Synopsis: In scene after scene, Old Wives for New (1918) must have startled its original audiences. The "old" wife, grown fat and slovenly, eats bonbons and reads the Bible while ignoring her family. The "new" wife is no innocent flower but a successful, independent businesswoman. An old roue leaves his own wife at home while he dallies with young gold diggers who have a most casual attitude toward their unconventional lifestyles. The film even suggests divorce as a possible solution to "irreconcilable differences" in marriage. This film so shocked Paramount's head, Adolph Zukor, that he was opposed to releasing it at all (but relented when a test screening proved it would make money). In fact, it created a sensation and led directly to the social comedies director Cecil B. DeMille made in the early 1920s. With this film DeMille closed the door on "the innocent years" and ushered in "the jazz age.
Directed by: Cecil B. DeMille
Runtime: 1 hour 12 minutes
Release year: 1918
Studio: Egami Media
ASIN: B000ZPPU3M (Rental) and B000ZPPU3W (Purchase)
Rights & Requirements
Rental rights: 7 day viewing period Details
Purchase rights: Stream instantly and download to 2 locations. Details
Compatible with: Mac and Windows PC online viewing, compatible instant streaming devices, TiVo DVRs. System requirements
Format: Amazon Instant Video (streaming online video and digital download)
