Fig Leaves (1926)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Howard Hawks

Writers:

Howard Hawks (story)
Louis D. Lighton (writer)

Release Date:

22 August 1926 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

In the modern day (1920s) story, Adam, a plumber, is happily married to Eve, a wardrobe-obsessed housewife...

Plot Keywords:

Fashion

Cast

George O'Brien	...	Adam Smith
Olive Borden	...	Eve Smith
Phyllis Haver	...	Alice Atkins
George Beranger	...	Josef André (as André de Beranger)
William Austin	...	André's assistant
Heinie Conklin	...	Eddie McSwiggen
Eulalie Jensen	...	Madame Griswald
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ralph Sipperly

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Company:

Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Olive Borden and George O'Brien started dating during the making of this film.

Very sweet and imaginative

This is not one of the more well known silents, or indeed one of Howard Hawks' more famous movies, but, that doesn't mean it is not a very good and entertaining movie. Set in two different ages, stone age at the start and the end and at the present time (the 1920's)in between, which is the major part of it, it deals with the battle of the sexes, in this case a married couple, Adam and Eve. The start is very very funny and very imaginative. The inter titles and the headlines in the newspapers had me laughing out loud, which believe me, is not something I do often. Then it dissolves into the modern day very nicely with Adam now a plumber and Eve, a discontented stay at home wife, the snake in the modern day being trouble making neighbour Alice. Out in the city Eve is knocked over by a car who's passenger's is hoity toity dress designer, Andre. This part of the story is the only sticking point as it seems to come across as a showcase for designer Adrian's gowns and slows the story down somewhat. That aside this is a terrific little film with super performances all around. A favourite, and slightly odd moment, is muscular he-man George O'Brien mincing as a woman ( not in drag, mind you), but, he always came across as an actor with no vanity and is all the more endearing for that. Heinie Conklin also shines as his sidekick and the female lead, Olive Borden does a great job as Eve. This is a neatly observed comedy that for the most part is excellent. If you have the chance I suggest that you see it and I wonder if you will be reminded, by the early sequences of a 1960's cartoon starring Fred and Wilma.