Don't Change Your Husband is a 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Gloria Swanson. The film was the third of six "marriage films" directed by DeMille and the first DeMille film starring Gloria Swanson. A Chinese silent film, Don't Change Your Husband (1929), used the same English title, and a similar plot arc.
Contents
Plot
Based upon a description in a film magazine, Leila Porter has grown tired of her husband James Denby Porter, the glue king, as she is romantic but he is prosaic. Moreover, he is careless of his personal appearance, gets cigar ash in the carpet, and eats green onions before he tries to kiss her. She obtains a divorce and then marries James' friend Schuyler Van Sutphen, but discovers that Van Sutphen is a real beast. When she later discovers that her ex-husband has changed as a result of the divorce, still loves her, and would be happy to have her back, Leila divorces once again in order to remarry James.
Cast
Elliott Dexter as James Denby Porter
Gloria Swanson as Leila Porter
Lew Cody as Schuyler Van Sutphen
Sylvia Ashton as Mrs. Huckney
Theodore Roberts as The Bishop, Rt. Rev. Thomas Thornby
Julia Faye as Nanette aka Toodles
James Neill as Butler
Ted Shawn as Faun
Irving Cummings as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Clarence Geldart as Manager of Gambling Club (uncredited)
Raymond Hatton as Croupier at Gambling Club (uncredited)
Jack Mulhall as Member of Gambling Club (uncredited)
Guy Oliver as Mr. Frankel, Dressmaker (uncredited)
Sam Wood as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Preservation and Availability
Complete prints of Don't Change Your Husband are held by:
George Eastman Museum, on 35 mm
Cinémathèque Québécoise, on 35 mm
Cinematheque Royale de Belgique
Swedish Film Institute
Archives du Film du CNC
Library of Congress, on DVD.
The film was released on DVD by Image Entertainment with The Golden Chance.