''Half a Bride'' is a 1928 American silent

romance film Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...

directed by

Gregory La Cava Gregory La Cava (March 10, 1892 – March 1, 1952) was an American film director of Italian descent best known for his films of the 1930s, including ''My Man Godfrey'' and ''Stage Door'', which earned him nominations for Academy Award for Best ...

and starring

Esther Ralston Esther Ralston (born Esther Louise Worth, September 17, 1902 – January 14, 1994) was an iconic American silent film star. Her most prominent sound picture was '' To the Last Man'' in 1933. Early life and career Ralston was born Esther Loui ...

Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, quiet screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, ...

, and William Worthington. Based on the short story "White Hands" by Arthur Stringer, and written by

Doris Anderson Doris Hilda Anderson, (November 10, 1921 – March 2, 2007) was a Canadian author, journalist and women's rights activist. She is best known as the editor of the women's magazine '' Chatelaine'', mixing traditional content (recipes, décor) ...

, Percy Heath, and Julian Johnson, the film is about an impulsive thrill-seeking heiress who announces to her father that she entered into a "companionate marriage" with one of her party friends. After her father abducts her aboard his private yacht and sails away, she escapes in a small boat and after a storm ends up on a desert island along with the yacht's young captain who followed after her. ''Half a Bride'' was released on June 16, 1928 by Paramount Pictures in the United States. ''Half a Bride'' received generally good reviews upon its theatrical release, with one reviewer called it "a clever, entertaining picture".

Plot

Patience Winslow (

) is an impulsive thrill-seeking heiress who spends most of her time going from one wild party to another. One night after attending several parties, she smashes her car and spends the rest of the night in jail. The following morning, she comes home and announces to her father ( William Worthington) that she just entered into a trial marriage with one of her party companions, a much older man. Concerned about her well-being, her father abducts her aboard his private yacht and sets sail in order to prevent the ill-advised marriage. Angered by her father's actions and determined to escape, Patience arranges for a motor boat to be lowered to the water and she soon takes off across the waves. Captain Edmunds (

), the young skipper of the yacht, follows after her in another motor boat. After catching up to her, Edmunds makes a daring leap into her boat. Just then a storm engulfs the small boat and the helpless couple end up swept ashore and marooned on a desert island in the Pacific. Filled with fashionable notions she learned from popular radio dramas, Patience insists that she and Edmunds enter into a "companionate marriage" (in name only) and live together as a couple, but without the sexual entanglements. Edmunds agrees, and for three months they live out this "civilized" arrangement. Over time, however, Patience grows to love the young captain who in turn develops feelings for her. About to declare his love for her, Edmunds reconsiders because of her past actions, despite her insistence that she is no longer the spoiled thrill-seeker she once was. One day they spot a ship which comes to rescue them. After returning to civilization, the young captain wished Patience well, now that she is back among her wealthy friends. Later that night, however, as Edmunds prepares to set sail, Patience returns to him with a minister in tow. Realizing that Patience has changed and that her feelings for him are sincere, Edmunds and Patience are married.Dickens, p. 52.

Cast

as Patience Winslow *

as Captain Edmunds * William Worthington as Mr. Winslow *

Freeman Wood Freeman Wood (July 1, 1896 – February 15, 1956) was an American character actor of the silent and sound film eras. Biography Born in 1896 in Denver, Colorado, Wood would appear in his first film in 1919, ''The Adventure Shop''. Early in h ...

as Jed Sessions *

Mary Doran Mary Doran (September 8, 1910 – September 6, 1995) was an American actress. She appeared in more than 80 films from 1927 to 1944. Biography Doran was born in New York and attended public schools there before graduating and going to Colum ...

as Betty Brewster * Guy Oliver as Chief Engineer *

Ray Gallagher Ray Gallagher (April 17, 1885 – March 6, 1953) was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 90 films between 1912 and 1936. He appeared in many productions at Universal.''Pictorial History of the Silent Screen'' p.91 c. ...

as Second Engineer

Production

''Half a Bride'' is based on the short story "White Hands" by Arthur Stringer, first published in ''

The Saturday Evening Post ''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine, currently published six times a year. It was issued weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely ...

'' on July 30, 1927 (volume 200).

Preservation status

The Silent Era website lists the film's survival status as "unknown". Film historian Arne Andersen places it on his list of

lost film A lost film is a feature Feature may refer to: Computing * Feature (CAD), could be a hole, pocket, or notch * Feature (computer vision), could be an edge, corner or blob * Feature (software design) is an intentional distinguishing char ...

s. The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog:''..Half a Bride''
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Critical reception

''The Evening Review'' applauded Ralston's performance in the film, oberseving, "When Esther Ralston gives herself to interpreting a part, the audience is assured of a faithful and absorbing Interpretation." The ''Rochester Evening Journal'' called the film "a sure cure for jaded movie appetites". The ''Evening Independent'' called it "a clever, entertaining picture". The ''San Jose News'' described the film as "a frank and entertaining treatment of the now important marriage problem ... gives to the screen one of the greatest epics of all times". ''Photoplay'' magazine called the film "good entertainment".Dickens, p. 53. ''Motion Picture'' magazine wrote, "Gary Cooper is at his best and Esther Ralston is particularly winning." Less impressed with the film, the ''Montreal Gazette'' described ''Half a Bride'' as "a rather familiar story told with none too great originality and lacking almost entirely the element of suspense."

References

;Notes ;Bibliography *

External links

* *
The AFI Catalog of Feature Films
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Half A Bride 1928 films American silent feature films Films based on short fiction Films directed by Gregory La Cava Paramount Pictures films Films set on uninhabited islands American black-and-white films Lost American films 1928 romantic comedy films American romantic comedy films 1920s American films Silent romantic comedy films Silent American comedy films