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The Battle of the Sexes

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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
After the wealthy and married William Judson (Jean Hersholt) meets young, attractive Marie (Phyllis Haver), he is flattered by her attention. What he fails to realize is that Marie has plotted with her lover, Babe (Don Alvarado), to seduce Judson for his money. When his family points out her motives, Judson quarrels with them and moves out. Desperate for a solution, Judson's daughter (Sally O'Neil) takes a gun with intentions of shooting Marie -- unless Babe can talk her out of it.

Critics Reviews

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John C. Mosher The New Yorker 12/15/2021
Though not badly acted by the pater involved, and by Phyllis Haver as the blondine, it's a very ordinary piece to come from a director with such claims to prestige as Mr. Griffith. Go to Full Review Robert E. Sherwood LIFE 10/04/2021
This is just about the best all-around job of directing that [Griffith] has done in many years. Go to Full Review Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) 03/21/2013
4/5
The fact is Griffith delivered a good, solid, creative movie - it just wasn't the movie the studio was marketing. Seen today it's easier to appreciate than it was in 1928. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 05/27/2007
C
If Griffith is a great director, you wouldn't know it from this mawkish pic. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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10/29/2012 Very ahead of its time... See more 11/27/2010 This movie was better than I thought it would be, it's funny and surprising, with a very realistic and dramatically intense story. It's kind of predictable, but I really enjoyed it. See more 11/30/2009 Very ahead of its time... See more 02/08/2009 Who knew? I am astounded by how good this was, even as it veered suddenly, and unnecessarily, into high melodrama. But the first half is superlatively racy and witty. Phyllis Haver's performance can be likened to a great one by Claudette Colbert, silent-style. She's hilarious, naturalistic, and maybe has the best silent comic timing I've ever seen.The pros gave subtler performancs than their times demanded And Griffith, on a very confined set, made enormous efforts to make things visually interesting. Otherwise, the daughter was okay, and the three young actors were gorgeous, one of them suave to a fault, the others total gorgeous spazzes. Really something else. See more 02/03/2007 a rather nice, british comedy that sparkles See more Read all reviews
The Battle of the Sexes

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Cast & Crew

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D.W. Griffith

Director

Jean Hersholt

The Father

Phyllis Haver

Marie

Belle Bennett

The Mother

Don Alvarado

Babe Winsor

Sally O'Neil

The Daughter
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The Battle of the Sexes

The Battle of the Sexes (1928) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After the wealthy and married William Judson (Jean Hersholt) meets young, attractive Marie (Phyllis Haver), he is flattered by her attention. What he fails to realize is that Marie has plotted with her lover, Babe (Don Alvarado), to seduce Judson for his money. When his family points out her motives, Judson quarrels with them and moves out. Desperate for a solution, Judson's daughter (Sally O'Neil) takes a gun with intentions of shooting Marie -- unless Babe can talk her out of it.
Director
D.W. Griffith
Screenwriter
Gerrit J. Lloyd
Production Co
United Artists
Genre
Comedy
Release Date (DVD)
Aug 29, 2000
Runtime
1h 30m