Friends and Lovers is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film released by RKO Radio Pictures, directed by Victor Schertzinger, and starring Adolphe Menjou, Lili Damita, Laurence Olivier, Erich von Stroheim, and Hugh Herbert.
The film recorded a loss of $260,000.
Contents
Plot
British Army captain Geoff Roberts carries on an affair with Alva, the beautiful wife of the cruel Victor Sangrito. Sangrito, however, is well aware of the affair: his wife seduces men with his approval, in order that he can blackmail them.
When Roberts falls into Sangrito's trap, he pays the blackmail and leaves for India, hoping to forget Alva, whom he loved but now believes betrayed him. After some time in India, he is joined by his young friend and bosom companion Lt. Ned Nichols. Nichols, too, is in love with a woman back in England—the same woman.
Although the two friends nearly come to blows over Alva, they eventually realize that she has been false to them both and that their friendship far outweighs their feelings for a mendacious woman. However, when the two are invalided home, they encounter Alva again, and learn that she may not have betrayed them after all.
Cast
Adolphe Menjou as Captain Geoffrey Roberts
Lili Damita as Alva Sangrito
Laurence Olivier as Lieutenant Ned Nichols
Erich von Stroheim as Colonel Victor Sangrito
Hugh Herbert as McNellis
Frederick Kerr as General Thomas Armstrong
Blanche Friderici as Lady Alice
Jean Del Val as Marquis Henri De Pezanne
Vadim Uraneff as Ivanoff