''Silk Husbands and Calico Wives'' is a 1920 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. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Alfred E. Green Alfred Edward Green (July 11, 1889 – September 4, 1960) was an American film director. Green entered film in 1912 as an actor for the Selig Polyscope Company. He became an assistant to director Colin Campbell. Biography Green was born on Jul ...

and starring House Peters. The film was produced by

Harry Garson Harry Garson (1882 – September 21, 1938) was an American film director. He directed 30 films between 1920 and 1934, and produced 11 films before that. He was born in Rochester, New York, and died in Los Angeles, California. Selected filmo ...

and based on an original by

Monte Katterjohn Monte Melchior Katterjohn (October 20, 1891 – September 8, 1949) was an American screenwriter. He wrote the screenplays for 68 films between 1912 and 1931. Biography Monte M. Katterjohn was born in Boonville, Indiana on October 20, 1891. ...

. The film is preserved at the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...

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 ...

, Deane Kendall (Peters), a country boy who has succeeded in being admitted to the

bar Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar ** Chocolate bar * Protein bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a laye ...

, finds few clients in the small village of Harmony. When there is a sensational case involving a man being tried for the murder of his wife's lover, Edith Beecher (Alden), court stenographer and Deane's sweetheart, manages to arrange for Deane to defend the husband. Deane's masterful defense frees the man and Deane wins a position with a city law firm. Deane marries Edith and they move to the city. Deane makes rapid progress but Edith remains a "home body." Society girl Georgia Wilson (Novak) determines to break up this family so she can have Deane for herself. She is aided in her plans by an architect who loves Edith. Through a trick, Edith is lured to the architect's apartment. Edith believes that Deane, with his strict views concerning a wife's conduct, will divorce Edith. However, a madly jealous discarded sweetheart of the architect informs Deane of the whole plot. Edith, thinking she has made her husband unhappy and fearing his wrath concerning her visit to the architect, has fled the city to return to her village home. Deane follows her and a reconciliation takes place.

Cast

* House Peters as Deane Kendall *

Mary Alden Mary Maguire Alden (June 18, 1883 – July 2, 1946) was an American motion picture and stage actress. She was one of the first Broadway actresses to work in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood. Life Alden was born in New York City on June 1 ...

as Edith Beecher Kendall *Mildred Reardon as Marcia Lawson *

Edward Kimball Edward Marshall Kimball (June 26, 1859 – January 4, 1938) was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1912 and 1936. Like many older actors of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, he enjoyed a varied stage ...

as Jerome Appleby *Sam Sothern as Alec Beecher *

Eva Novak Eva Barbara Novak (February 14, 1898 – April 17, 1988) was an American film actress, who was quite popular during the silent films, silent film era. Biography On February 14, 1898, Eva Barbara Novak was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Jos ...

as Georgia Wilson *

Vincent Serrano Vincent Serrano (February 17, 1866 – January 11, 1935) was an American actor in plays and silent films. Biography Serrano's best-known role was as Lieutenant Denton in the Augustus Thomas play ''Arizona'', which had its New York opening in S ...

as Charles Madison *

Rosita Marstini Rosita Marstini (September 19, 1887 – April 24, 1948) was a French dancer, stage personality, and silent and sound film actress from Nancy, France. Early life Rosita Marstini was born on September 19, 1887, in Nancy, France. She married ...

as Mrs. Westervelt (billed as Madame Marstini)

References

External links

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Lobby posters media
1920 films American silent feature films Films directed by Alfred E. Green Films based on short fiction 1920 drama films Silent American drama films American black-and-white films 1920s American films 1920s English-language films {{1920s-US-film-stub