The Affairs of Anatol (1921)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Writers:

Arthur Schnitzler (suggested by play of the same name)
Jeanie Macpherson (written by)

Release Date:

25 September 1921 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Socialite Anatol Spencer seeks a better relation that he has with his wife. He sets up the friend of...

Plot Keywords:

Photograph | Nurse | Nightclub | Suicide Attempt | Morality

Cast

Wallace Reid	...	Anatol Spencer
Gloria Swanson	...	Vivian Spencer (Anatol's wife)
Wanda Hawley	...	Emilie Dixon
Theodore Roberts	...	Gordon Bronson
Elliott Dexter	...	Max Runyon
Theodore Kosloff	...	Mr. Nazzer Singh (Hindu hypnotist)
Agnes Ayres	...	Annie Elliott
Monte Blue	...	Abner Elliott
Bebe Daniels	...	Satan Synne

Also Known As:

A Prodigal Knight (UK)
Five Kisses (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:117 min (1999 alternate version)

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Company:

Famous Players-Lasky Corporation

Trivia:

Arthur Schnitzler's original one-act play, "Anatol," was written in 1893. Harley Granville-Barker's English adaptation opened in New York City on 14 October 1912 with John Barrymore in the title role, and it lasted 72 performances.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the flashback sequence where Emilie is on a swing and two mirrors are set up to give repeated reflections of the action, the cameraman bending over his camera is visible a few times when the swing moves out of the way.

Quotes:

Anatol Spencer: Let's not kiss any more, dear, until after breakfast.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Don't Tell Everything (1921)

Entertaining though overlong social comedy

The plot and an analysis is elsewhere here well done with Ron Oliver's review. Suffice to say that the hand-tinted titles and the sepia-toned film itself, hinting at reds along with its browns are a real joy to behold. Seeing so many luminaries in one film is also a treat - Reid, Swanson, Moran, Daniels, Ayres.

However, the film could easily have been a half hour shorter with less wear and tear on the viewer and with virtually little loss in the morality tale or sense of the work. It's all enjoyable but it does drag a bit.

Grapevine and Kino both have excellent prints. Important for its director and his non-epic style as well as for the presence of Reid and Swanson, but far from a great or important film.