Wife Number Two (1917)
Drama | 29 July 1917
The scenario was likely based on the 1856 novel Madame Bovary by Gustav Flaubert. In addition to having a similar plot, U.S. Copyright records revealed that the characters initially had the same names as those in the novel. The 4 Aug 1917 Motion Picture News announced the production as the ninth Fox Film Corp. release starring actress Valeska Suratt. Company president William Fox reportedly selected the title.
News items in the 11 Aug 1917 Motography and the Nov 1917 Motion Picture noted that location scenes were filmed at the Delaware Water Gap in Eastern Pennsylvania. Suratt, known as the “Empress of Fashion,” was staying at the Buckwood Inn, a golf resort in Shawnee on Delaware, PA, where guests were disappointed to see her casually dressed during her free time. She did, however, wear a different gown in each of her scenes, as stated in the 25 Aug 1917 Motion Picture News. According to the 22 Jul 1917 issues of the Los Angeles Times and the [Galveston, TX] Daily News, Suratt managed at least one fashion innovation during the shoot: a hat decorated with real apples, peaches, and grapes. After the hat served its purpose, the fruit was served to the stagehands.
Wife Number Two was released on 29 Jul 1917. Openings occurred that week at the Academy of Music in New York City and the Palace Theatre in Philadelphia, PA.
A 1925 production, released as Frivolous Sal (see entry), was mentioned in the Mar 1925 Picture-Play by ...
The scenario was likely based on the 1856 novel Madame Bovary by Gustav Flaubert. In addition to having a similar plot, U.S. Copyright records revealed that the characters initially had the same names as those in the novel. The 4 Aug 1917 Motion Picture News announced the production as the ninth Fox Film Corp. release starring actress Valeska Suratt. Company president William Fox reportedly selected the title.
News items in the 11 Aug 1917 Motography and the Nov 1917 Motion Picture noted that location scenes were filmed at the Delaware Water Gap in Eastern Pennsylvania. Suratt, known as the “Empress of Fashion,” was staying at the Buckwood Inn, a golf resort in Shawnee on Delaware, PA, where guests were disappointed to see her casually dressed during her free time. She did, however, wear a different gown in each of her scenes, as stated in the 25 Aug 1917 Motion Picture News. According to the 22 Jul 1917 issues of the Los Angeles Times and the [Galveston, TX] Daily News, Suratt managed at least one fashion innovation during the shoot: a hat decorated with real apples, peaches, and grapes. After the hat served its purpose, the fruit was served to the stagehands.
Wife Number Two was released on 29 Jul 1917. Openings occurred that week at the Academy of Music in New York City and the Palace Theatre in Philadelphia, PA.
A 1925 production, released as Frivolous Sal (see entry), was mentioned in the Mar 1925 Picture-Play by its working title, Wife Number Two.
The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of October 2020.
Bored by her country life and misunderstood by her parents, Emma Rolfe marries Dr. Charles Bovar, an older man whose dedication to his medical practice makes him a neglectful husband. To alleviate her growing loneliness, Emma enjoys the company of many of the young men from the village and eventually has an affair with Rudolph Bulwer. Despite his proclaimed love for her, Rudolph deserts Emma on the night of their planned elopement, and in her despair, she steals some acid from her husband's medicine cabinet and goes to the river to commit suicide. While standing by the water, Emma changes her mind and resolves to confess to Charles and beg his forgiveness, but the riverbank gives way under her feet and she drowns in the swift current. Although he has discovered Emma's love letters from Rudolph, Charles stoutly defends her honor in front of the townspeople and forgives her in his ...
Bored by her country life and misunderstood by her parents, Emma Rolfe marries Dr. Charles Bovar, an older man whose dedication to his medical practice makes him a neglectful husband. To alleviate her growing loneliness, Emma enjoys the company of many of the young men from the village and eventually has an affair with Rudolph Bulwer. Despite his proclaimed love for her, Rudolph deserts Emma on the night of their planned elopement, and in her despair, she steals some acid from her husband's medicine cabinet and goes to the river to commit suicide. While standing by the water, Emma changes her mind and resolves to confess to Charles and beg his forgiveness, but the riverbank gives way under her feet and she drowns in the swift current. Although he has discovered Emma's love letters from Rudolph, Charles stoutly defends her honor in front of the townspeople and forgives her in his heart.
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