''The Primitive Lover'' is a 1922 American silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

produced by and starring

Constance Talmadge Constance Alice Talmadge (April 19, 1898 – November 23, 1973) was an American silent film star. She was the sister of actresses Norma and Natalie Talmadge. Early life Talmadge was born on April 19, 1898 in Brooklyn, New York, to poor p ...

and distributed by Associated First National (later

First National Pictures First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the count ...

). Sidney A. Franklin served as the director of the movie and Frances Marion wrote the scenario based on a play, ''The Divorcee'', by Edgar Selwyn. This film survives and has been released on DVD.The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: ''The Primitive Love''
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Plot

As described in a

film magazine Film periodicals combine discussion of individual films, genres and directors with in-depth considerations of the medium and the conditions of its production and reception. Their articles contrast with film reviewing in newspapers and magazines whi ...

, Phyllis Tomley (Talmadge), a romance-stricken young woman, has grown tired of her prosaic, practical husband Hector (Ford) and mourns the loss of the popular author Donald Wales (Harlan), who supposedly died in South America. Wales returns and rushes to Phyllis' arms, not knowing she has married Hector. Wales accuses Hector of taking advantage of his absence, and Phyllis rushes to get a divorce in Nevada. Hector follows and becomes acquainted with an attractive grass widow. Reading Wales' book ''The Primitive Lover'', Hector decides to put its methods into practice. He kidnaps Phyllis and Wales and in a cabin in the mountains Phyllis sees how helpless Wales is. From a Native American guide, Hector learns how to subdue an unruly wife, and he tries it on Phyllis with complete success. She apparently likes the rough treatment, and is happier still when the Nevada judge denies her requested divorce.

Cast

as Phyllis Tomley *

Harrison Ford Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. His films have grossed more than $5.4billion in North America and more than $9.3billion worldwide, making him the seventh-highest-grossing actor in North America. He is the recipient o ...

as Hector Tomley *

Kenneth Harlan Kenneth Daniel Harlan (July 26, 1895 – March 6, 1967) was an American actor of the silent film era, playing mostly romantic leads or adventurer types. Early life Harlan was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of George W. Harlan and ac ...

as Donald Wales * Joe Roberts as 'Roaring' Bill Rivers *Charles Pina as Indian Herder *

Chief John Big Tree Chief John Big Tree (born Isaac Johnny John, June 2, 1877 – July 6, 1967) was a member of the Seneca Nation and an actor who appeared in 59 films between 1915 and 1950. He was born in Buffalo, New York and died in Onondaga Indian Reserva ...

as Indian Chief * Mathilde Brundage as Mrs. Graham (credited as Mathilda Brundage) * George C. Pearce as Judge Henseedsd *Clyde Benson as Attorney

References

External links

* * 1922 films American silent feature films Films directed by Sidney Franklin American films based on plays First National Pictures films 1922 romantic drama films American romantic drama films American black-and-white films Films with screenplays by Frances Marion 1920s American films Silent romantic drama films Silent American drama films {{silent-romantic-drama-film-stub