''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-g ...

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 Sidney Arnold Franklin (March 21, 1893 – May 18, 1972) was an American film director and producer. Franklin, like William C. deMille, specialized in adapting literary works or Broadway stage plays. His brother Chester Franklin (1889–1954) a ...

served as the director of the movie and Frances Marion wrote the scenario based on a play, ''The Divorcee'', by

Edgar Selwyn Edgar Selwyn (October 20, 1875 – February 13, 1944) was a prominent figure in American theatre and film in the first half of the 20th century. An actor, playwright, theatre director, director and theatrical producer, producer on Broadway ( ...

. 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 Mathilde Brundage (September 22, 1859 – May 6, 1939) was an American actress. She appeared in 87 films between 1914 and 1928. Also known as Bertha Brundage, she was born in Louisville, Kentucky. For much of her life, her family thwarted her de ...

as Mrs. Graham (credited as Mathilda Brundage) *

George C. Pearce George C. Pearce (June 26, 1865 – August 13, 1940) was an American stage and film actor, primarily of the silent film, silent era. He appeared in more than 130 films between 1914 and 1939. He was born in New York, New York, and died in Los ...

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