Vidor. Plot As described in a film magazine, Anne Clegg (Vidor) has been raised in seclusion of a cabin the mountains by her u ...

'' (1922, Lost film) - Anne * ''

The Real Adventure ''The Real Adventure'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by King Vidor, based on the best-selling novel by Henry Kitchell Webster that was serialized in 1915 and published as a book in 1916. A print of the film is held by the Cin ...

'' (1922) - Rose Stanton * ''

Dusk to Dawn ''Dusk to Dawn'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by King Vidor. It is unknown whether any recording of the film survives; it may be a lost film. Plot An Indian maid and American girl (both played by Florence Vidor) share a singl ...

'' (1922, Undetermined / presumed lost) - Marjorie Latham / Aziza * '' Skin Deep'' (1922) - Ethel Carter * '' Conquering the Woman'' (1922) - Judith Stafford * ''

Souls for Sale ''Souls for Sale'' is a 1923 American silent comedy drama film written, directed, and produced by Rupert Hughes, based on the novel of the same name by Hughes. The film stars Eleanor Boardman in her first leading role, having won a contract w ...

'' (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 ''The Marriage Circle'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film produced and directed by Ernst Lubitsch and distributed by Warner Bros. Based on the play ''Only a Dream'' by Lothar Schmidt, the screenplay was written by Paul Bern. The "circle" o ...

'' (1924) - Charlotte Braun * ''

Borrowed Husbands ''Borrowed Husbands'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by David Smith and starring Florence Vidor. It was produced and distributed by Vitagraph Company of America. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Nancy Burrard's hus ...

'' (1924, Lost film) - Nancy Burrard * ''

Welcome Stranger The Welcome Stranger is the biggest alluvial gold nugget that has ever been found, which had a calculated refined weight of .Potter, Terry F. (1999) ''The Welcome Stranger: a definitive account of the worlds largest alluvial gold nugget''. I ...

'' (1924, Lost film) - Mary Clark * ''

Barbara Frietchie ''Barbara Frietchie, The Frederick Girl'' is a play in four acts by Clyde Fitch and based on the heroine of John Greenleaf Whittier's poem "Barbara Frietchie" (based on a real person: Barbara Fritchie). Fitch takes a good bit of artistic libe ...

'' (1924) - Barbara Frietchie * ''

Christine of the Hungry Heart ''Christine of the Hungry Heart'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Florence Vidor. It was produced by Thomas H. Ince and released through First National Pictures. Plot As described in a review in ...

'' (1924) - Christine Madison * '' Husbands and Lovers'' (1924) - Grace Livingston * ''

The Mirage The Mirage is a casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, Paradise, Nevada, United States. It is owned by Vici Properties and operated by Hard Rock International. The 65-acre property includes a casino and 3,044 rooms. Mirage R ...

'' (1924, Lost film) - Irene Martin * ''

The Girl of Gold ''The Girl of Gold'' is a 1925 American silent melodrama film directed by John Ince and starring Florence Vidor. It was released by Producers Distributing Corporation. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Helen Marrimore, daughter of a ...

'' (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 Lawrence Gray (July 28, 1898 – February 2, 1970) was an American actor of the 1 ...

'' (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 adultery ...

'' (1925, Incomplete, missing third reel) - Alice Sorbier * '' Marry Me'' (1925) - Hetty Gandy * ''

The Trouble with Wives ''The Trouble with Wives'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by Malcolm St. Clair, written by Sada Cowan and Howard Higgin, and starring Florence Vidor, Tom Moore, Esther Ralston, Ford Sterling, Lucy Beaumont, and Edgar Kennedy. ...

'' (1925, Lost film) - Grace Hyatt * ''

The Enchanted Hill ''The Enchanted Hill'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Irvin Willat and written by James Shelley Hamilton and Peter B. Kyne. The film stars Jack Holt, Florence Vidor, Noah Beery, Sr., Mary Brian, Richard Arlen, George Bancr ...

'' (1926, Lost film) - Gail Ormsby * ''

The Grand Duchess and the Waiter ''The Grand Duchess and the Waiter'' is a 1926 American silent romantic comedy film directed by Mal St. Clair and starring Florence Vidor and Adolphe Menjou. The film is based on a 1925 Broadway play of the same name starring stage actress Elsie ...

'' (1926) - The Grand Duchess Zenia * ''

Sea Horses A seahorse (also written ''sea-horse'' and ''sea horse'') is any of 46 species of small marine fish in the genus ''Hippocampus''. "Hippocampus" comes from the Ancient Greek (), itself from () meaning "horse" and () meaning "sea monster" or ...

'' (1926, Lost film) - Helen Salvia * '' You Never Know Women'' (1926) - Vera * ''

The Eagle of the Sea ''The Eagle of the Sea'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by Frank Lloyd, starring Florence Vidor and featuring Boris Karloff in an uncredited role. Incomplete prints of the film exist. Cast See also * List of American films of ...

'' (1926, Incomplete film) - Louise Lestron * '' The Popular Sin'' (1926, Lost film) - Yvonne Montfort * ''

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, Norma ...

'' (1927, Lost film) - Katherine Silverton * ''

The World at Her Feet ''The World at Her Feet'' is a lost 1927 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 Randall *Margar ...

'' (1927, Lost film) - Jane Randall * ''

One Woman to Another ''One Woman to Another'' is a lost 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Frank Tuttle and written by J.L. Campbell and George Marion Jr. based upon a play by Frances Nordstrom.

'' (1927, Lost film) - Rita Farrell * ''

Honeymoon Hate ''Honeymoon Hate'' is a lost film, lost 1927 American silent film, silent romantic comedy film directed by Luther Reed and written by Doris Anderson, Ethel Doherty, Herman J. Mankiewicz, George Marion Jr., and Alice Muriel Williamson, A.M. Willi ...

'' (1927, Lost film) - Gail Grant * ''Doomsday'' (1928) - Mary Viner * ''

The Magnificent Flirt ''The Magnificent Flirt'' is a lost 1928 American comedy silent film directed by Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast and written by José Germain Drouilly, Herman J. Mankiewicz, Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast and Jean de Limur. The film stars Florence Vidor, ...

'' (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)

References

External links

* *
Florence Vidor
a
Golden Silents
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Florence Vidor
at Virtual History {{DEFAULTSORT:Vidor, Florence 1895 births 1977 deaths Actresses from Texas American silent film actresses People from Houston People from Greater Los Angeles 20th-century American actresses