I am still not 100% sure about this film. It certainly had an odd message, which has some real truth to it but which also would turn a few heads even today.
The film begins with a wealthy middle-aged man, Charles Murdock, lamenting that the spark has disappeared from his marriage. This thought comes to mind when he watches another couple who are obviously in love. In Murdock's own life, his wife has let herself go--getting fat and disheveled as well as showing little interest in him. In other words, now that she has him, she feels there is no need to try to please him. During this internal conversation, he thinks back to the good old days when his wife was so different and it's obvious he wants to feel this once again.
When he talks to his wife, he really doesn't act very constructively. Instead of telling her exactly what he dislikes about the marriage he announces he wants a divorce. Then, he goes off on a hunting trip for three weeks with his son. There, out in the woods, they meet a nice younger lady, Juliet Raeburn, and Charles is smitten with her. However, when he returns home, the wife announces she'll never let him go--as in those days, you could only get a divorce if both parties agreed to it.
Charles leaves the home for good and the wife still sits around doing nothing to try to reclaim him. In the meantime, the wife mistakenly thinks that Ms. Raeburn and her husband are having an affair and sets out to ruin sweet Juliet. When the whole thing blows up in her face, the wife agrees to the divorce and she finally decides to get in shape and do something with her life. Although it's too late for a reconciliation, both of them go on to better relationships--proving divorce is really cool and a wonderful thing--a message many here in the 21st century would be surprised to see! The story is a bit simplistic and tends to give what I think is an unhealthy view of divorce (okay, call me a traditionalist). However, the idea of a husband or wife no longer "courting" their mate and not caring about this is a great topic for a film--one that is rarely ever talked about in films. So, on one hand this Cecil B. DeMille film is giving wonderful relationship advice (don't take your lover for granted) but the idea that if your wife or husband lets themselves go that it's best to find a young hottie seems a bit...simplistic to say the least. Oh well, it's only a film...and a pretty good one at that. For 1918, excellent acting, direction and an unusual and interesting story.
By the way, this film is somewhat reminiscent of the film DODSWORTH--a wonderful talking picture from 1936. However, in this later film, the husband really tried very hard to improve his marriage and was, in essence, pushed out of the relationship by a self-involved wife. There are lots of parallels as well--see both films and you'll see what I mean (especially since DODSWORTH is one of the very best films of the 1930s--an underrated classic).
The film begins with a wealthy middle-aged man, Charles Murdock, lamenting that the spark has disappeared from his marriage. This thought comes to mind when he watches another couple who are obviously in love. In Murdock's own life, his wife has let herself go--getting fat and disheveled as well as showing little interest in him. In other words, now that she has him, she feels there is no need to try to please him. During this internal conversation, he thinks back to the good old days when his wife was so different and it's obvious he wants to feel this once again.
When he talks to his wife, he really doesn't act very constructively. Instead of telling her exactly what he dislikes about the marriage he announces he wants a divorce. Then, he goes off on a hunting trip for three weeks with his son. There, out in the woods, they meet a nice younger lady, Juliet Raeburn, and Charles is smitten with her. However, when he returns home, the wife announces she'll never let him go--as in those days, you could only get a divorce if both parties agreed to it.
Charles leaves the home for good and the wife still sits around doing nothing to try to reclaim him. In the meantime, the wife mistakenly thinks that Ms. Raeburn and her husband are having an affair and sets out to ruin sweet Juliet. When the whole thing blows up in her face, the wife agrees to the divorce and she finally decides to get in shape and do something with her life. Although it's too late for a reconciliation, both of them go on to better relationships--proving divorce is really cool and a wonderful thing--a message many here in the 21st century would be surprised to see! The story is a bit simplistic and tends to give what I think is an unhealthy view of divorce (okay, call me a traditionalist). However, the idea of a husband or wife no longer "courting" their mate and not caring about this is a great topic for a film--one that is rarely ever talked about in films. So, on one hand this Cecil B. DeMille film is giving wonderful relationship advice (don't take your lover for granted) but the idea that if your wife or husband lets themselves go that it's best to find a young hottie seems a bit...simplistic to say the least. Oh well, it's only a film...and a pretty good one at that. For 1918, excellent acting, direction and an unusual and interesting story.
By the way, this film is somewhat reminiscent of the film DODSWORTH--a wonderful talking picture from 1936. However, in this later film, the husband really tried very hard to improve his marriage and was, in essence, pushed out of the relationship by a self-involved wife. There are lots of parallels as well--see both films and you'll see what I mean (especially since DODSWORTH is one of the very best films of the 1930s--an underrated classic).