Doomsday (1928)
Director:
Rowland V. Lee
Writers:
Doris Anderson (adaptation), Warwick Deeping (novel), Julian Johnson, Donald W. Lee
Stars:
Florence Vidor, Gary Cooper, Lawrence Grant, Charles A. Stevenson, Tom Ricketts, Frederick Sullivan
"Doomsday" is the name of a valuable patch of British farm property owned by self-made millionaire Percival Fream (Lawrence Grant). Impoverished aristocrat Mary Viner (Florence Vidor) lives in a cottage on Fream's property, with her aged and infirm father Captain Viner (Charles A. Stevenson). Another tenant of Doomsday is young farmer Arnold Furze (Gary Cooper), who tills the land with pride, even though he doesn't own it. Fream hopes to make Mary his wife as proof that he's "arrived" in society, but she falls in love with Furze. Even so, Mary can't resist the creature comforts offered her by Fream, so she marries him instead of the man she truly loves. Eventually, Mary realizes that her marriage is a mistake, and after the death of her father she asks for an annulment. Knowing full well that Fream will cut her off without a cent, Mary shows up at Furze's doorstep, humbly offering her services as his housekeeper. Though still feeling betrayed by Mary, Furze accepts her offer, and soon this "business arrangement" rekindles their love.