bkoganbing A whole flock of Cecil B. DeMille favorites from the silent era got into The Affairs Of Anatol. Wallace Reid, Elliott Dexter, and Theodore Roberts for the men and Gloria Swanson, Wanda Hawley, Agnes Ayres, and Bebe Daniels for the women. The title role is played by Wallace Reid who after a couple more films would have his career and life end tragically.This is one terribly dated Victorian era morality play that no doubt before films would have been a staple of the theater. In fact its origins were from the stage, a play by Arthur Schnitzler and the lead that Reid plays here was originated by John Barrymore. It only ran 72 performances so the great Barrymore could do little with it himself.Which is why we can't totally blame DeMille, Reid and the rest. The whole concept behind the play would leave audiences scratching their heads.Reid is married to Swanson, but he's a compulsive reformer in the William Gladstone tradition. Even when he got to be Prime Minister Gladstone used to prowl the streets of London looking for women to help from a life of degradation. And even back then he got a few catcalls from his Tory opposition and even from some in his own party.Reid leaves Swanson looking women he can mold into someone virtuous. In order they're Hawley, Ayres, and Daniels. Each one of them leaves him sadder, but only wiser later on. Adding to insult Swanson is not being ignored by Reid's best friend Elliott Dexter.Of course this is the movies and more important a DeMille movie. Virtue has to triumph and it inevitably does.In his autobiography DeMille only says that for some reason W. Somerset Maugham was threatening a lawsuit saying DeMille had plagiarized one of his works. He was talked out of it before going to court.I'm surprised Maugham would want to claim anything to do with this.

wes-connors Wallace Reid (as Anatol Spencer) is a wealthy newlywed who is oddly attracted to various women other than his wife - specifically: Wanda Hawley (as Emilie), Agnes Ayres (as Annie), and Bebe Daniels (as Satan Synne!). Gloria Swanson (as Vivian) is the wife who seems to develop a roving eye of her own as the running time progresses. BUT, are "The Affairs of Anatol" really affairs, or just a series of titillating temptations? DeMille's work with mirrors is on display, with the director inserting a skeleton image of Mr. Reid in one scene. Reid was a very big star when this film was released (one of the most popular actors in the world); and, though this isn't really representative, it's nice to see him. Of the leading ladies, I enjoyed Ms. Ayres over the others, because her simple scenes with Monte Blue seem so ORDINARY when contrasted with the rest of the goings-on. DeMille's unlikely mix of titillation, religiosity, and heavy-handed message is obviously in full flower. While there are no performances for the ages, the scenes with Swanson being hypnotized by Theodore Kosloff are fun. Elliott Dexter (as Max Runyon) is the film's best supporting actor; keep a sharp eye on his closing scenes as he'll reveal, through his performance, the affair you might not have been expecting… ****** The Affairs of Anatol (9/25/21) Cecil B. DeMille ~ Wallace Reid, Gloria Swanson, Bebe Daniels, Elliott Dexter

strsfgold I know some may find me an oddball for this but I consider The Affairs of Anatol a masterpiece of silent cinema.Gloria Swanson is one of my favorite actresses and she's remarkable as always in this one. But I wouldn't see Affairs for just her alone, her part is rather small compared to the ones she had in Don't Change Your Husband and Why Change Your Wife? However, even though she doesn't get as much screen time, she's still amazing and in my honest opinion, she steals every scene she's in. Her elegant wardrobe and sophisticated aura makes her the star. Wallace Reid is great too and watching him, you never would have guessed he was towards the end of his life. He seemed very strong and handsome to me, although I haven't seen him in much (sadly).Anatol (Reid) and his wife, Vivian (Swanson) are a pretty happy married couple until Anatol starts developing the habit of wanting to rescue women with no morals from their fate. This film is long but it HAS to be to fit it all in! We travel with Anatol and Vivian through many adventures that continuously test their marriage and happiness.The cast is absolutely fabulous! Many, many good actors and actresses here. Obviously, Gloria Swanson and Wallace Reid. Then we have delightful Bebe Daniels as Satan Synne, a vampish woman with a heart of gold deep down. Also, there's the wonderful, unique and sadly underrated Raymond Hatton who has a short appearance as a violin teacher. Pretty and talented Agnes Ayres plays a country "good girl" and the great character actor Theodore Roberts plays a mean ol' millionaire. Others in the cast worth mentioning are Monte Blue, Wanda Hawley, Elliott Dexter and Theodore Kosloff.This movie is stunning visually and is gorgeous to look at. Beautiful tints and a score that works with the film like butter works with bread. The costumes and sets are to die for and the whole thing just screams DeMille. TCM shows this film every now and then but I wouldn't wait that long. For Gloria and DeMille fans this is a MUST.

didi-5 Drawn to this by the irresistable and rare chance of seeing Wallace Reid and Gloria Swanson working together on a film, I had heard about it through reference books (and also about Swanson's recollections of the film not being happy due to feeling uncomfortable with Reid at the time), and expected exactly what I got - a fun piece with some nice touches (Gloria's playful mood before she feels slighted by Wanda Hawley's flapper girl; Reid trashing Hawley's apartment when he realises she did not have pure intentions towards him after all; Agnes Ayres and Reid sharing a kiss in the woods while Gloria has gone to fetch a doctor to attend to Ayres, 'half-drowned' when she left; and best of all, Bebe Daniels as the absurdly named Satan Synne who is really a domesticated pussy cat chasing young men for cash to help her sick husband). The Affairs ... also benefits from having a lovely series of colour tints throughout. A little overlong perhaps (and too much focus on Hawley at the expense of the other girls encountered by Tony) but another fascinating early piece from De Mille. Sad to think that Wallace Reid would be dead by early '23. The movies' loss.