If you only know of Gloria Swanson from "Sunset Boulevard" (as I did) you are in for a big surprise. This film was one in a series of sophisticated comedies that Cecil B. DeMille directed with Gloria Swanson as the star.
Robert (Thomas Meighan) and Elizabeth (Swanson) are in a rut. Beth has turned into a nagging shrew - criticising his love of his dog, his taste in music and his choice of "inappropriate" gifts for her. Robert is sick of being constantly improved and reproved and after a chance encounter at a dress shop with Sally (Bebe Daniels), a child- hood friend, he quarrels with Beth and together he and his trusty dog leave home.
He marries Sally and once again learns that "wives will be wives". After the divorce Beth over-hears a conversation in which she is the object of pity. She decides to ditch her modest ways - "I want it sleeveless, backless, transparent, indecent - go the limit" she tells the dressmaker. The flowery, often witty titles were fun to read. Robert and Sally have a weekend away at Atlantic Beach and (unbeknownst to them) stay at the same resort as Beth, who is trying out her new look. The resort is very grand and the pool, along with the women in their very daring bathing suits, must have been the last word in decadence. (I thought it was interesting how women put the perfume on their lips!!!!)
It takes a slip on a banana skin to bring him to his senses (sort of). There is a hilarious cat fight between Beth and Sally as Robert lies hovering between life and death. Also a fight between Toodles (Sally's cat) and Robert's dog - dog being the male finds himself in the dog house yet again.
The very handsome William Boyd has a "blink and you'll miss him" part as a naval officer at the resort dancing attendance on Julia Faye, in a very exotic bathing suit. She would have been far better as the "other woman" than Bebe Daniels. I love Bebe Daniels but she didn't stand out for me, was not "vampy" enough.
Costume design was by Natasha Rambova - the woman who almost bought Rudolph Valentino's career to a stand still.
Robert (Thomas Meighan) and Elizabeth (Swanson) are in a rut. Beth has turned into a nagging shrew - criticising his love of his dog, his taste in music and his choice of "inappropriate" gifts for her. Robert is sick of being constantly improved and reproved and after a chance encounter at a dress shop with Sally (Bebe Daniels), a child- hood friend, he quarrels with Beth and together he and his trusty dog leave home.
He marries Sally and once again learns that "wives will be wives". After the divorce Beth over-hears a conversation in which she is the object of pity. She decides to ditch her modest ways - "I want it sleeveless, backless, transparent, indecent - go the limit" she tells the dressmaker. The flowery, often witty titles were fun to read. Robert and Sally have a weekend away at Atlantic Beach and (unbeknownst to them) stay at the same resort as Beth, who is trying out her new look. The resort is very grand and the pool, along with the women in their very daring bathing suits, must have been the last word in decadence. (I thought it was interesting how women put the perfume on their lips!!!!)
It takes a slip on a banana skin to bring him to his senses (sort of). There is a hilarious cat fight between Beth and Sally as Robert lies hovering between life and death. Also a fight between Toodles (Sally's cat) and Robert's dog - dog being the male finds himself in the dog house yet again.
The very handsome William Boyd has a "blink and you'll miss him" part as a naval officer at the resort dancing attendance on Julia Faye, in a very exotic bathing suit. She would have been far better as the "other woman" than Bebe Daniels. I love Bebe Daniels but she didn't stand out for me, was not "vampy" enough.
Costume design was by Natasha Rambova - the woman who almost bought Rudolph Valentino's career to a stand still.