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Remodeling Her Husband

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Remodeling Her Husband
Swedish theatrical release poster
Directed byLillian Gish
Written by
Starring
CinematographyGeorge W. Hill
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • June 13, 1920 (1920-06-13) (U.S.)
Running time
5 reels (4,844 feet)
CountryU.S.
LanguageSilent (English intertitles)
Budget$50,000[1]
Box officeover $460,000[1]
Newspaper ad

Remodeling Her Husband is a 1920 American silent comedy film that marked the only time Lillian Gish directed a film.

D. W. Griffith is stated in some sources as co-director or perhaps had limited input as the production was filmed at his Mamaroneck, New York production facilities. Lillian Gish wrote the story and scenario incognito as Dorothy Elizabeth Carter with Algonquin Round Table writer Dorothy Parker supplying the intertitles. Thus the movie was nearly an all-woman produced movie with the exception of the cameraman.

The film, currently classified as lost, stars Lillian's sister Dorothy Gish and Dorothy's husband at the time James Rennie.[2] George W. Hill, who is the cinematographer, later directed classic films at MGM like Tell It to the Marines (1926) and The Big House (1930).

Plot

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Janie Wakefield (Dorothy Gish) marries Jack Valentine (James Rennie), who frequently flirts with other women. Although Jack promises to reform, his attraction to other women continues to cause problems. Early in their marriage, he assists a stylish woman (Barden Daube) with her suitcase and takes her home. Janie, passing by on a bus, sees the interaction and becomes suspicious. Though Jack manages to explain himself, the incident strains their relationship.

Later, Jack becomes involved with a flirtatious manicurist, further testing Janie's patience. She leaves him and returns to live with her parents, Mrs. Wakefield (Marie Burke) and Mr. Wakefield (Downing Clarke), and begins working in her father's office. There, she proves herself capable and begins building a career.

Jack, regretful and still in love with Janie, pleads for forgiveness. She eventually agrees to reconcile but asserts her independence. When Jack tries to reassert control, she firmly has him removed from her office. Threatening suicide in a final act of desperation, Jack finally makes Janie reconsider. She determines to make the relationship work and succeeds in reforming his behavior. Jack becomes a faithful husband, and they reconcile.[3][4]

Cast

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Review

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Variety published the following review of the film on June 11, 1920 (pp. 33–34):

This feature will be liked by film fans but not particularly because of the story or the picturization of it, but through the exquisite comedy Dorothy Gish offers.

The picture seems to be a real Gish family affair, with Dorothy starring and Lillian directing. Much is made of the latter in a title leader, which sets forth that this day is one where woman is asserting herself in all the arts, and therefore it is time she undertook the direction of pictures.

But Lillian does not qualify as a particularly strong directress in this production. The story may have had something to do with that. It is not a world beater but with the action that Dorothy supplies it gets by with laughs.

James Rennie, who plays opposite the star, is the only member of the supporting cast who seems to have more than a 'bit' to do. The others while acceptable fail to show often enough to get a line on them. It is a picture that is Dorothy Gish, hook, line and sinker, and it would sink if it weren't for her.[5]

Preservation status

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Remodeling Her Husband is now considered to be a lost film.[6][2][7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Foster, Audrey (1995). Women Film Directors: An International Bio-critical Dictionary. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 143. ISBN 0313289727. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  2. ^ a b The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1911–1920. The American Film Institute. 1988.
  3. ^ "Remodeling Her Husband: Moth-Eaten Story Lifted by Dorothy Gish's Inimitable Humor". Motion Picture News. Vol. 21, no. 26. New York City: Motion Picture News, Inc. June 19, 1920. p. 5011. Retrieved June 25, 2014. This is a story by Dorothy Elizabeth Carter and is directed by Lillian Gish. It presents the star in the role of a vivacious young girl who marries a man with the idea of reforming him. But her husband won't stay reformed. His weakness for a pretty face gets him into repeated difficulties, until finally Janie leaves him tearfully and proceeds to become a power in the business world. Later, however, she decides that hubby is worthwhile reforming and, by a clever scheme, transforms him into a most submissive and repentant husband.
  4. ^ "Reviews: Remodeling Her Husband". Exhibitors Herald. Vol. 10, no. 26. New York City: Exhibitors Herald Company. June 26, 1920. p. 86. Janie Wakefield marries Jack Valentine, a confirmed flirt. He promises to reform, and all goes well until he encounters a pretty lady with a heavy suitcase. He helps her into a taxi and takes her home. His wife sees him as she rides by on a bus. That affair gets him in wrong, but he manages to square himself. Then a good-looking manicure girl comes into his life, and again Jack falls. And once more Janie is on the job at the psychological moment. This time she leaves him in haste and goes home to mother. Janie tries to forget Jack by taking a job in her father's office. Jack, who loves her sincerely, is frantic with remorse and despair. He calls upon her to beg forgiveness and, since she still loves him, Janie yields. But when he attempts to lay the law down to her, she presses a button on her desk and he finds himself being escorted from the room. He threatens suicide. This is too much for Janie. She comes back to him and they live happily ever after.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ "Review: Remodeling Her Husband". Variety. June 11, 1920.
  6. ^ "Progressive Silent Film List: Remodelling Her Husband". Silent Era. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  7. ^ "Remodeling Her Husband at TheGreatStars.com; Lost Films Wanted". Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
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