Old Wives for New (1918)

"Old Wives for New," released in 1918, tells the story of Charles Murdock, a man whose dissatisfaction with his marriage leads him down a destructive path. Neglecting his "fat and lazy" wife (a reflection of the era's problematic beauty standards), Charles becomes infatuated with the younger Juliet Raeburn. However, when Juliet becomes entangled in a murder investigation, Charles swiftly abandons her, marrying the youthful Viola and whisking her away to Paris in a desperate attempt to recapture his lost youth and vitality. This plot underscores themes of societal obsession with youth and beauty, marital dissatisfaction, and the consequences of impulsive decisions, common threads in DeMille's early work. "Old Wives for New" earns its place among Cecil B. DeMille's best films not just for its scandalous (for the time) subject matter, but for its innovative use of visual storytelling and exploration of societal anxieties. While the film's moral underpinnings might seem dated today, DeMille's masterful direction is evident in the lavish sets, glamorous costumes (often quite revealing for the era), and his ability to create dramatic tension. The film exemplifies DeMille's skill in crafting visually stunning spectacles that both entertained and subtly commented on the changing social landscape of the early 20th century, making it a noteworthy entry in his filmography.