A free-spirited girl is caught between her love for her husband and her attraction to a handsome adventurer.A free-spirited girl is caught between her love for her husband and her attraction to a handsome adventurer.A free-spirited girl is caught between her love for her husband and her attraction to a handsome adventurer.
- Awards
- 1 win
George C. Pearce
- Judge Henseed
- (as George Pierce)
Mathilde Brundage
- Mrs. Graham
- (as Mrs.Brundage)
Clyde Benson
- Attorney
- (uncredited)
Snitz Edwards
- Little Husband
- (uncredited)
George Marion
- Court Member
- (uncredited)
Charles Pina
- Indian Herder
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- ConnectionsReferenced in Cult Connections: The Original Harrison Ford (2024)
Featured review
Well-made, engaging, and mostly satisfying
It's a marvel to turn back time and watch silent films. For lack of sound or any verbal expression, actors overemphasize their actions and body language, and even makeup seems geared toward more distinguishably exhibiting facial expressions. A moment of drama can simultaneously carry an inherent measure of comedy owing to exaggerated performances.
Even with these limitations and peculiarities, silent pictures can be just as enthralling as modern talkies, and 'The primitive lover' is quite entertaining - with caveats.
Key plot points are cemented in periodic title cards, especially dialogue. The central conflict of the narrative comes to light rather quickly, allowing for the cast to thrive in realizing characters' emotions and interactions, and for great drama to unfold. Star Constance Talmadge is particularly marvelous as Phyllis, a woman dreaming of romance and torn atwain by circumstances. Talmadge above all, in every nuance of expression, very capably embodies the protagonist's spectrum of emotions, and it's a joy to watch her practice her craft. This isn't to count out any of her co-stars, though - it takes a certain je ne sais quoi to believably inhabit a character with visuals alone, and everyone here excels.
Even in grainy black and white, the set decoration is swell, and the costume design fetching. From writing and direction to general production design, the film-makers arrange some great scenes, and capture some fine shots on camera. Then, too, director Sidney Franklin has guided his cast into some grand performances. While true broadly of silent films, every moment is carefully calculated to impart humor, tension, romance, or any mood that's called for - with only what we can see. The unquestionable skills behind film production so long ago, despite or even because of the technical constraints, are deeply commendable.
I did say there were some caveats. It's a bit cliché to say something is "a product of its time," because there's never an excuse for some things - attitudes that are outdated in 2021 were equally antiquated 100 years ago. 'The primitive lover' includes some garrulous instances of racism, sexism, and stereotypes. There's a strong theme of manipulation that makes the whole plot a distasteful flavor. Women are described like pets, with motivations obviously beyond all understanding. Even protagonist Phyllis is portrayed as flaky, fickle, and flighty - petulant, with her head in the clouds, and possessing no meaningful agency. Yes, this was made in 1922. That doesn't mean it gets a free pass.
Still, recognizing the blemishes of the writing, the movie is highly enjoyable all the same. The narrative is solid, if slightly dubious, the acting is on point, and the technical considerations are noteworthy. This is entertainment with an asterisk, owing to the depiction of some anachronous notions, but even bearing that in mind, 'The primitive lover' is worth checking out for anyone open to the wealth of cinema of the silent era.
Even with these limitations and peculiarities, silent pictures can be just as enthralling as modern talkies, and 'The primitive lover' is quite entertaining - with caveats.
Key plot points are cemented in periodic title cards, especially dialogue. The central conflict of the narrative comes to light rather quickly, allowing for the cast to thrive in realizing characters' emotions and interactions, and for great drama to unfold. Star Constance Talmadge is particularly marvelous as Phyllis, a woman dreaming of romance and torn atwain by circumstances. Talmadge above all, in every nuance of expression, very capably embodies the protagonist's spectrum of emotions, and it's a joy to watch her practice her craft. This isn't to count out any of her co-stars, though - it takes a certain je ne sais quoi to believably inhabit a character with visuals alone, and everyone here excels.
Even in grainy black and white, the set decoration is swell, and the costume design fetching. From writing and direction to general production design, the film-makers arrange some great scenes, and capture some fine shots on camera. Then, too, director Sidney Franklin has guided his cast into some grand performances. While true broadly of silent films, every moment is carefully calculated to impart humor, tension, romance, or any mood that's called for - with only what we can see. The unquestionable skills behind film production so long ago, despite or even because of the technical constraints, are deeply commendable.
I did say there were some caveats. It's a bit cliché to say something is "a product of its time," because there's never an excuse for some things - attitudes that are outdated in 2021 were equally antiquated 100 years ago. 'The primitive lover' includes some garrulous instances of racism, sexism, and stereotypes. There's a strong theme of manipulation that makes the whole plot a distasteful flavor. Women are described like pets, with motivations obviously beyond all understanding. Even protagonist Phyllis is portrayed as flaky, fickle, and flighty - petulant, with her head in the clouds, and possessing no meaningful agency. Yes, this was made in 1922. That doesn't mean it gets a free pass.
Still, recognizing the blemishes of the writing, the movie is highly enjoyable all the same. The narrative is solid, if slightly dubious, the acting is on point, and the technical considerations are noteworthy. This is entertainment with an asterisk, owing to the depiction of some anachronous notions, but even bearing that in mind, 'The primitive lover' is worth checking out for anyone open to the wealth of cinema of the silent era.
helpful•00
- I_Ailurophile
- Aug 3, 2021
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Kärlek måste man ha
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 8 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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