The Restless Sex

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The Restless Sex
Restless Sex poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLeon D'Usseau
Robert Z. Leonard
Written by Frances Marion
Based onThe Restless Sex
by Robert W. Chambers
Starring Marion Davies
Ralph Kellard
Cinematography Allen G. Siegler
Production
companies
Distributed by Famous Players–Lasky Corporation
Release date
  • September 12, 1920 (1920-09-12)
Running time
7 reels
CountryUnited 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.

Contents

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

Plot

Stephanie 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.

Film ads noted the costume design by Erte. The restless sex movie poster.png
Film ads noted the costume design by Erté.

Cast

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.

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References

  1. Progressive Silent Film List: The Restless Sex at silentera.com
  2. Jean-Marcel Humbert; Michael Pantazzi; Christiane Ziegler (1994). Egyptomania: Egypt in Western Art, 1730 - 1930. National Gallery of Canada. p. 508. ISBN   0-8888-4-6363.
  3. Lorusso, Edward (2017) The Silent Films of Marion Davies, CreateSpace, pp.41-42