The Married Virgin
Encyclopedia
The Married Virgin is a 1918
silent film
starring Vera Sisson
, Kathleen Kirkham
and Rudolph Valentino
. During the early part of his career, Valentino was often cast as a villain or "heavy," his part in The Married Virgin reflects this typecasting.
The Internet Movie Database indicates that the movie premiered in December 1918 and was re-released as Frivolous Wives in 1920. However, other sources state that the film was not released at all until 1922, after Valentino had become a star (and that the film was renamed to capitalize on the success of Erich Von Stroheim
's 1922 film Foolish Wives
).
The Married Virgin has survived, has been screened at film festivals, and has been made available to the public on both VHS
and DVD
.
John McMillan is wracked with guilt over his involvement in a violent skirmish, in which a man was killed. While McMillan was not responsible for the murder, he did fire a weapon in the scuffle, and fears he could be implicated. He keeps the gun he used locked away in a safe in his office.
Ethel knows the secret, and shares it with Roberto. They arrange to have the weapon stolen from the office and extort McMillan for money for its safe and quiet return. McMillan meets with Roberto, but refuses his demands for money.
The lovers move on to Plan B, which involves the virtuous Mary. They plot to force Mary to marry Roberto, and use the dowry to escape to Argentina
together. Mary is understandably reluctant to go along with the plan, but eventually acquiesces to save her father from a life sentence in prison. She writes to Douglas, calling off their engagement, sadly marries Roberto and retires to an unhappy existence in her home.
Roberto, at first, promises to stay away from Mary until she comes to him of her own free will. Eventually, when it is apparent Mary wants nothing to do with him, he attempts to break into her room and rape her. She is saved only through the intervention of the kindly family servant, Annie (Leighton).
Ethel grows increasingly jealous of the attention, albeit unwanted, that Mary is receiving from Roberto. On a drive through the hills, she brandishes a bottle of poison and threatens to use it unless Roberto takes the next boat to South America with her. Roberto attempts to take the bottle away from her, a struggle ensues, and the car loses control and tumbles off a cliff, killing Ethel.
Meanwhile, Douglas works tirelessly to clear McMillan and save Mary. He meets with Roberto, who agrees to permanently leave, dowry money in hand. He and Mary have a happy reconciliation.
Eventually, McMillan is completely exonerated. Mary's marriage to Roberto is annulled because it was never consummated, and she is free to marry Douglas.
1918 in film
The year 1918 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Following litigation for anti-trust activities, the US Supreme Court orders the Motion Picture Patents Company to disband....
silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
starring Vera Sisson
Vera Sisson
Vera Sisson was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 79 films between 1913 and 1926.She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory and died in Carmel, California from a barbiturate overdose....
, Kathleen Kirkham
Kathleen Kirkham
Kathleen Kirkham was a silent film actress from Menominee, Michigan.Her mother, Mrs. L.B. Kirkham, resided at 1135 Windsor Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. She was a stage actress prior to marriage.-Film actress:...
and Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
. During the early part of his career, Valentino was often cast as a villain or "heavy," his part in The Married Virgin reflects this typecasting.
The Internet Movie Database indicates that the movie premiered in December 1918 and was re-released as Frivolous Wives in 1920. However, other sources state that the film was not released at all until 1922, after Valentino had become a star (and that the film was renamed to capitalize on the success of Erich Von Stroheim
Erich von Stroheim
Erich von Stroheim was an Austrian-born film star of the silent era, subsequently noted as an auteur for his directorial work.-Background:...
's 1922 film Foolish Wives
Foolish Wives
Foolish Wives is an American drama silent film produced and distributed by Universal Pictures and written and directed by Erich von Stroheim. Although uncredited, Irving Thalberg, aged 22, was in charge of production and would go on to become one of the most famous studio heads of all time at...
).
The Married Virgin has survived, has been screened at film festivals, and has been made available to the public on both VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
.
Synopsis
Mary McMillan (Sisson) is the daughter of tycoon John McMillan (Jobson). She is deeply in love with Douglas McKee (Newburg), a promising young lawyer. Mary's dour "evil stepmother", Ethel (Kirkham) is carrying on an affair with the diabolical Count Roberto di San Fraccini (Valentino).John McMillan is wracked with guilt over his involvement in a violent skirmish, in which a man was killed. While McMillan was not responsible for the murder, he did fire a weapon in the scuffle, and fears he could be implicated. He keeps the gun he used locked away in a safe in his office.
Ethel knows the secret, and shares it with Roberto. They arrange to have the weapon stolen from the office and extort McMillan for money for its safe and quiet return. McMillan meets with Roberto, but refuses his demands for money.
The lovers move on to Plan B, which involves the virtuous Mary. They plot to force Mary to marry Roberto, and use the dowry to escape to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
together. Mary is understandably reluctant to go along with the plan, but eventually acquiesces to save her father from a life sentence in prison. She writes to Douglas, calling off their engagement, sadly marries Roberto and retires to an unhappy existence in her home.
Roberto, at first, promises to stay away from Mary until she comes to him of her own free will. Eventually, when it is apparent Mary wants nothing to do with him, he attempts to break into her room and rape her. She is saved only through the intervention of the kindly family servant, Annie (Leighton).
Ethel grows increasingly jealous of the attention, albeit unwanted, that Mary is receiving from Roberto. On a drive through the hills, she brandishes a bottle of poison and threatens to use it unless Roberto takes the next boat to South America with her. Roberto attempts to take the bottle away from her, a struggle ensues, and the car loses control and tumbles off a cliff, killing Ethel.
Meanwhile, Douglas works tirelessly to clear McMillan and save Mary. He meets with Roberto, who agrees to permanently leave, dowry money in hand. He and Mary have a happy reconciliation.
Eventually, McMillan is completely exonerated. Mary's marriage to Roberto is annulled because it was never consummated, and she is free to marry Douglas.
Cast (in credits order)
- Vera SissonVera SissonVera Sisson was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 79 films between 1913 and 1926.She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory and died in Carmel, California from a barbiturate overdose....
... Mary McMillan - Rudolph ValentinoRudolph ValentinoRudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
... Count Roberto di San Fraccini (as Rodolfo di Valentini) - Frank Newburg ... Douglas McKee
- Kathleen KirkhamKathleen KirkhamKathleen Kirkham was a silent film actress from Menominee, Michigan.Her mother, Mrs. L.B. Kirkham, resided at 1135 Windsor Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. She was a stage actress prior to marriage.-Film actress:...
... Mrs. McMillan - Edward JobsonEdward JobsonEdward Russell Jobson was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket on a few occasions for Worcestershire between 1900 and 1903...
... John McMillan - Lillian LeightonLillian LeightonLillian Brown Leighton was an American silent film actress. She was signed in 1910 and starred in over 200 films before her retirement in 1940.-Selected filmography:-External links:...
... Anne Mullins, the Maid