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.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.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.
- Duchess
- (as Violet Kemble-Cooper)
- Mrs. Saunders
- (scenes deleted)
- Mr. Saunders
- (scenes deleted)
- Diana - George's Mistress
- (uncredited)
- Lady Helen
- (uncredited)
- Duchess of Hightower
- (uncredited)
- Ernest
- (uncredited)
- Little Boy
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaElsa Maxwell was brought in as technical advisor for this film because of her vast experience in hosting events for royalty and high society. She also assisted Hattie Carnegie in the designs for the evening gowns worn by the principle actresses.
- GoofsAlthough Bessie is supposed to be from New York, Anita Louise inexplicably plays her with an affected British accent.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Minnie, Duchess of Sourae: You know, you're very naughty sometimes, Pearl, but you have a good heart and I can't help being fond of you.
Lady Pearl Saunders Grayston: Minnie!
Minnie, Duchess of Sourae: Pearl!
[they embrace]
Ernest: Ah! What an exquisite spectacle! Two ladies of title, kissing one another!
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Celluloid Closet (1995)
- SoundtracksThe Wedding March
(1843) (uncredited)
from "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61"
Written by Felix Mendelssohn
Played by an offscreen organ during the wedding
Gilbert Roland was cast as the gold digger and did very well in a role that others, including Bennett's frequent costar, Joel McCrea, would have found impossible to play. The Duchesse demonstrates that furs and a little tricorn hat produce the illusion of beauty, if not youth.
Ernest, necessary to the plot, makes a surprise appearance at the end of the film, in a scene exactly as Maugham wrote it. However, while Maugham's stage directions describe Ernest as "overwhelmingly gentlemanly . . . speaks in mincing tones" it does not say that his face was a smear of eye shadow and lipstick. What possessed Cukor anyway? Ernest is a likable character and doesn't need garish makeup to deliver the very funny lines Maugham wrote for him.
The opening 2 scenes with husband George were not in the play. Apparently they were added to provide motivation as to why Pearl is the way she is and to make Pearl/Bennett sympathetic to audiences. Was this ruse successful? Variety's reviewer wrote, "Miss Bennett goes wicked early and stays that way to the finish. That she shows no sign of repenting or changing her ways will be difficult to justify with many of her best customers." Bennett's box-office popularity was slipping away. She had to escape the baby formula that made her a Star and change her image in order to attract new fans without losing her old fans. This was a difficult problem which Our Betters did not solve.
This film will not get boring with repeat viewings. In spite of its imperfections, I intend to watch it repeatedly. After 82 years, the comedy and Bennett are still bright. Therefore, it rates a 10.
- hotangen
- Feb 27, 2015
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- W. Somerset Maugham's Our Betters
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 23 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1