Cecil B. DeMille (1881–1959) is known as the director of The Cheat (1915). Among the more than fifty silent films he made—before he moved on to grandiose Biblical and classical epics such as The Ten Commandments and Cleopatra—are several compelling domestic dramas about the problems of modern life. These include six racy bedroom comedies, reflecting the moral freedoms that emerged after World War I.
Five of these films starred Gloria Swanson, which made her a star. These films were known for their lavish costumes and luxurious sets, especially Swanson's dresses, which—although sometimes grotesque to modern viewers—were famous in their day. Gloria Swanson (1899–1983) is best known for her work in silent films. In the late 1910s and 1920s, she became one of the most successful and glamorous stars of the silent film era. Swanson's popularity was fueled by her dramatic roles, extravagant fashions, and turbulent personal life, which included multiple marriages and high-profile affairs. In the early 1930s, with the advent of sound films, her career began to wane, but she remained a compelling figure. Her remarkable comeback in Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard (1950), in which she played Norma Desmond, a silent film star who is pure faded glory, earned her an Oscar nomination and cemented her legacy.
DeMille's "marriage films" typically explore relationship dynamics, infidelity, and societal expectations surrounding marriage. Here are the six films often referred to as his "marriage films":
• Old Wives for New (1918): About a man who files for divorce from his unrefined wife to marry a younger, more refined woman.
• Don't Change Your Husband (1919): About a woman who divorces her slovenly husband to marry a more charming man, only to discover that her new marriage is far from perfect. This film is discussed further below.
• For Better, For Worse (1919): Following a couple as they endure the hardships of World War I, the film explores the idea of loyalty and commitment in difficult times.
• Male and Female (1919): Contrasts the societal roles of men and women, using a shipwreck scenario to explore class and gender dynamics and romantic complications.
• Why Change Your Wife? (1920): A man leaves his wife for a younger woman, but later realizes that his ex-wife, after reinventing herself, is the one he truly loves.
• The Affairs of Anatol (1921): A man named Anatol becomes disillusioned with his wife and embarks on a series of romantic adventures, eventually reconciling with her.
These films reflect DeMille's fascination with the institution of marriage as it evolved in the early 20th century. They combine drama, humor, and moral lessons, often presented in the exuberant visual style that is characteristic of DeMille's work.
But now for Don't Change Your Husband! Leila Porter (Gloria Swanson) is fed up with her busy businessman husband, James Denby Porter (Elliott Dexter). While she is romantic, he is downright prosaic. Porter is approaching middle age: his waistline is expanding, he smokes stinking cigars, and he keeps hiding behind his newspaper. Meanwhile, the youthful Leila (Swanson was 20 when she played the role, Dexter 49) yearns not for grand romantic gestures, but just a little attention. When he forgets their wedding anniversary and arrives late for dinner with the minister and his wife, he even tries to pass off the minister’s anniversary gift as his own, only to dive into a plate of scallions (giving his wife smelly kisses in the process). Romance is clearly not on Porter’s agenda, and it’s only a matter of time before the long-suffering Leila’s gaze wanders.
A third guest at the Porters’ anniversary dinner is the handsome womanizer Schuyler Van Sutphen (Lew Cody), a smooth charmer. His thin mustache, curling upward at the ends, is a clear warning that he is not a pure character (and his lustful glances at Leila confirm this), but the love-hungry Leila sees none of this. Sutphen soon lures her away from her husband. There’s a memorable scene, in true DeMille style, in which Cody seduces Swanson with promises of wealth, pleasure, and love. As he whispers these things to her, she fantasizes about the scenes. Pleasure is depicted by Swanson sitting on an elaborate swing and being pushed across a pool by several men. Wealth shows her in an extravagant headdress, haughtily throwing her head back while half-naked black servants offer her jewels and gems. Love is depicted as she and a man dressed in animal skins running through a jungle together. Pure nonsense, but very entertaining, and Swanson looks beautiful.
Eventually she gives in to temptation and leaves her husband for the new lover.
But after her second marriage, Leila discovers that Van Sutphen has even more irritating habits than her first husband. Moreover, he is having an affair with another woman, a catty lady named Toodles (played by Julia Faye), and has gambled away his fortune, forcing Leila to sell her diamonds to help him out of debt. Meanwhile, Porter pulls himself together: he hires a personal trainer and starts exercising, renews his wardrobe and shaves off his mustache. Soon he is the one who looks attractive, while Leila becomes increasingly disillusioned.
When Leila discovers that her first husband still loves her and would like her back, she decides to divorce again and remarries James. In 1919, divorce was a highly shocking and unusual phenomenon, and audiences would have been surprised by DeMille's nonchalant approach to this then-taboo subject.
Swanson looks radiant as ever and delivers a tremendously likeable performance, despite playing an adulterous wife. Dexter convincingly masters the transformation from dowdy clown to sleek, self-assured man. Yet it is Lew Cody's wily Schuyler Van Sutphen, nicknamed Bingo by his mistress Toodles, who provides the most amusing moments.
Don't Change Your Husband is a highly entertaining comedy about the foibles of love that never takes itself too seriously.
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My goal is to discover interesting movies that are not already on all the "greatest movie" lists.
All films discussed in this blog are public domain and can be watched via YouTube or Archive.org