The Primitive Lover
About The Primitive Lover
Phyllis Tomley is bored with her practical husband Hector and still mourns the author Donald Wales, who was reported dead in South America. Wales comes back, finds her married, and she heads to Nevada for a divorce. Hector reads Wales's book The Primitive Lover, kidnaps both of them to a mountain cabin, and copies a Native American guide's method for handling a wife. Phyllis sees Wales helpless in the cabin. The Nevada judge refuses the divorce.
Cast & crew
More about The Primitive Lover
Constance Talmadge produced and starred. Sidney Franklin directed, and Frances Marion adapted Edgar Selwyn's play The Divorcee. David Abel photographed the seven-reel film. Associated First National released it on May 1, 1922.
Themes
Making
Talmadge's own company made the picture and First National distributed it. Marion turned Selwyn's divorce play into a cabin comedy with a book-inside-the-film.
Look
David Abel photographed the seven reels, including the mountain-cabin sequence.
Preservation
A print survives, and the film has been issued on DVD.
Notes
- Harrison Ford, the silent-era actor, plays Hector Tomley. Kenneth Harlan plays Donald Wales.
- Joe Roberts plays “Roaring” Bill Rivers, and Chief John Big Tree plays an Indian chief.
- George C. Pearce plays the Nevada judge.
- The film survives and has been released on DVD.
Scenes
- Wales returns from South America and finds Phyllis married to Hector.
- Hector kidnaps Phyllis and Wales to the cabin after reading The Primitive Lover.
- The Nevada judge denies the divorce.
Influenced by
- Edgar Selwyn's play The Divorcee
