''Too Wise Wives'' is a 1921 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 ...

directed by

Lois Weber Florence Lois Weber (June 13, 1879 – November 13, 1939) was an American silent film actress, screenwriter, producer and director. She is identified in some historical references as among "the most important and prolific film directors in the e ...

, written by Lois Weber and

Marion Orth Marion Orth (December 5, 1900 – December 1, 1984) was an American screenwriter of the silent and sound eras of Hollywood. She was a frequent collaborator of director Lois Weber. Biography Orth began her career as a playwright and magazin ...

, and starring

Louis Calhern Carl Henry Vogt (February 19, 1895 – May 12, 1956), known professionally as Louis Calhern, was an American stage and screen actor. Well known to film noir fans for his role as the pivotal villain in 1950's '' The Asphalt Jungle'', he was ...

Claire Windsor Claire Windsor (born Clara Viola Cronk; April 14, 1892 – October 24, 1972) was an American film actress of the silent screen era. Early life Windsor was born Clara Viola Cronk (nicknamed "Ola") in 1892 in Marvin, Phillips County, Kansas to ...

Phillips Smalley Wendell Phillips Smalley (August 7, 1865 – May 2, 1939) was an American silent film director and actor. Biography Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was the grandson of Wendell Phillips; he was the son of George Washburn Smalley, a war corres ...

, and Mona Lisa. It was released on May 22, 1921, by Paramount Pictures. A copy of the film is in the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library ...

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 ...

, David Graham (Calhern) is the husband of Marie (Windsor), a wife whose great love leads her to too careful safeguarding of her husband's happiness. Sara Daily (Lisa), a former sweetheart, is the wife of John Daily (Smalley), a wealthy man whose love she retains by methods more subtle than sincere. Sara attempts to regain the adulation of David, but Marie intercepts her letter of invitation, precipitating a dramatic situation that does not develop into disaster only because Marie does not open the letter. As a result of the exposure of intentions, both wives are taught a new and better understanding of family obligations with an ending happy for all concerned.

Cast

as Mr. David Graham *

as Marie, Mrs. David Graham *

as Mr. John Daly *Mona Lisa as Sara, Mrs. John Daly

References

External links

* *
Film stills
at clairewindsor.weebly.com 1921 films 1920s English-language films Silent American drama films 1921 drama films Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Lois Weber American black-and-white films American silent feature films 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-drama-film-stub