Lonely Wives

Maybe it is as not as good as I rated it, but I thoroughly enjoyed this little movie. It has lots of little saucy lines in the script and the main character, a defense attorney, delivers his with style and wit. His secretary is quite a little number as well.

I am sure this does not rank up there in any list of great early films, and I had never even heard of it, but I came across it on youtube today, posted in full, and completely enjoyed it.

When a client comes to call, the lawyer tells him he can only spare five minutes. The client flatters him and he responds "maybe 10 minutes." Not hysterical but the way he says it brought a laugh.

Overall, maybe a silly little film, but not a bad one, and fun to watch.

I chuckled more than once at the convoluted goings on in this farce filled with sexual innuendos. Edward Everett Horton is good in his double role as both a famous womanizing lawyer called Richard and a vaudeville impersonator called Felix. Felix wants to add Richard to his list of people he impersonates and would get permission only if he can fool Richard's mother-in-law, Maude Eburne, for a night. Meanwhile, Richard goes to meet Laura La Plante about getting a divorce from her husband, who happens to be Felix, although Richard doesn't know it. And Richard's wife, Esther Ralston, comes home from a vacation early and spends the night with Felix, disguised as Richard.

I was impressed with the smooth special effects when both Richard and Felix appear onscreen at the same time. It was done, of course, by a double exposure, but the timing of their conversations was perfect. As the befuddled butler, Spencer Charters overplays his role when he gets conflicting commands by both Felix and Richard and it was a bit tedious and predictable. The rest of the cast was fine. This is a good example of a pre-code sex farce.

The origins of the story was a 1912 German vaudeville act called "Tanzanwaltz" by Pordes Milo, Walter Schütt and Dr. Eric Urban. Although A.H. Woods is credited onscreen as the writer of the 1922 play on which this movie is based, contemporary reviews list him only as producer, with Walter De Leon and Mark Swan as the English language adaptors.

This film is based on the 1922 play, renamed "Who's Who" - a better title than "Lonely Wives" - that starred Charles Ruggles. While Ruggles would have been perfection as Smith/Zero, this film version is hilarious, due primarily to the inventive comedic performance of Horton. Also superb are the butler - a tippler who thinks he's going crazy - and Horton's guard dog mother-in-law. It's a pleasure to watch the adorable Ralston, La Plante, and Miller - 3 femme stars from the silent era who have featured roles - contribute so deftly to the merriment. As the plot thickens, the tempo speeds up so that the second half is a whirl of exits, entrances and misunderstandings. Surprisingly, but believably, all wrongs are righted in the end.

Even though this film from the Mill Creek comedy collection was a poor visual and audio transfer from a TV showing, it's amazing just how good this comedy is and how much I enjoyed it.

Mildly interesting comedy with Edward Everett Horton given an rare leading role. He even refers to a "bedroom farce" with one of the other women during the film.

This movie has been well reviewed by others. Only two other comments. Exactly how is it that Mr. Zero can not only can make himself up to be an exact physical double of Mr. Smith, but he can also imitate the same effete, nervous-Nellie personality of someone he has never before met? The film would have been more interesting, as in other films where someone is impersonating another, if he had a less exaggerated persona. Also, of note is the fact that the three main female leads, all more famous in the silent era than after-wards, all lived into their 90's.

While intending to be humorous, "Lonely Wives" is more laborious than anything else. It's bright spot is the beautiful, expressive Laura La Plante. Laura's scenes provide the most laughs, not surprising since of the cast, she is the actress who seems most comfortable with comedy.

Edward Everett Horton, while decent, is a bit unconvincing in the dual role, as the two characters he plays are completely alike. Often in a movie, one Horton character is irritating; here there are two, and at times it's downright excruciating!

I'd recommend seeing this movie only if you like the actors involved. It was released on DVD in 2000 from the Roan group in the worst transfer I ever saw from them. Risque elements in the film include seeing Patsy Ruth Miller, Horton's secretary, in the shower; Laura La Plante in a number of revealing outfits including her slip; and loads of sexual innuendo. All in all, I rate the film 6/10, predominantly because of Laura La Plante!