A House Divided

This early film is difficult to assess. On the one hand, it's a wonderful historical document as it's one of the first sit-com or rom-coms ever made. It introduces situations which would become more familiar in subsequent decades. But, on the other, the style of the film is crude and antiquated--even when it debuted.

The Huttons are a stupid couple. And, through a series of misunderstandings they come to suspect (incorrectly) that their spouse is being unfaithful. When they go to their lawyer, he suggests they 'live together separately'. In other words, stay together in the same home but have nothing to do with each other! This brilliant plan seems plausible at first but naturally by the end the couple realizes their lawyer is a complete idiot and they reconcile.

The film has a great plot. The problem is that instead of playing as a fluid narrative, it's shown in vignette form--with intertitle cards over-explaining what is going to happen. As a result, it comes off as preachy and forced, not at all natural. This really blunts the comedic value in the film.

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.

A House Divided (1913)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

A young husband and wife thinks the other is cheating on them so their lawyer makes them agree to live in the same house, appear to be "together" but in reality they are separated. The only way the two of them can communicate is by writing letters and soon they start to see something in each other that they never noticed. A HOUSE DIVIDED has a pretty simple and at times stupid story but director Alice Guy-Blache makes it worth. I'm really not sure how because it's unclear why a lawyer would recommend this considering he would make more money off of them getting a divorce but I guess that's putting too much thought into it. For the most part this is a pretty simple tale and it kept me entertained throughout thanks in large part to the director. Guy-Blache manages to make the film move at a very good pace and it never got boring, which is always a good thing. Both Fraunie Fraunholz and Marian Swayne are good in their roles as the husband and wife. The two manage to work quite well together and come across as a real couple.

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

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!