[AcceptVerbs(HttpVerbs.Post)]
public ActionResult Edit(Contact contactToEdit) {
    if (!ModelState.IsValid)
        return View();

    try {
        var originalContact = (from c in base._entities.ContactSet
                               where c.Id == contactToEdit.Id
                               select c).First();
        base._entities.ApplyPropertyChanges(originalContact.EntityKey.EntitySetName, contactToEdit);
        base._entities.SaveChanges();

        return RedirectToAction("Index");
    } catch(Exception e) {
        return View();
    }
}

System.Data.Objects.ObjectStateEntry x = base._entities.ObjectStateManager.GetObjectStateEntry(originalContact);