The Restless Sex

{{Infobox film

| name = The Restless Sex

| image = Restless Sex poster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Leon D'Usseau
Robert Z. Leonard

| producer =

| writer = Frances Marion

| based_on = {{based on|The Restless Sex|Robert W. Chambers}}

| starring = Marion Davies
Ralph Kellard

| music =

| cinematography = Allen G. Siegler

| editing =

| studio = Cosmopolitan Productions
International Film Service

| distributor = Famous Players–Lasky Corporation

| released = {{Film date|1920|9|12}}

| runtime = 7 reels

| country = United States

| language = Silent (English intertitles)

| budget =

}}

The Restless Sex is a 1920 American silent drama film starring Marion Davies, and Ralph Kellard. It was directed by Leon D'Usseau and Robert Z. Leonard and written by Frances Marion. The film is based upon the 1918 novel of the same name by Robert W. Chambers and was distributed by Paramount Pictures under the Famous Players–Lasky Corporation name.

A copy of The Restless Sex is housed at the Library of Congress and Gosfilmofond.[http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/R/RestlessSex1920.html Progressive Silent Film List: The Restless Sex] at silentera.com

Plot

Stephanie is a restless and adventurous young woman. She is in love with Jim, her foster brother and childhood sweetheart. But now, she also finds herself attracted to art student Oswald Grismer. Jim leaves for Paris to become an author. In this period, Stephanie and Oswald decide to marry each other. When Jim finds out, he returns home to win Stephanie over.

File:The restless sex movie poster.png

Cast

Marion Davies as Stephanie
Ralph Kellard as Jim Cleland
Carlyle Blackwell as Oswald Grismer
Charles Lane as John Cleland
Corinne Barker as Helen Davis
Stephen Carr as Jim as a boy
Vivienne Osborne as Marie Cliff
Etna Ross as Steve as a child
Robert Vivian as Chilsmer Grismer
Athole Shearer as Extra (uncredited)
Edith Shearer as Extra (uncredited)
Norma Shearer as Extra (uncredited)

Production

In her 9th film, Marion Davies portrays a restless young woman torn between two men. Costume design for the film, which featured a prolonged "Bal des Arts" sequence, was done by Erté.{{cite book

|author1=Jean-Marcel Humbert |author2=Michael Pantazzi |author3=Christiane Ziegler

| title =Egyptomania: Egypt in Western Art, 1730 - 1930

| publisher =National Gallery of Canada

|year=1994

| page=508

| isbn =0-8888-4-6363}} This was the first collaboration between Joseph Urban and Cosmopolitan Productions. In ball sequence Marion Davies portrays Pallas Athena, and Norma Shearer appears as an extra. This would prove to be the final American film for Carlyle Blackwell who would go to England and work in films for another decade.

Lorusso, Edward (2017) The Silent Films of Marion Davies, CreateSpace, pp.41-42