Alma Rubens Movies

Show Boat was a part-silent, part-talkie adaptation of the book by Edna Ferber. The film traces the life of Magnolia Hawkes (Laura La Plante), daughter of Captain Andy of the Cotton Blossom, a 19th century show boat. Magnolia's head is turned by handsome gambler Gaylord Ravenal (Joseph Schildkraut), who woos and weds her. He turns out to be a poor husband and provider, eventually deserting Magnolia and her daughter. But Magnolia, harking upon her performing experiences while on her father's show boat, becomes a successful stage star and raises her daughter all by herself. Though filmed just two years after the Broadway debut of the Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein Jr. musical Show Boat, this film is more closely based on the source novel than the stage play. While the immortal "Ol' Man River" was retained, the rest of the Broadway version's songs were jettisoned in favor of several forgettable tunes written by entrepreneur Billy Rose, who convinced the movie's producers that the public had grown tired of hearing the Kern-Hammerstein score! Show Boat would be remade twice, with most of the original songs intact and without Rose's "improvements," in 1936 and 1951. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The "Salome" of this heavy-breathing melodrama is Helene (Alma Rubens), who is betrayed by her wealthy lover Monte Carroll (Walter Pidgeon). Seeking revenge, Helene links up with the villainous Count Boris (Holmes Herbert). For the girl's sake, Boris orders the kidnapping of Monte and prepares to behead him, while Helene looks on in triumph. But at the very last moment, Helene realizes that she's still in love with Monte -- setting the stage for one of the most abrupt character transformations in screen history. No great shakes to begin with, Heart of Salome was laid low by cheap sets and poor special effects. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

That question mark in the film's title should provide a good clue as to the tenor of the storyline. Married to British nobleman Marcus Heriot (Walter McGrail), Canadian-born Wanda Heriot (Alma Rubens) nonetheless strays from her nest to romance her true love Paul (Walter Pidgeon). Too much the gentleman to stand in his wife's way, Marcus agrees to annul their marriage. But when Wanda finds out that she's pregnant, she dutifully returns to Marcus so that her child will be born legitimate in the eyes of the law. The fact that Marcus is about to march off to WWI leaves the audience wondering how long it will be before Wanda is reunited with Paul -- though the film ends before this question can be answered. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Germaine (Alma Rubens) is unhappy when her parents force her into a marriage with the wealthy Lucien D'Artois (Jack Mulhall). D'Artois cares nothing for appearances, and Germaine had wished for a man with more style and flair. When she upbraids him for his lacks, D'Artois -- who loves her very much -- resolves to go to Paris and make himself over. While he's there, Germaine's mind is poisoned by Andre Delandal (Bertram Grassby), and she writes a note telling D'Artois that she does not want him at all. In his misery, D'Artois spends his entire fortune on dancing girls and high living. Germaine goes to Paris to get a divorce from him, and she sees he has become a polished -- although poor -- gentleman. She goes to his home and finds a girl there who informs her that he only loves his wife. Germaine takes this information to heart and she and D'Artois are reconciled. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

Fashions for Men was a satirical play by Franz Molnar. In the hands of film company First National, it became a sincere, unsophisticated drama. Kindly Peter Hungerford (Percy Marmont) is a London clothes merchant who has saved up 500 dollars to stave off impending bankruptcy. His plans are ruined when his wife, Adele (Eileen Percy), takes the money and runs off with his clerk, Oscar (Raymond Griffith). Hungerford finds work managing the cheese business for the Earl of Denham (Lewis S. Stone). His former cashier, Paula (Alma Rubens), goes with him and becomes the earl's secretary. The earl pursues Paula, but Hungerford watches over her so carefully that he hampers the affair. The earl wants to fire him, but can't bear to hurt such a kindly man. The creditors of Hungerford's old store ask him to return, and Paula, who realizes she loves him, not the earl, follows. Oscar shows up, destitute and looking for work. The good-natured Hungerford is willing to take him back, but Paula -- who is not so forgiving -- shows the ex-clerk the door. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

This drama (adapted from the play by Gerald du Maurier and Viola Tree) was typical for its era: a jazz baby parties up a storm and pays the price for her sins. Tony (George O'Brien) and Una (Madge Bellamy) are childhood sweethearts who promise to marry when they grow up. Tony travels to South America, where he opens up a successful saloon and dance hall. One of the dancers, Maxine (Alma Rubens), falls in love with him, but he remains true to Una. Una, however, has immersed herself in a round of wild parties and she totally forgets Tony. She allows one of her admirers, Evan Carruthers (Freeman Wood), to take advantage of her. Tony becomes very wealthy upon his uncle's death, and he returns home to settle his affairs and marry Una. Although Una's aunt insists that she keep her affair with Evan a secret, Una's guilt is overwhelming. Finally, as they are about to be married, she confesses all to Tony. He forgives her, but she takes poison and dies anyhow. Tony returns to South America and weds Maxine. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

John Leslie (Conrad Nagel) and Craig Burnett (Antonio D'Algy) land their plane near a small Quebec town. Leslie becomes infatuated with Diane DuPrez (Alma Rubens), although her father (George MacQuarrie) wants her to marry Jean Gagnon (Bela Lugosi, who had just recently begun making films in the U.S.) During a walk, Diane and Leslie are caught in a snowstorm and forced to seek shelter overnight. The hamlet is scandalized. When Leslie returns to New York because of the death of his millionaire father, DuPrez sends his "ruined" daughter there to stay with her aunt. Leslie finds her rural ways a lot less appealing in the big city. His business manager, James Dunbar (Wyndham Standing), takes her aside and offers to send her to Europe to gain some polish. When Diane returns in style, Leslie falls in love with her all over again and they marry. Then Dunbar reveals that he spent the money to send Diane to Europe and Leslie presumes the worst. When he discovers that it was all a plot on Dunbar's part to get his hands on the Leslie fortune, the two men battle it out with their fists, and Leslie and Diane reconcile. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

Gerald Cranston (James Kirkwood) is an extremely wealthy factory owner and Lady Hermione (Alma Rubens) has a title but no money. They agree to a marriage of convenience -- he for the social prestige and she so that she and her young son will have financial independence. Gordon Ibbotsleigh, a former lover of Lady Hermione's (Walter McGrail), mocks the marriage and tries to resume relations with her. Out of respect for Cranston, who has financed Ibbotsleigh's upcoming African safari, she turns him down. Hermione goes to the country and while she is away, her cousin, Angela (Marguerite de la Motte), chases after Cranston, using all her feminine wiles to convince him to make love to her. She even follows him to Paris. Hermione returns, knowing that she is beginning to love Cranston, but when she hears of the Paris incident, she believes he has been untrue. Workers from Cranston's factories rebel and a mob attacks him. Angela tells Hermione that Cranston has been faithful all along, so she goes to him. She offers the entire fortune he gave her and her little boy if it will save him from ruin, and the couple are reunited. This drama was based on the novel by Gilbert Frankau. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

Producer Samuel Goldwyn gave his usual top-drawer treatment to Cytherea, making this pulpish romance seem more important than it really was. Based on a novel by Joseph Hergesheimer, the film stars Lewis Stone as a socialite who grows bored with his lifestyle and his loving family. Stone runs off to Cuba, where he inaugurates a torrid romance with Alma Rubens, who is likewise running away from her social obligations. After Alma conveniently dies of a mysterious tropical ailment, Stone realizes what a cad he's been, and returns to the arms of his wife Irene Rich-who in a 1996 film would probably have given him the ozone. Luxuriously filmed on location in Cuba, Cytherea represents the A-picture debut of Constance Bennett, here cast in a minor role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This epic production was the last film that producer and newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst produced for Paramount (after that, his production company, Cosmopolitan, went over to Goldwyn, which later merged with MGM). It was based on a novel by Vicenti Blasco Ibanez, who also wrote The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. In addition to lavish sets by Joseph Urban, the cast and crew also filmed on-location in Paris and Monte Carlo. Russian Prince Lubimoff (Lionel Barrymore) thinks only of his wealth and his own gratification. After fighting a duel, he has to flee from the ire of the Czar, and Duchess Alicia (Alma Rubens) helps him to get out of the country. While he is staying at his villa in Monte Carlo, World War I breaks out, but neither he nor his associates even consider going to fight. Lubimoff, who won't even acknowledge that he is in love with Alicia, is incensed when he finds her embracing a young man. Without realizing that it is her 16-year-old son, Lubimoff and his friends form a group called "Enemies of Women." Because of the war, the feudal estates are lost, and Alicia's son dies just before he is about to enter into a duel. Lubimoff, who has finally realized that the world does not revolve around him, goes to fight and uses the money he has left to help the downtrodden. On the front lines, he meets Alicia, who has become a Red Cross nurse, and they are united. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

"The world and his wife" is a reference to those gossips who lurk in the background, talking about everyone else's affairs. Originally, the story was a Spanish poem, which was made into a play that was translated into English by Charles Frederic Nirdlinger, then filmed here. Don Julian (Montagu Love) is happily married to Theodora (Alma Rubens), but when they invite Ernesto (Gaston Glass), a homeless poet, into their home, the villagers begin talking. A purely platonic friendship springs up between Theodora and Ernesto, but there is so much gossip that even Don Julian believes that they are having an affair. Finally he winds up dying in a duel caused by the rumors, and Theodora and Ernesto are cast out of the village. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide

Marion Gregory (Alma Rubens) is not happy with her life as the wife of a struggling inventor (Jack Conway). When Dr. Calvert (J. Barney Sherry), the minister who married them, introduces Marion to the rich Wingates, her dissatisfaction grows. What she doesn't realize is that Mrs. Wingate (Katherine Adams) is having an affair, as is Mr. Wingate (Harvey Charles). Marion is invited to spend some time at the Wingates' summer home. She arrives, alone, which is just what Mrs. Wingate wants -- she encourages Mr. Wingate's interest in the young woman, so she can divorce him. This visit, however, has been a revelation to Marion. She now sees the dark side of society life and realizes how fortunate she really was. Mrs. Wingate's attempts to compromise her husband are unsuccessful, thanks to the intervention of Dr. Calvert, and Marion gladly returns to her husband. This picture was based on a story by Cosmo Hamilton, who was famous for exposing the phony side of the society set. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide