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The Battle of the Sexes
(1914) United States of America
B&W : Five reels
Directed by D.W. Griffith
Cast: Donald Crisp [Frank Andrews], Lillian Gish [Jane Andrews, Frank’s daughter], Robert Harron [John Andrews, Frank’s son], Mary Alden [Mrs. Frank Andrews], Fay Tincher [Cleo, the siren], Owen Moore [Cleo’s lover], W.E. Lawrence, [?] Rudolph Valentino? [a dancer]
The Majestic Motion Picture Company production; distributed by Continental Feature Film Corporation. / Scenario by D.W. Griffith, from the novel The Single Standard by Daniel Carson Goodman. Cinematography by G.W. Bitzer. Camera operator, Karl Brown. Film editors, James Smith and Rose Smith. / Premiered 12 April 1914 at Weber’s Theatre in New York, New York. Released 12 April 1914. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / Working title: The Single Standard. The film was reportedly shot in four days. Rudolph Valentino is thought to have been an extra in this film. The novel was subsequently filmed as The Battle of the Sexes (1928).
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Frank Andrews is a successful businessman. He has always found pride and joy in the company of his wife, son and daughter. He suddenly finds himself enthralled by the advances of a gay young woman siren, who lives in the same apartment house as he does. So marked an influence does she have over him as time progresses that at last he quite forgets his home ties, neglects his family, and goes the way of many other men who have forgotten the meaning of paternity and blood ties. The story is advanced through many scenes enacted with the accompanying notes of New York’s night life, and the denouement comes when the faithful wife discovers her husband’s infidelity. At this time the mother’s mind nearly loses balance, while Jane, the beautiful daughter, crazed by the grief of her mother, determines to take part in the tragedy. With revolver in hand she steals up to the apartment of the woman, but her frail nature is overcome by the temperamental anger of the woman and her mission fails. However, the errand is not fraught with failure for the father, coming in at this moment, finds his daughter being made love to by the sweetheart of the young woman, and realizes the road upon which he has traveled. When he confronts his daughter and says, “You, my daughter, what are you doing here?” The daughter answers, “My father, what are you doing here?” The realization is brought home to the father’s mind that the law of moral ethics that governs a woman’s life necessarily governs that of wan as well. Reformation comes in his character. He takes his daughter away with him and together they go back to their home of happiness and content. • Additional synopsis available in AFI-F1 n. F1.0236.
Survival status: The film is presumed lost : Only a fragment of a print is known to exist.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Weapons: Guns
Listing updated: 9 January 2025.
References: AFI-F1 n. F1.0236; Barry-Griffith pp. 19, 39, 44, 45, 81; Everson-American p. 76; Fell-History pp. 56, 64; Slide-Aspects p. 11; Slide-FineArts pp. 2, 161; Tarbox-Lost pp. 174, 180; Weaver-Twenty p. 145 : Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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