Silent Film of the Month: Children of Divorce (1927)

 

Run Time: 70 minutes. Studio:  Paramount Pictures. Director: Frank Lloyd. Writers: Adela Rogers St. Johns, Hope Loring, Louis D. Lighton. Titles: Alfred Hustwick. Producers: B.P. Schulberg, E. Lloyd Sheldon. Main Cast: Clara Bow, Esther Ralston, Gary Cooper, Einar Hanson, Norman Trevor. Cinematographers: Norbert Brodine, Victor Milner. Editor: E. Lloyd Sheldon.

1927 was easily the greatest year of actress Clara Bow's career. With the delightful romantic comedy, IT (1927) and the first Oscar winner for Best Picture, Wings (1927), it is no surprise that a moralistic melodrama like Children of Divorce would not receive much attention from film buffs. However that does not mean this movie should be overlooked. Melodrama may be a genre that is looked down upon by many fans of old movies, but this does not mean the genre is inherently bad. In fact melodrama can be done quite well and this is a film where that is the case.

 Jean Waddington (Esther Ralston) and Ted Larrabee (Gary Cooper) grew up as friends since childhood. They were both children of divorced parents. The other children of divorce that they grew up with have cynical views on love and marriage, but the two of them have more positive opinions on romance. Ted meets another child of divorce, Kitty Flanders (Clara Bow). Because she was rejected by a man of high society (who would not marry her since she was a child of divorced parents) Kitty tricks Ted into marrying him, even though neither of them love each other and Kitty knows that Jean is in love with Ted. This marriage makes both of them incredibly unhappy. However considering their pasts they feel that divorce is not an option. Divorce is even more impossible due to being against Kitty's religion. 

One thing that makes this film stand out among the many morality play movies made during this time, it is that it surprisingly treats the subject with some complexity. The film shows just how harmful divorce can be and does not overlook the pain it has caused many of the main characters. However it also suggests that much of the heartaches and pain that arrive in the later part of the film, could have been avoided, if divorce was an option. It would be simple to have a message that not only say divorce is bad but also open condemns any one who gets one. This film is different because even though this is not a pro-divorce film, it also truly understands why a couple might feel it is necessary. This makes this message feel true and honest, while also much less didactic. 

This film also works because we have a real emotional connection to the characters. Right from the very start the movie sets it up so we sympathize with and care about, Ted and Jean. Some of this is done through setting up the circumstances that these characters are faced with, which gains some automatic sympathy. Some of it is done through how this movie shows us throughout the film that these are truly good-hearted people. They may do the wrong thing sometimes, but it is obvious their heart is in the right place. This movie also benefits from the trio who play the main three characters. These three really bring a charm, likability and humanity to these characters. Even Clara Bow's performance, helps us to care about her character, even though her actions are clearly very wrong at times. 

The runtime also works perfectly for this movie making it never feel either rushed or overlong. Instead, everything in this film feels like it has a purpose to be here and does its job of advancing the story.

While (as mentioned before) Clara Bow’s career was at its height when this movie was released, Gary Cooper’s career was just beginning. The same year as this film, he had had two minor roles in movies that also featured Clara Bow (It, Wings). Though neither of these roles had much screen time, Wings was the more significant in Cooper’s career. He has only one short scene in that movie, but it is an emotionally powerful scene and he played it to perfection. From this one brief scene, people began to take notice of the pure acting talent of this man. It is no wonder that with Children of Divorce he was able to get a major role. Also not surprisingly is that his pure acting talent and charisma once again shined though. Though his name may not have been a big box office name or even one most people might recognize, on screen he was already a pure movie star. Esther Ralston as the other lead character in this movie is also excellent. Though her name may not be as well remembered today as her two co-stars, she was a great actress with a very impressive filmography. Her other movies included Huckleberry Finn (1920), Oliver Twist (1922), Peter Pan (1924), A Kiss for Cinderella (1925), Betrayal (1929, also Gary Cooper's last silent (sadly believed to be lost)), Black Beauty (1933), Sadie McKee (1934) and The Marines Are Coming (1934).

 

Moving Picture World, 1927

This film's director, Frank Lloyd had a long and successful career that started in the 1910's and went into the 1950's. His filmography includes quite a few well respected and popular movies. These include Oliver Twist (1922), The Sea Hawk (1924), The Divine Lady (1928), Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), Under Two Flags (1936) and Blood on the Sun (1945). It has been said that legendary director Josef Von Sternberg ( Underworld (1927), The Last Command (1928), The Blue Angel (1930))  was called in to reshoot some scenes. 

WARNING: The Following Review from Moving Picture World contains spoilers for the end of the movie. Also if you have any trouble reading it, click on the page and use your touch screen to zoom in. 

Moving Picture World, 1927.

For anyone interested this film can be found on YouTube below.