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Cult Review
Archivist John
Senior Editor
Right, 'His Private Life' from 1928. Is it worth digging up today? Absolutely, if you have a soft spot for silent films and that particular brand of old-school romantic comedy. If the idea of witty intertitles and expressive acting sounds like a snooze, well, you'll probably want to skip this one. But for those of us who enjoy a good vintage cinematic flirtation, Adolphe Menjou is in top form here.
Adolphe Menjou plays André, this Parisian fella who, let's just say, has a *knack* for making women feel special. He’s always got a perfectly tailored suit, a confident smirk, and those eyes that just seem to promise a good time. You really get why women in the movie fall for him, even when you know he's a total scoundrel. There's this scene early on where he's juggling three different women at once, barely breaking a sweat. It’s masterful in its smooth absurdity. He just glides through it all.
Then in walks this American tourist, Sibyl (Kathryn Carver). She's proper, maybe a little stiff at first, but you can tell she's got a spark. Menjou's usual tricks just *don't work* on her. She sees right through him, which is a joy to watch. Her reactions are fantastic; she doesn't overdo it like some silent actresses could. There's a subtle eye-roll, or a slight tilt of the head that says so much.
The whole thing plays out in what's supposed to be Paris, lots of fancy apartments and cafes. It feels very *of its time*, you know? There's a moment where André is trying to ditch one lady to meet another, and the way the camera cuts between his frantic attempts and the unsuspecting women is just pure farce. The physical comedy here, without a single spoken word, is quite effective. It's not laugh-out-loud funny all the time, but you get a consistent, knowing smile.
I did notice a funny little thing, one of the background extras in a cafe scene. He just kept looking directly at the camera. Not in a breaking-the-fourth-wall way, just… slightly lost. It pulled me out of it for a second. Small stuff, but it makes you feel like you're really *watching* something from nearly a hundred years ago, imperfections and all. You can almost feel the crew trying to wrangle everyone.
The pacing, like many films from this era, takes its sweet time. It’s not a criticism, just a fact. You have to adjust your expectations. Those intertitles are key, of course. Some of them are genuinely witty, delivering little zingers that land really well. Others are just functional, moving the plot along. But when they hit, they really hit. There's one particular line from Sibyl, after André tries some overly dramatic gesture, that just cuts him down. It's *perfect*.
It’s not some grand cinematic statement. It's a charming little piece. A good example of how skilled silent actors could convey so much without dialogue. Menjou, he just *gets* it. His character isn't really a villain, more like a guy who just hasn't grown up yet. You want him to get his comeuppance, but you also kind of root for him to figure it out. That's the trick, isn't it? Making you like the rogue. 🤔
Thinking about it, the way they show wealth in these old movies is always interesting. Everyone's dressed impeccably, the sets are opulent, even if they're obviously studio-bound. It's a fantasy, a very specific kind of fantasy. You don't see a lot of people just *working* in these films, not the main characters anyway. It's all about leisure and romance.
So yeah, 'His Private Life' holds up as a neat little time capsule. It's not going to change your life, but it's a pleasant way to spend an evening if you're in the mood for some old-fashioned charm and a bit of a laugh. Especially if you appreciate what these actors were doing with just their faces and bodies. It's quite something.
IMDb —
1918
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