wes-connors
After losing both her husband and brothers to war, Alla Nazimova (as Joan) leads women to protest against their country's king, who has ordered women to bear children for future wars. Nazimova ends it all by proclaiming, "If you will not give us women the right to vote for or against war," according a title card ending, "I shall not bear a child for such a country!"; then, she kills both herself and her unborn child. This film is, unfortunately, lost to the ages… although, hope strings eternal..."War Brides" was based on Nazimova's successful stage play, and marked her film debut. Nazimova (like Cher and Garbo, a star recognized immediately by one name) would have made it enough to be remembered for, but "War Brides" added a bonus by presenting Richard Barthelmess (as Arno) in his first featured role. The "Diva" also insisted lover Charles Bryant and mother Gertrude Berkeley reprise their stage roles, for the film. Herbert Brenon, who'd been responsible for the recent epic "A Daughter of the Gods", was employed as director.A search of "War Brides" and "A Play in One Act" will turn up the play's transcript; but, this film version was exceedingly more elaborate. That, and a reading of Edward Weitzel's article in the December 2, 1916 "Moving Picture World" suggest it may have been a classic. Critics applauded Nazimova's characterization, and Mr. Brenon's direction. Several of her contemporaries thought Nazimova's follow-up appearance in "Revelation" (1918) was the best female acting performance of the year.******* War Brides (11/12/16) Herbert Brenon ~ Nazimova, Charles Bryant, Richard Barthelmess, Gertrude Berkeley
