Silent Film Star: Constance Talmadge.

In a letter to her sister Norma Talmadge, who was trying to keep her career going in talkies after Constance herself had retired "Quit pressing your luck, baby. The critics can't knock those trust funds Mama set up for us".

Please click to read Silents " Her Sister from Pairs" movie review.

“Her Sister from Paris” (1925)

“Her Sister from Paris” (1925) is a silent romantic comedy starring Constance Talmadge, Ronald Colman and George K. Arthur. Directed by Sidney Franklin, this film allowed Constance Talmadge to demonstrate her comic range in dual roles.

The story begins with an Austrian couple, Joseph Weyringer, played by Ronald Colman, and his wife, Helen, played by Constance Talmadge, having serious problems in their relationship. Helen feels that her husband doesn’t appreciate her. Upset with how the two keep arguing, Helen tells Joseph that she will be staying with her mother and leaves their home. Joseph’s friend, Robert, played by George K. Arthur, encourages him to have some fun while Helen is away. When both men discover a photo of Helen’s twin sister, they are both shocked that she is a professional dancer living in Paris and will be performing in Vienna. Joseph points out to Robert that Helen’s twin sister, who is also known as Madame La Perry, is quite attractive and both men decide to have fun by watching La Perry perform live. Meanwhile, Helen goes to see her sister in her dressing room and tells her about her marital problems. La Perry thinks her sister needs to get away from her old fashioned style and gives her a bobbed haircut. After La Perry’s performance, Helen is happy about how the audience supported her sister. However, she is upset to see Joseph in the audience having fun so soon after leaving him. Back in the dressing room, Helen is reduced to tears and believes that Joseph is no longer interested in her. La Perry comes up with an idea to teach Joseph a lesson by having Helen pretend to be her twin sister. Helen immediately starts playing the part of her twin sister. Will Helen find out if her husband loves her or La Perry?
















“Her Sister from Paris” (1925) reunited Constance Talmadge with the “Her Night of Romance” (1924) team: Hans Kraly wrote the story, Sidney Franklin directed and Ronald Colman costarred. The plot is not unfamiliar; it was made in 1934 as “Moulin Rouge” with Constance Bennett and in 1941 as “Two-Faced Woman” with Greta Garbo. Even though it might seem a predictable and not very original film, “Her Sister from Paris” is a delightful comedy. Constance’s acting abilities come through in many scenes especially when she is trying to seduce Colman. Constance and Colman give top-notch performances and they have great onscreen chemistry. I thought the gowns and lingerie designed by Adrian very early in his career were absolutely gorgeous. Even though the film suffers from nitrate decompositon in some scenes, it is still a joy to watch. Constance was clearly a natural comedienne, and it’s a shame that so many of her films have been lost and so few are available on DVD.


Born on April 19, 1898, in Brooklyn, New York, Constance Talmadge was one of Hollywood’s most popular comediennes. She achieved film immortality as the Mountain Girl of ancient Babylon in D.W. Griffith’s “Intolerance” (1916). Her older sister, Norma Talmadge, had become a star several years before her as a dramatic actress, while Constance’s specialty was sharp, witty comedies. When Norma married producer Joseph Schenck, it proved to be beneficial to both sisters. Schenck and Lewis J. Selznick bought up Constance’s contract and distributed her films through Select, First National, and United Artists for the rest of her career. With the coming of sound, the First National agreement was terminated in 1927. She made one last silent film, “Venus” (1929) for United Artists release and happily retired. Constance made a total of 84 films from 1914 to 1929. Constance died of pneumonia on November 23, 1973. She was 75 years old.

Silent Film Star: Constance Talmadge.

Please click on her name in the tag line located at the bottom of the post for mini- profile.

"Her Night of Romance" (1924) Constance Talmadge

“Her Night of Romance” (1924) is a silent romantic comedy starring Constance Talmadge, Ronald Colman, and Jean Hersholt. Directed by Sidney Franklin, this film is about an impoverished English nobleman who impersonates a doctor in order to woo an ailing American heiress. The story begins with millionaire heiress, Dorothy Adams, played by Constance Talmadge, and her father, Samuel C. Adams, played by Albert Gran, having just arrived in Southampton, England, to seek rest for Dorothy’s “heart” condition. Walking down the gangplank, Dorothy trips and falls into the arms of Sir Paul Menford, a young, handsome English nobleman who is broke. Menford assists Dorothy whom is visibly smitten by him. However, she walks away with her father. When Menford is forced to sell his estate, his last asset, he asks his realtor, Joseph Diamond, played by Jean Hersholt, to lend him more money. Diamond refuses to provide him with any more loans until the estate is sold. At this point, Diamond suggests to Menford to marry a rich girl and shows him a newspaper photo of Dorothy Adams. Menford jokingly tells Diamond to get him the girl so he can have one hundred percent of his estate. Menford finally gets his loan, but he must quickly return to the home of his uncle, Dr. Paul Scott, to get his bag which he left on his way out of the country. Coincidentally, Mr. Adams sends his butler to get Dr. Scott to examine Dorothy. When Menford comes out from Dr. Scott’s home with what looks like a medical bag, the butler assumes he is Dr. Scott and hands him Mr. Adam’s card. Recognizing the name, Menford decides to pose as Dr. Scott. Posing as the doctor, Menford and Dorothy’s relationship blossoms. Feeling overwhelmed with guilt, Menford sends Dorothy a note stating he is an imposter and will no longer impose on her. Totally distraught, Dorothy decides to spend the night at Menford Manor, which her father has recently purchased. However, she is not aware that Menford and the Dr. Scott she has been seeing are the same person. While Dorothy is in bed that night, Menford arrives inebriated and comes into her bedroom by a ladder at the balcony. Hiding under the covers, Dorothy does not know who this man is, but when she realizes his identity, she throws him out of the room. The next morning a series of misunderstandings begin and increase in number and pace as the day goes on. Will Dorothy and Menford be able to resolve their problems? Will their romance unravel just as it was getting started?

Constance Talmadge was one of Hollywood’s most popular comediennes. She achieved film immortality as the Mountain Girl of ancient Babylon in D.W. Griffith’s “Intolerance” (1916). Her older sister, Norma Talmadge, had become a star several years before her as a dramatic actress, while Constance’s specialty was sharp, witty comedies. When Norma married producer Joseph Schenck, he was persuaded to take control of both his wife’s and sister-in-law’s career. He set up the Constance Talmadge Film Company in 1917, solely to produce bubbly, light comedies with her. She was given full control regarding scripts and costars, and her films were enormously popular. Schenck continued to supervise Constance Talmadge’s career into the 1920’s, when there were fewer films but with higher production values than ever before. He had worked out a lucrative deal with First National, by which Talmadge received a little over $ 93,000 for each film. With the coming of sound, the First National agreement was terminated in 1927. She made one last silent film, “Venus” (1929) for United Artists release and happily retired. Constance Talmadge made a total of 84 films from 1914 to 1929.


“Her Night of Romance” (1924) is a typical example of Constance Talmadge’s early 1920’s comedies. The film is greatly helped by a nice script by Hans Kraly, who often worked with director Ernst Lubitsch. With its mistaken identities, entrances, exits, and complications, it is light, escapist fare that has its roots in typical bedroom farce. However, Constance Talmadge and Ronald Colman play with confidence and it is easy to see that Colman is headed for big stardom. Constance Talmadge, an actress of undeniable charm, makes the most of her expressive eyes. Her acting abilities come through in many scenes throughout the film. One of the best scenes in the film is Menford’s first visit to Dorothy as a doctor. When Dorothy tells him that her heart feels bumpy and to please listen to it, he responds by opening up his “medical” bag. Unfortunately, when he opens the bag he finds no stethoscope. Nervously, Menford tells Dorothy he will use his ear. At this point, Menford slowly and nervously gets close to Dorothy’s chest to listen to her heartbeat. This scene is very sexy and seductive, but it is handled very properly by Colman. What I liked most about the film is that it is so entertaining and fun to watch. Constance Talmadge was clearly a natural comedienne, and it’s a shame that so few of her films are available on DVD. “Her Night of Romance” (1924) is worth watching just to take a glimpse at one of the greatest comediennes of the silent screen.

Constance Talmadge

Constance Talmadge was a silent movie star born in Brooklyn, New York, USA, and was the sister of fellow actresses Norma Talmadge and Natalie Talmadge. Talmadge appeared in more than 80 films, often in comedies like A Pair of Silk Stockings (1918), Happiness à la Mode (1919), Romance and Arabella (1919), Wedding Bells (1921) and The Primitive Lover (1922). She grew so much in stature that she strarted her own production company. Both she and Norma's pronounced and rather squeaky Brooklyn accent did not prove all that suitable for talkies (particularly for the dramatic Norma) and it's more likely that they left Hollywood on their own terms before they were shunned. As the two sisters were as different as night and day, professional jealousy never entered into the picture. Both sisters invested wisely in business ventures in later life.

FUN FACTS:

Among the first people to place their footprints and handprints in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. To make her panel unique, she walked across it leaving five footprints. (To date, everyone else has stood in the cement leaving two footprints.) Her panel is located directly behind the box office.

Constance Talmadge "The Primitive Lover" (1922)

"The Primitive Lover" (1922) is a silent romantic comedy starring Constance Talmadge, Harrison Ford, and Kenneth Harlan. Directed by Sidney Franklin, this film is about a young woman who finds life with her husband dull in comparison to the romance novels she reads. The novel Phyllis Tomley, played by Constance Talmadge, is presently reading is "The Primitive Lover," which inspires her idea of what a real man should be like. The novel's author, Donald Wales, is a former beau of Phyllis who has disappeared in the South American jungle and is presumed to be dead. While Phyllis and her husband Hector, played by Harrison Ford, are at her parent's home, Donald, played by Kenneth Harlan, shows up and tells her that his disappearance was only a publicity stunt for his latest book and that he and Hector had planned the whole thing. When Donald learns that Hector married his sweetheart, he rightfully feels betrayed. Phyllis also feels betrayed because Hector married her while continuing to let her think Donald was dead. At this point, Hector admits he has failed to win Phyllis' heart and is willing to step aside. Phyllis believes that Hector's willingness to give her up is proof that he does not love her. Phyllis is convinced that she wants Donald instead of her tame husband. She craves the caveman style of lover and goes to Reno for a divorce. Phyllis and Hector move to Nevada to expedite their divorce. On the night the divorce is granted, Hector becomes so disgusted with Donald and his novels that he picks up one of the books and throws it out the window accidentally hitting an Indian squaw in the head. Hector goes outside to apologize but she begins hitting him. Her husband, Chief Bluebottle, comes along and shoves her out of the way and tells Hector he already has twenty-two wives. With the help of the Chief, Hector fakes a holdup and kidnapping of Phyllis and Donald and takes them into the mountain wilderness. When they arrive on horseback at a cabin high in the mountains, Hector tells Donald that when he is convinced that he is the right man for Phyllis, he will let him go. Hector decides that if Phyllis wants a primitive lover, then he will show her. Which one of the two men will ultimately win Phyllis' heart?

Constance Talmadge was one of Hollywood's most popular comediennes. She achieved film immortality as the Mountain Girl of ancient Babylon in D.W. Griffith's "Intolerance" (1916). Her older sister, Norma Talmadge, had become a star several years before her as a dramatic actress while Constance's specialty was sharp, witty comedies. When Norma married producer Joseph Schenck, he was persuaded to take control of both his wife's and his sister-in-law's career. He set up the Constance Talmadge Film Company in 1917, solely to produce bubbly, light comedies with her. She was given full control regarding scripts and costars, and her films were enormously popular. Schenck continued to supervise Constance Talmadge's career into the 1920's, when there were fewer films but with higher production values than ever before. He had worked out a lucrative production deal with First National, by which Talmadge received a little over $93,000 for each film. With the coming of sound, the First National agreement was terminated in 1927. She made one last silent film, "Venus" (1929), for United Artists release and happily retired. Constance Talmadge made a total of 84 films from 1914 to 1929.

"The Primitive Lover" was made right around the peak of Talmadge's stardom, and it really

shows off the personality and talent that made her an audience favorite in the silent era. The

film is light and silly and has its roots in typical bedroom farce. Harrison Ford, who was Talmadge's leading man in twelve films, gives a delightful performance as the somewhat dull husband who is determined to win Phyllis' heart. Kenneth Harlan, who was Talmadge's leading man in seven films, is excellent as the conceited novelist. Constance Talmadge gives the best performance as the rather silly, discontented wife who craves for the romance of the novels she reads. Talmadge was clearly a natural comedienne, and it's a shame that so few of her films are available today. "The Primitive Lover" is worth watching just to take a glimpse at a true icon of the silent screen whose comedies are as modern today as they were ninety years ago.


*It is interesting to note that Constance Talmadge was one of the few women in Hollywood who could drive a chariot.