The Battle of the Sexes

This late (1928) silent from D.W. Griffith includes much of what we expect from the man: a highly moral tale, the action centered around a nuclear family, little humor but used effectively, careful plotting, and direction that elicits excellent acting with fine nuances of mood. It is actually considerably less preachy than Griffith's epic works (Intolerance, etc.), and despite the grandiose title, the story is simple: A golddigger and her beau set their sights on a rich man, happily married with two teenage children. The blonde vamp gets her prey, successfully enticing him from his family and driving his wife into a suicidal depression, but his canny daughter manages to rescue the situation. As with most fine movies, the story, though simple, is very well told. Some splendid insights into 1920s American mores and popular culture round out the package. Newly (2001) released on VHS by Kino.

This late jazz age comic morality tale directed by D. W. Griffith is surprisingly good--and its relative sophistication will be a surprise to those who are familiar with Griffith via the standard films such as "The Birth of a Nation," "Intolerance," "Way Down East," or even "Broken Blossoms." This film feels much more modern and far less overtly moralizing than those earlier films, though its 1920s "feel" is a part of its appeal for contemporary viewers.

The new DVD is well scored with period music cues that evoke a consistent, slightly melancholy mood as Jean Hersholt (better known as the villain of "Greed") is thrown into his midlife crisis by gold digger Phyllis Haver. His family is convincingly shown in turmoil--and eventually acts to rescue Hersholt's character from his folly. The film is well structured and altogether charming.

Seeing this movie in 2007 makes it twice as funny! I'd like to see the reaction of the wife in the 21st century! I know what my reaction would be. The middle-aged, overweight husband is really funny in thinking somebody would fall for him! I'm not sure what kind of recourse she would have had back then, but I would have told him that he'd better come to his senses or I would drag him through divorce court by his (thinning) hair and skinned him for everything he had and some. The wife is also about twice as big as the floozy, so I would probably have pounded her into the ground. But, that wouldn't been nearly as funny as the melodramatic way the family behaves. It's a good morality tale, however.

Gold-digging Phyllis Haver (as Marie Skinner) seduces New York real estate tycoon Jean Hersholt (as William Judson), breaking up his happy marriage. After Mr. Hersholt's wife falls into a deep depression, cute and perky daughter Sally O'Neil (as Ruth) takes a gun to shoot Ms. Haver, whom the family has seen out dancing with Hersholt. Then, Ms. O'Neil finds herself prey to handsome jazz hound Don Alvarado (as Babe Winsor), who also serves as Haver's lover.

This curious film was director D.W. Griffith's re-make of his much imitated 1914 hit (presently, a "lost" film). "The Battle of the Sexes" is curious because it's rather well done, and from a period when Mr. Griffith is recalled to have been in sad decline. The film received some good notices, was a box office success, and featured some innovative work from Griffith plus cameramen Karl Struss and Billy Bitzer. Watch for a "fight" scene with Haver hurling objects at Hersholt, then dejected wife Belle Bennett's perilous walk on the couple's rooftop.

Restored in 2000, the film boasts a lively new score, compiled by Rodney Sauer and Susan Hall. The small orchestral soundtrack is excellent, and can be enjoyed on its own; but, it doesn't really match the original. "The Battle of the Sexes" has the look of a film shown with synchronized sound effects (a silent/sound hybrid, favoring the former). The original music and effects are missed. It looks like a couple of scenes went with it - there had to have been an additional encounter between O'Neil and Mr. Alvarado, and a reason why he and Hersholt arrive at Haver's with the same new hat.

If only the waiter who returned with Hersholt's "Reserved" sign could as easily bring back missing film footage...

******** The Battle of the Sexes (10/12/28) D.W. Griffith ~ Jean Hersholt, Phyllis Haver, Sally O'Neil, Don Alvarado

"The Battle Of The Sexes" (1928) starts out as an airy comedy, but soon wallows into melodrama. Although it is "personally directed" by .D. W Griffith, perhaps the most important pioneer of the cinematic art in the 1910s, it has little to offer in terms of visual innovation. In fact, there is literally only ONE great camera shot: simulating a jump from a high-rise bulding. Other than that, the film is tame in its "risquè" content, and extremely predictable; several sequences run too long. Perhaps the one thing of note is how Griffth makes the daughter of the family (Sally O' Neil) the strong, feisty character while the son is completely unimportant. ** out of 4.