The New York herald., 1922-04-17
Ditrichstein Play
in Film Funnier
Than on the Stage
rs Matrimony q Failure"
Broadened in Treatment to
Provoke More Laughter.

RIyoLI-sTs Matrfmouy \ FailureiD
with r. Roy Barnes. Miss Lila Lee.
Miss Lois Wilson and Walter HERS.
A Paramount adaptation Of Leo Dit
rfchstefn's stage play, directed by
James Cruze. Scenario by Walter
Woods.
rs Matrimony a Failure?" isn't a
failure in itself. For one thing, It has
more persons in neglisee than any pic
ture this season. and that Is always
popular. This time 1t Is the men who
are scantiiy clad. SO the spectator knows
the picture is comic. When the women
are deshabille In a phosoplny the wise
fan knows it's melodrama-vhen the
men, it's farce. These are really the
two great divisions OF film drama.
In this case enough collars and shirts
are taken on by the mae participants
to keep laundry busy for week. The
hero himself gets In the swim and has
to cover up his lack OF trousers with an
automobile rug. SO that ne appears like
a Highland chieftain out ior wild time.
This, mind you, Is his honeymoon garb.
The styles certainly are growing ad-
vanced. He Is married n the conven-
tional trousers. however.
The second point or risible appeal In
the picture is its satire on so-callcd
welded bliss. always a popular subject
for lampooning since Adam first began
blaming 1t all on Eve. 1t ~ the unusual
turn given to the married state that
lifts the picture above the commonplace
q 49, ALL
phanes might have dallied with.
For half its course 1t is the conven-
tional chase after a couple of young
elopers-highly diverting. but still Moth
ing exceptional for the screen, while
the spectator has a lurking conviction
that their f1ivver. fleeing SO farcically.
Is going to round the corner suddenly
into a barrage OF custard pies. Then
comes the discovery that their parents,
and many other townsfoll, were mar
ried when the town clerk was on his
November vacation and his assistant
supposedly hadn't the power to issue
licenses. so that the couple who have
just been holding their silver wedding
anniversary had no right to do 50.
Are we downhearted?" say the hem
pecked and bedevilled husbands. mot
q bit!" And forthwith they leave home
to enjoy their newly found freedom
only to discover that they miss the
collar around their neck. They creep
hack and howl on the doormat to be
taken back by the wives they cast on.
And the picture ends piquantly and
humanity three months later with all the
couples just as quarrelsonle as before
and just as happy.
It's almost too human for the preced-
ing portions OF the picture. for Leo
Ditrichstein's vehicle has been consider
ably broadened in treatment, though the
resultant smiles have been broadened
too. The original play by Oscar Blu
menthal and Gustav Kadelburg held a
very engaging and novel idea. and even
though characters begin to pop. in and
out of doors presently and to do, things
in unison. you smother your memories
of French farce with laughter. 1t has
been built UP with several extremely
ludcrous touches, and the happy
thought OF having the hero always at
tended by a flock OF dogs. tails wagging
full tilt, and OF French chef who
ehases a turkey in the woods for hours
and hours, form a. truly magnificent
conception worthy Of Chaplin at his fur
ious best. n. Roy Barnes, Miss Lila
Lee and Miss Lois Wilson--both OF
whom look like very pretty sisters
Walter HERS. ZaSu Pitts, Arthur Hoyt
Tully Marshall and Miss Lillian Leigh
ton are only a few in a commendabIc
cast who make this picture jollier than
a collerc flag rush. eN