Directed by Mal St. Clair and starring silent screen icon Pola Negri, A Woman of the World is a witty Jazz Age comedy-drama that sparkles with sophistication and social satire. Produced by Famous Players–Lasky and released by Paramount Pictures, the film captures Negri at the height of her Hollywood fame.
Negri plays Countess Elenora Natatorini, a cosmopolitan aristocrat who scandalizes a conservative Midwestern town with her independence and modern sensibilities. When she clashes—and falls—for the town’s morally upright district attorney, the film becomes a sharp, playful exploration of European glamour versus American provincialism.
Released before the creation of the Academy Awards, the film’s significance lies in its place within Paramount’s wave of “sophisticated comedies” and as a showcase for Negri, one of the first European superstars to conquer Hollywood. This special presentation will be paired with music selections from Pearl Jam, whose powerful, guitar-driven sound and introspective lyrics helped define the 1990s alternative rock movement—creating a dynamic, modern counterpoint to this stylish silent-era gem.