The Battle of the Sexes
Cast & Crew
D. W. Griffith
Donald Crisp
Lillian Gish
Robert Harron
Mary Alden
Owen Moore
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Frank Andrews, who is affluent, middle-aged, and a devoted family man, has his domestic bliss interrupted by Cleo, a sultry new neighbor. Cleo leaves her door ajar, enabling Frank to see her ankles, and later sets her apartment on fire with a cigarette, summoning him with cries for help. Seeing her in a negligee, Frank kisses Cleo passionately, thus beginning their clandestine affair. Gradually, Frank becomes less and less attentive to his business and family, preferring to spend time with Cleo and lavish gifts upon her. Mrs. Andrews is aware of the affair, but despite her broken heart, she does nothing. Their daughter Jane goes to Cleo, intent on killing her, but instead touches her heart, and the women devise a plan to stop the affair. When Andrews next comes to Cleo's apartment, he finds her former lover attempting to seduce Jane. Andrews reproaches his daughter, who then points out the hypocrisy of his reprimand. Realizing his mistakes, Andrews reconciles himself to his family, after which Cleo vacates her apartment.
Director
D. W. Griffith
Cast
Donald Crisp
Lillian Gish
Robert Harron
Mary Alden
Owen Moore
Fay Tincher
W. E. Lawrence
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of the film was The Single Standard. Contemporary sources conflict about distribution company. Modern sources list James Smith and Rose Richtel as film editors. Griffith re-made the film in 1928. (See AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.0282.) The 1929 film The Single Standard is unrelated to either Griffith film.
