The Affairs of Anatol (1921)

Directed by Cecil B. DeMille

Starring Gloria Swanson, Wallace Reid, Wanda Hawley

Produced by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation

Anatol and Vivian are newlyweds with a problem: Anatol enjoys helping other women. Why is that a problem?  Because he ignores everything else in his life to help his charity cases.  Everything, including his wife.

When he meets a high school sweetheart who is selling herself for money, he has to save her. He cannot help it. Vivian is driven nuts by her husband and wants him to focus on his home life. She is even willing to relocate to the country to help remove the temptation.

Can Antol change his focus back to his wife? Or will he realize the error of his ways too late?

The Affairs of Antol has a pretty straightforward setup. Young husband focuses his attention on another woman. Wife gets frustrated with husband. Husband is exasperated that wife doesn't understand his desire to help a friend. Frankly, for much of the first act, I was bored.

Then, Antol loses it.

NOTE: A lot of spoilers follow, as I cannot really explain why I like this one without outlining the craziness of the scenarios. 

Anatol's childhood friend initially wants to begin a new life.  She tries to learn the violin and give up her jewels.  Ultimately, she can't change her ways and goes back to her sugar daddy and the partying lifestyle Antol is trying to save her from. So, Anton DESTROYS her apartment. I mean the guy breaks everything up to and including a grand piano. He goes insane.

From then on, the movie is full-on crazy. Vivian throws a party with a hypnotist who convinces her to start undressing in front of a room full of people (including her husband). There are some great visuals as we see the stream Vivian imagines she is crossing (hence the undressing) flowing through the room.  Anatol is mortified.

They move to the country and take a boat out on the river at exactly the moment another desperate woman who is attempting to drown herself because she stole from a local charity.  Not only does Anatol save her, but as Vivian goes for help, the man makes out with the woman.

The couple separates.  Anatol tries hanging at the night club, but discovers he needs his wife Vivian.  She returns from a night on the town with a mutual friend.  He demands to know what happened between the two of them, but Vivian isn't spilling.

In one final moment of desperation, Anatol has Vivian hypnotized.  She must answer one question asked by her husband truthfully before awakening.  Great little drama at the end.

The leads here are great in their roles and the direction is perfect without being showy.  The characters and scenarios presented are fantastical, but I was riveted.  It's a 90 year old movie and I had no idea where it was going next.  It almost reminded me of a Coen Brothers film.  The Affairs of Anatol is not for everyone, but its dark humor and extreme situations were enough to keep me engaged.
**** out of *****