Dorian's Divorce (1916): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1916, Dorian's Divorce is a drama film directed by O.A.C. Lund. “Showing the Odd Way Devised to Secure a Divorce and Its Interruption by Fate.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Wealthy clubman Richard Dorian is a lighthearted soul who can't seem to take anything seriously, including his wife. Even when they decide to divorce, he meets the lawyers with a smile. When one of the attorneys suggests a charge of brutality, Mrs. Dorian points out that it is ludicrous. Dorian offers to have a party on his yacht, during which he will try very hard to be brutal to her to give her grounds for the divorce. Among the partygoers are Mrs. Dorian's guardian and Morgan, a smuggler who is buying the yacht. The guardian, who has squandered Mrs. Dorian's money on the stock market, kills himself. Dorian thinks that his wife killed him, gallantly takes the blame himself, and dives overboard. He becomes a tramp and is shanghaied by Morgan's men to become a stoker on his former yacht. Dorian's steward, Puck, is still onboard, and he tells Dorian that the guardian committed suicide.

Who’s in it. Dorian's Divorce stars Lionel Barrymore as Richard Dorian, Grace Valentine as Mrs. Dorian, Edgar L. Davenport as Theodore Sanders and William B. Davidson as Henry Morgan (as William Davidson), among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Dorian's Divorce page.

If you liked it. Fans of Dorian's Divorce tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.