The Restless Sex

The Restless Sex
The Restless Sex
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Leon D'Usseau; Robert Z. Leonard
Written by	Frances Marion
Based on	The Restless Sex; by Robert W. Chambers
Starring	Marion Davies; Ralph Kellard
Cinematography	Allen G. Siegler
Production; companies	Cosmopolitan Productions; International Film Service
Distributed by	Famous Players-Lasky Corporation
Release date	September 12, 1920;
Running time	7 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

The Restless Sex is a 1920 American silent drama film starring Marion Davies, and Ralph Kellard. It was directed by Leon D'Usseau and Robert Z. Leonard and written by Frances Marion. The film is based upon the 1918 novel of the same name by Robert W. Chambers and was distributed by Paramount Pictures under the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation name.

A copy of The Restless Sex is housed at the Library of Congress and Gosfilmofond.^[1]

Synopsis

Stephanie (Steve) is a restless and adventurous young woman. She is in love with Jim, her foster brother and childhood sweetheart. But now, she also finds herself attracted to art student Oswald Grismer. Jim leaves for Paris to become an author. In this period, Steve and Oswald decide to marry each other. When Jim finds out, he returns home to win Steve over.

Cast

Marion Davies as Steve
Ralph Kellard as Jim Cleland
Carlyle Blackwell as Oswald Grismer
Charles Lane as John Cleland
Corinne Barker as Helen Davis
Stephen Carr as Jim as a boy
Vivienne Osborne as Marie Cliff
Etna Ross as Steve as a child
Robert Vivian as Chilsmer Grismer
Athole Shearer as Extra (uncredited)
Edith Shearer as Extra (uncredited)
Norma Shearer as Extra (uncredited)

Production

In her 9th film, Marion Davies portrays a restless young woman torn between two men. Costume design for the film, which featured a prolonged "Bal des Arts" sequence, was done by Erté.^[2] This was the first collaboration between Joseph Urban and Cosmopolitan Productions. In ball sequence Marion Davies portrays Pallas Athena, and Norma Shearer appears as an extra. This would prove to be the final American film for Carlyle Blackwell who would go to England and work in films for another decade.

^[3]

Status

A DVD was released by Edward Lorusso with a music score by Donald Sosin in May 2015.

References

^ Progressive Silent Film List: The Restless Sex at silentera.com
^ Egyptomania: Egypt in Western Art, 1730 - 1930. National Gallery of Canada. 1994. p. 508. ISBN 0-8888-4-6363. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)
^ Lorusso, Edward (2017) The Silent Films of Marion Davies, CreateSpace, pp.41-42

External links

This article about a silent drama film from the 1920s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] Progressive Silent Film List: The Restless Sex at silentera.com

[2] Egyptomania: Egypt in Western Art, 1730 - 1930. National Gallery of Canada. 1994. p. 508. ISBN 0-8888-4-6363. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)

[3] Lorusso, Edward (2017) The Silent Films of Marion Davies, CreateSpace, pp.41-42

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v t e Films directed by Robert Z. Leonard
1910s	The Master Key (1914) The Ruby Circle (1914) Christmas Memories (1915) Judge Not (1915) The Love Girl (1916) Secret Love (1916) The Crippled Hand (1916) The Eagle's Wings (1916) Little Eve Edgarton (1916) The Plow Girl (1916) On Record (1917) A Mormon Maid (1917) The Primrose Ring (1917) At First Sight (1917) Princess Virtue (1917) Face Value (1918) The Bride's Awakening (1918) Danger, Go Slow (1918) Her Body in Bond (1918) Modern Love (1918) The Big Little Person (1919) The Delicious Little Devil (1919) The Scarlet Shadow (1919) What Am I Bid? (1919) The Way of a Woman (1919) The Miracle of Love (1919)
1920s	April Folly (1920) The Restless Sex (1920) Stronger Than Death (1920) The Gilded Lily (1921) Heedless Moths (1921) Peacock Alley (1922) Fascination (1922) Broadway Rose (1922) Jazzmania (1923) Fashion Row (1923) The French Doll (1923) Mademoiselle Midnight (1924) Circe, the Enchantress (1924) Love's Wilderness (1924) Cheaper to Marry (1925) Time, the Comedian (1925) Bright Lights (1925) Dance Madness (1926) Mademoiselle Modiste (1926) The Waning Sex (1926) A Little Journey (1927) The Demi-Bride (1927) Adam and Evil (1927) Tea for Three (1927) Baby Mine (1928) The Cardboard Lover (1928) A Lady of Chance (1928) Marianne (1929, silent) Marianne (1929, musical)
1930s	The Divorcee (1930) In Gay Madrid (1930) Let Us Be Gay (1930) The Bachelor Father (1931) Five and Ten (1931) It's a Wise Child (1931) Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (1931) Lovers Courageous (1932) The Son-Daughter (1932) Strange Interlude (1932) When Ladies Meet (1933) Dancing Lady (1933) Peg o' My Heart (1933) Outcast Lady (1934) After Office Hours (1935) Naughty Marietta (1935) Escapade (1935) A Tale of Two Cities (1935) The Great Ziegfeld (1936) Small Town Girl (1936) Piccadilly Jim (1936) Maytime (1937) The Firefly (1937) The Girl of the Golden West (1938) Broadway Serenade (1939)
1940s	New Moon (1940) Pride and Prejudice (1940) Third Finger, Left Hand (1940) Ziegfeld Girl (1941) When Ladies Meet (1941) We Were Dancing (1942) Stand By for Action (1942) The Man from Down Under (1943) Marriage Is a Private Affair (1944) Week-End at the Waldorf (1945) The Secret Heart (1946) Cynthia (1947) B.F.'s Daughter (1948) The Bribe (1949) In the Good Old Summertime (1949)
1950s	Nancy Goes to Rio (1950) Duchess of Idaho (1950) Grounds for Marriage (1951) Too Young to Kiss (1951) Everything I Have Is Yours (1952) The Clown (1953) The Great Diamond Robbery (1953) Her Twelve Men (1954) The King's Thief (1955) Beautiful but Dangerous (1955) Kelly and Me (1957)