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.
Based upon a description in a film magazine, Leila Porter (Swanson) has grown tired of her husband James Denby Porter (Elliott Dexter), 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 (Lew Cody), 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.
Don’t Change Your Husband was a watershed film for Gloria. It opened in January and was held over for two weeks in New York, which was unheard of at the time.
Gloria Swanson in a production still from Don’t Change Your Husband, 1919 via
Gloria Swanson in Don’t Change Your Husband, 1919 via
Gloria Swanson & Lew Cody in Don’t Change Your Husband, 1919 via
Gloria Swanson & Elliott Dexter in Don’t Change Your Husband, 1919 via
Gloria Swanson in Don’t Change Your Husband, 1919 via
FROM THE BYGONE 