A House Divided

I watched this short as part of the TCM Women Film Pioneers series, and I was enchanted with its sprightliness, comedy, and the naturalness of the actors. While there were slapstick elements, the actors heeded Guy's credo "Be Natural!", and the arm-flailing and mugging is kept to a minimum. Lots of fun!

Farce comedy portraying the troubles of a married couple. A lawyer draws up articles of separation, which are shown on the screen duly signed. Then the husband and wife sign their names. There is a stenographer in this picture who will cause more rage than laughter; she chews gum and operates in a style peculiarly her own. The picture will make some fun in some houses. - The Moving Picture World, May 10, 1913

Daft comedy in which a couple who each mistakenly believe the other is having an affair agree to 'live separately together.' Much writing of notes follows. Leading man Fraunie "Who?" Fraunholz clearly believes that pulling faces and ruffling his hair is the height of humour.

A man gets sprayed with perfume by a salesman at work, and when he gets home, his wife thinks he's been with another women. He in turn finds some men's gloves and thinks she's been with another man. They look into a divorce, but decide to have a lawyer draw up a contract that will have them continue living together, communicating only through correspondence, but keeping up appearances their marriage is solid. This becomes particularly difficult when mother comes to visit, and they must also entertain guests. However, they do have a genuine love for each other, and it becomes increasingly difficult for them to remain mad at each other.

I think this could be considered an early screwball comedy, though it predates it as conventionally defined by twenty years.

Gerald and Diana Hutton are a young married couple who become very angry at each other when, based on the flimsiest evidence, they think the other is stepping out on them. Instead of their getting a divorce, their lawyer has them sign an agreement that they will "live separately together." They are not to talk to each other and communicate by writing notes. This is a difficult charade to keep up and they soon reconcile through shared amusement over the antics of their maid. They not only laugh at her but at the situation they got themselves into. The film is important to film history for being directed by Alice Guy who is now generally recognized as being the first woman film director. The lead actors are very engaging and the film moves along at a good pace.