''Déclassée'', listed as ''Déclassé'' on some posters, is a 1925 American silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

of manners produced and released by

First National Pictures First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the count ...

in association with

Corinne Griffith Corinne Griffith (née Griffin; November 21, 1894 – July 13, 1979) was an American film actress, producer, author and businesswoman. Dubbed "The Orchid Lady of the Screen," she was widely regarded as one of the most beautiful actresses of the ...

as executive producer. Griffith also stars in the production which was directed by

Robert G. Vignola Robert G. Vignola (born Rocco Giuseppe Vignola, August 7, 1882 – October 25, 1953) was an Italian-American actor, screenwriter, and film director. A former stage actor, he appeared in many motion pictures produced by Kalem Company and later mov ...

and based on the 1919 play by

Zoë Akins Zoe Byrd Akins (October 30, 1886 – October 29, 1958) was an American playwright, poet, and author. She won the 1935 Pulitzer Prize for drama for '' The Old Maid''. Early life Zoe Byrd Akins was born in Humansville, Missouri, second of three ...

that starred

Ethel Barrymore Ethel Barrymore (born Ethel Mae Blythe; August 15, 1879 – June 18, 1959) was an American actress and a member of the Barrymore family of actors. Barrymore was a stage, screen and radio actress whose career spanned six decades, and was regarde ...

.Progressive Silent Film List: ''Déclassée''
at silentera.com A young and unknown

Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades ...

made an uncredited appearance. The film was

remade Bas-Lag is the fictional world in which several of English author China Miéville's novels are set. Bas-Lag is a world where both magic (referred to as "thaumaturgy") and steampunk technology exist, and is home to many intelligent races. It is inf ...

as an early

talkie A sound film is a motion picture A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, percep ...

in 1929 titled '' Her Private Life'' starring

Billie Dove Lillian Bohny (born Bertha Eugenie Bohny; May 14, 1903 – December 31, 1997), known professionally as Billie Dove, was an American actress. Early life and career Dove was born Bertha Eugenie Bohny in New York City in 1903 to Charles and Ber ...

Plot

As described in a film magazine review, Lady Helen, married to a brute, finds in Ned Thayer's companionship the one spark of joy in her life. Ned is accused of cheating at cards and Lady Helen forces her husband to apologize. Ned is forced by his sister-in-law to help her cheat under the threat to show Sir Bruce the letter in which Lady Helen avows her love for Ted. Lady Helen sees the card cheating and forces Ned to apologize to her husband. The letter is given to Sir Bruce, who then divorces his wife. Through the resulting scandal, Helen becomes déclassé in London society, and drifts to New York City, where the wealthy Rudolph Solomon pursues her to become his mistress. When she is about to succumb, being at the end of her resources, at the last moment she throws herself under an automobile. Ned Thayer, having returned, rescues her and the promise comes of their union.

Cast

Preservation

A print of this film resides in the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

National Archive with a trailer surviving at the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...

.The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: ''Declassee''
/ref>

References

External links

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at silenthollywood.com 1925 films 1925 drama films Silent American drama films American silent feature films American black-and-white films American films based on plays Films directed by Robert G. Vignola First National Pictures films Films scored by Leo Fall 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub