Zeus

The Bride's Play (1922)

• Director
  • George Terwilliger
• Writers
  • Brian Oswald Donn-Byrne(from a story by)
  • Mildred Considine(scenario by)
• Stars
  • Marion Davies
  • John B. O'Brien
  • Frank Shannon

  Although it not as elaborate as When Knighthood Was in Flower, which was made later in the year, this Marion Davies romance did feature sumptuous sets, loads of extras and a plot-within-the-plot which takes place in Medieval Ireland. The story, written by Donn Byrne, a popular short story writer of the era, wasn't much -- it revolved around an old Irish custom called "the bride's play": after the wedding, the male guests would line up and the bride would ask each one, "Are you the one I love best?" Each one would say, "No," with only the groom responding, "Yes." Apparently sometime back in ancient history, a girl married a man she didn't love and the one she did care for used this little ceremony to steal her away. This tale is enough to worry the servants of Sir Fergus Cassidy (Wyndham Standing), because he has just wed Aileen Barrett (Davies) and her former lover, poet Bulner Meade (Carlton Miller), has joined the festivities. But they needn't have been concerned! -- when Meade tries to win her back, she slaps him with her shoe and sends him packing. Because of flimsy material like this, nobody knew yet that Marion Davies was quite a talented comedienne. Unfortunately, her producer/benefactor (and lover) William Randolph Hearst often insisted on putting her in films such as this one, which gave her little chance to do anything but look pretty. Incidentally, Davies didn't get a chance to play bride in real life until after Hearst's death.