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HISTORY

The scenario was based on L. J. Ditrichstein’s 1910 English translation of the German play, The Concert by Hermann Bahr. Goldwyn Pictures Corp.’s acquisition of the property was reported in the 22 May 1920 Motion Picture News. Much of the play’s dialogue was to be replaced by visual images and “comic situations.”
       Principal photography began in late August or early September 1920 at Goldwyn Studios in Culver City, CA, as indicated by the 4 September 1920 and 18 September 1920 issues of Motion Picture News. It was also revealed that Victor Schertzinger was available to direct because comedienne Mabel Normand, to whom he was generally assigned by Goldwyn, was vacationing on the East Coast. The 30 October 1920 Moving Picture World announced the close of production and noted that Schertzinger, an accomplished violinist and composer, had ensured the accurate representation of the story’s “musical element.”
       The Concert opened on 1 February 1921 at the Empire Theatre in Montgomery, AL, followed by a New York City opening at the Capitol Theatre on 20 February 1921. A listing for the film in the 1 February 1921 Montgomery Advertiser featured the tag line, “How Dare You Make Love to My Wife?” This became the alternate title under which the feature opened on 8 March 1921 at the Forsyth Theatre in Atlanta, GA.
       A sound version, Fashions in Love (1929, see entry), was released by Paramount Pictures Corp. German and French-languages versions were released in 1931 as Das Konzert and Delphine, respectively.
       The National ...

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The scenario was based on L. J. Ditrichstein’s 1910 English translation of the German play, The Concert by Hermann Bahr. Goldwyn Pictures Corp.’s acquisition of the property was reported in the 22 May 1920 Motion Picture News. Much of the play’s dialogue was to be replaced by visual images and “comic situations.”
       Principal photography began in late August or early September 1920 at Goldwyn Studios in Culver City, CA, as indicated by the 4 September 1920 and 18 September 1920 issues of Motion Picture News. It was also revealed that Victor Schertzinger was available to direct because comedienne Mabel Normand, to whom he was generally assigned by Goldwyn, was vacationing on the East Coast. The 30 October 1920 Moving Picture World announced the close of production and noted that Schertzinger, an accomplished violinist and composer, had ensured the accurate representation of the story’s “musical element.”
       The Concert opened on 1 February 1921 at the Empire Theatre in Montgomery, AL, followed by a New York City opening at the Capitol Theatre on 20 February 1921. A listing for the film in the 1 February 1921 Montgomery Advertiser featured the tag line, “How Dare You Make Love to My Wife?” This became the alternate title under which the feature opened on 8 March 1921 at the Forsyth Theatre in Atlanta, GA.
       A sound version, Fashions in Love (1929, see entry), was released by Paramount Pictures Corp. German and French-languages versions were released in 1931 as Das Konzert and Delphine, respectively.
       The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021.

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GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS
SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Atlanta Constitution [Atlanta, GA]
8 Mar 1921
p. 13
Montgomery Advertiser [Montgomery, AL]
1 Feb 1921
p. 10
Motion Picture News
22 May 1920
p. 4324
Motion Picture News
4 Sep 1920
p. 1896
Motion Picture News
18 Sep 1920
p. 2282
Motion Picture News
8 Jan 1921
p. 537
Motion Picture News
5 Mar 1921
p. 1865
Moving Picture World
30 Oct 1920
p. 1277, 1280
Variety
18 Feb 1921
p. 39
Variety
4 Mar 1921
p. 40
Wid's Daily
27 Feb 1921
p. 3
Wid's Daily
18 Mar 1921
p. 2
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
Asst dir
WRITER
Scen
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dir of photog
SOURCES
LITERARY
Based on the play, The Concert by Hermann Bahr, adapted by L. J. Ditrichstein (New York, 4 Oct 1910).
LITERARY SOURCE AUTHOR
DETAILS
Alternate Title:
How Dare You Make Love to My Wife?
Release Date:
February 1921
Premiere Information:
Montgomery, AL, opening: 1 Feb 1921; New York opening: 20 Feb 1921; Altlanta opening: 8 Mar 1921
Production Date:
Sep--Oct 1920
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Goldwyn Pictures
21 January 1921
LP16041
Physical Properties:
Silent
Black and White
Length(in reels):
6
Country:
United States
Language:
English
SYNOPSIS

Augustus Martinot is a middle-aged concert pianist whose understanding wife, Mary, tolerates his popularity among women. Among his greatest admirers is Delphine Hart, the impressionable wife of a physician. When Augustus weakens and invites Delphine to his mountain cabin for a weekend, Mary and Dr. Hart follow. Their mock offer to exchange partners shocks the wayward spouses back into reality, and both couples ...

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Augustus Martinot is a middle-aged concert pianist whose understanding wife, Mary, tolerates his popularity among women. Among his greatest admirers is Delphine Hart, the impressionable wife of a physician. When Augustus weakens and invites Delphine to his mountain cabin for a weekend, Mary and Dr. Hart follow. Their mock offer to exchange partners shocks the wayward spouses back into reality, and both couples reconcile.

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GENRE


Subject

Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.