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, 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 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 ...

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. 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 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 region of Los Angeles, California, situated about west of Downtown Los Angeles. Pacific Palisades was formally founded in 1921 by a Methodist organization, and in the years that followed be ...

, 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 ...

'' (1917) - Mimi * ''American Methods'' (1917) - Betty Armstrong * '' The Cook of Canyon Camp'' (1917, Lost film) - Mrs. Jack * '' Hashimura Togo'' (1917) - Corinne Reynolds * ''

The Countess Charming ''The Countess Charming'' is a lost 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Donald Crisp and written by Gelett Burgess, Carolyn Wells, and Gardner Hunting. The film stars Julian Eltinge, Florence Vidor, Tully Marshall, George Kuwa, Edythe ...

'' (1917) - Betty Lovering * '' The Secret Game'' (1917) - Kitty Little * '' The Widow's Might'' (1918, Lost film) - Irene Stuart * '' The Hidden Pearls'' (1918) - Enid Benton * '' The Honor of His House'' (1918) - Lora Horning * '' The White Man's Law'' (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 ''The Bravest Way'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by George Melford and written by Edith M. Kennedy. The film stars Sessue Hayakawa, Florence Vidor, Tsuru Aoki, Yukio Aoyama, Jane Wolfe, and Winter Hall. The film was release ...

'' (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'' (1919) - Dr. Stone's daughter * '' The Other Half'' (1919) - Katherine Boone * '' Poor Relations'' (1919) - Dorothy Perkins * '' The Family Honor'' (1920) - Beverly Tucker * ''

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). ''Lyin ...

'' (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. T ...

'' (1921) - Nellie Steel * ''

'' (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 ''Conquering the Woman'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by King Vidor. A print of the film exists at the Cinematheque Royale de Belgique in Belgium. Plot As described in a film magazine, Judith Stafford (Vidor) returns to her Sa ...

'' (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 ...

'' (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 ''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 libert ...

'' (1924) - Barbara Frietchie * '' Christine of the Hungry Heart'' (1924) - Christine Madison * ''

Husbands and Lovers ''Husbands and Lovers'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by John M. Stahl and starring Florence Vidor and Lewis Stone. It was produced by Louis B. Mayer and released by First National Pictures. Plot As described in a review in ...

'' (1924) - Grace Livingston * '' The Mirage'' (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 ...

'' (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 Kenned ...

'' (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 Els ...

'' (1926) - The Grand Duchess Zenia * '' Sea Horses'' (1926, Lost film) - Helen Salvia * ''

You Never Know Women ''You Never Know Women'' is a 1926 American silent romantic drama film from director William Wellman that was produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The stars of the picture are Florence Vidor, Lowell Sherman, a ...

'' (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 ''The Popular Sin'' is a 1926 American comedy silent film directed by Malcolm St. Clair, written by Monta Bell and James Ashmore Creelman, and starring Florence Vidor, Clive Brook, Greta Nissen, Philip Strange, George Beranger, and Iris Gray. ...

'' (1926, Lost film) - Yvonne Montfort * '' Afraid to Love'' (1927, Lost film) - Katherine Silverton * '' The World at Her Feet'' (1927, Lost film) - Jane Randall * '' One Woman to Another'' (1927, Lost film) - Rita Farrell * ''

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

'' (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

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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