Der Weiberfeind

Clara Bow's favorite among her own films is, when seen today, an agreeable if inconsequential silent comedy showing the 'It' Girl in familiar form, impulsively marrying an honest but unexciting mountain man (Ernest Torrance) and soon becoming bored with the great outdoors. Her inability to resist any sort of flirtation leads to a dalliance with prim misogynist Percy Marmont, in the hope that he might return her to civilization. But despite a promising set-up the level of humor is almost too modest, content to provide the occasional lighthearted chuckle instead of the more satisfying belly laugh. Bow's natural vitality and charm carry the film, and the impressive location photography was provided by a fledgling James Wong Howe.

I'd been wanting to see Mantrap for years and finally got the chance to see it recently. What a rare treat -- being able to see Clara Bow in one of her early hits, aided by A-list talent such as director Victor Fleming and cinematographer James Wong Howe, with a snappy script based on original material by Sinclair Lewis. If you're a fan of Miss Bow, it's worth it to seek out this title -- she really shines here! You will not be disappointed.

From the moment she enters the scene as Alverna, a bubbly doll of a manicurist with a severe flirting problem, she steals every scene she's in. Alverna falls for Joe, a simple backwoods "he-man" who quickly makes her his bride and snatches her away to his rustic cabin up north. Take Alverna's boredom and flirting addiction, add in Ralph, a New York divorce lawyer running away from city women ... and you can see where the story is headed. But it's oh so much fun to watch it unfold.

Clara's manic energy makes the movie (watch the scene in which she feeds Joe and Ralph chocolates and bops around the room like a sexy little Muppet), but the dialogue on the title cards keep the comedic energy up as well with clever quips. When Joe threatens to send Alvy away to his aunt in Minneapolis, she retorts: "Minneapple - sauce!" A great slice of mid-1920s vernacular, and this movie's full of them.

Unfortunately, B.P. Schulberg at Paramount threw Clara into practically any picture that came along, which means she racked up dozens of roles in mediocre, forgettable titles in her day. (The reason is clear: Clara had such -- well, "it" -- that she would have been watchable in a film about drying paint. So why seek out top material when your star makes you money even when the material is crap?) Mantrap is the kind of vehicle Clara should have always been given. An adorable little film, a wonderful showcase for Clara, and a silent I highly recommend.

What a delightful film - at its best when its comedy, a little weaker in the dramatic bits. Clara Bow is amazing - funny, sexy, completely liberated - she is a free spirit, having sex with whoever she wants to. Her two choices are a little dull though - country bumpkin Ernst Torrence or city lawyer Percy Marmont - both a little old for her, but hell, Hollywood has always put beautiful young women with stodgy older men (studio executive fantasy perhaps?).

It's a well directed film - Victor Fleming went on to direct "Gone with the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz", and photographed mostly on location by James Wong Howe - so it looks great. But it's Clara that holds it all together - and what an ending! Incidentally she isn't the mantrap - it's the name of the town in Canada where most of the action takes place.

Mantrap is a film about a country man who comes to the city and finds a beautiful, lively girl who wants a change in her life. She marries him on impulse and the two go to live in a tiny town called Mantrap. She soon becomes tired of rural living and sets her sights on a man from the city on vacation. When he proceeds to return home, the girl decides to follow him at any cost.

Clara Bow is great as the chronically flirtatious girl whose desires change from minute to minute. She is beautiful because of her exuberant personality on the screen and her expressive eyes. Her character is not incredibly sympathetic, but Bow manages to make us like her anyway.

One of the best parts of this film are the title cards. They are very witty and a joy to read.

The film was very well edited in order that the film flow quickly and also for a bit of artistry. The film is short so it is not a chore to watch. There is no scene in the film that should have been taken out.

Should have been the title of this take on 'Mantrap', the rather unsuccessful novel by Sinclair Lewis. After having seen the picture, Lewis apparently claimed that the film did not have much to do with the book, but pleasing it certainly is. That's mainly because of the presence of Clara Bow, who is simply irrepressible: She just needs to hint at flirting and men fall for her left, right and centre. That's not to say the other actors are no good. It is nice to see Eugene Pallette, already displaying his typical mannerisms (though less weighty than in the 1930s), and Ernest Torrence is doing well, too. Percy Marmont came initially across as rather too misogynist for my taste, but he improves in the course of the film. Still, having watched it I was asking myself 'so what?'. In sum: nice enough but far from great.