What Do Men Want? (1921) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

The film follows a marriage tested by social ambition, emotional neglect, temptation, jealousy, and eventual understanding.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Lonely Wallflower

At the Oakdale school and ball, Bertha is excluded while Hallie receives admiration. Frank and Arthur both love Hallie, and Frank's request brings Arthur and Bertha together on the dance floor.

Key Events

• Oakdale Girls School Gymnasium — Girls discuss the upcoming ball while Bertha remains isolated. Characters: Hallie, Bertha Location: Girls school gymnasium in Oakdale
• Bertha Is Shunned — The other girls avoid Bertha because her father is institutionalized and she is poor and plain. Characters: Bertha Location: Oakdale girls school gymnasium
• The Ball Begins — Hallie is the belle, while Bertha watches as a lonely wallflower. Characters: Hallie, Bertha, Frank, Arthur Location: Oakdale ball
• Two Brothers Love Hallie — Both Frank and Arthur are in love with Hallie. Characters: Frank, Arthur, Hallie Location: Oakdale ball
• Arthur Asks Bertha To Dance — At Frank's request, Arthur asks Bertha to dance. Characters: Frank, Arthur, Bertha Location: Oakdale ball
• Bertha Falls In Love — Bertha's gratitude for Arthur's invitation turns into love. Characters: Bertha, Arthur Location: Oakdale ball

Love And Loss

Bertha falls in love with Arthur after their dance, but later events lead to her drowning. Frank and Hallie marry, and Frank's invention brings them comfort and apparent happiness.

Key Events

• Bertha Falls In Love — Bertha's gratitude for Arthur's invitation turns into love. Characters: Bertha, Arthur Location: Oakdale ball
• Bertha's Tragic End — A series of events leads Bertha to end her life by drowning. Characters: Bertha Location: Oakdale
• Frank And Hallie Marry — Frank and Hallie marry after the early romantic conflict. Characters: Frank, Hallie Location: Oakdale
• The Invention Succeeds — Frank's invention succeeds, bringing the couple comfortable living. Characters: Frank, Hallie Location: Frank and Hallie's home
• Children Join The Household — Several children arrive, and the household appears ideal. Characters: Frank, Hallie Location: Frank and Hallie's home
• Frank Becomes Restless — Frank is seized by unrest, and domestic happiness disappears for years. Characters: Frank, Hallie Location: Frank and Hallie's home

The Restless Husband

Although Frank and Hallie have children and an apparently ideal home, Frank becomes restless and moves to the city. His involvement with the fast set leaves Hallie lonely and unable to recover his affection.

Key Events

• Frank Becomes Restless — Frank is seized by unrest, and domestic happiness disappears for years. Characters: Frank, Hallie Location: Frank and Hallie's home
• Frank Moves To The City — Frank takes up a city residence and enters the fast set. Characters: Frank Location: The city
• Frank Pursues Another Woman — Frank becomes particularly attracted to the other girl. Characters: Frank Location: The city
• Hallie Cares For The Children — Hallie devotes herself to the children and tries unsuccessfully to preserve Frank's love. Characters: Hallie Location: Frank and Hallie's home
• Yost Targets Hallie's Loneliness — Yost tries to exploit Hallie's loneliness with his blandishments. Characters: Hallie, Yost Location: Frank and Hallie's home
• Hallie Sends Yost Away — Hallie's inherent honesty asserts itself, and she rejects Yost's influence. Characters: Hallie, Yost Location: Frank and Hallie's home

A Costly Misunderstanding

Yost attempts to exploit Hallie's loneliness, but her honesty makes her send him away. Frank sees Yost enter the house and wrongly interprets the visit.

Key Events

• Hallie Sends Yost Away — Hallie's inherent honesty asserts itself, and she rejects Yost's influence. Characters: Hallie, Yost Location: Frank and Hallie's home
• Frank Sees Yost Enter — Frank arrives, sees Yost enter, and waits outside for Hallie. Characters: Frank, Yost, Hallie Location: Outside Frank and Hallie's home
• Frank Accuses Hallie — After waiting, Frank rushes inside and accuses Hallie when Yost does not leave. Characters: Frank, Hallie Location: Frank and Hallie's home

The Answer At Home

Frank accuses Hallie and prepares to leave forever. Arthur explains the truth, leading to the couple's real reconciliation and Frank's discovery of the title's answer.

Key Events

• Arthur Explains The Truth — Arthur explains the situation and convinces Frank that Hallie is innocent. Characters: Frank, Arthur Location: Outside Frank and Hallie's home
• Marriage Reconciliation — Frank and Hallie reconcile after Arthur corrects Frank's misunderstanding. Characters: Frank, Hallie, Arthur Location: Frank and Hallie's home
• Frank Finds The Answer — After reconciliation, Frank discovers the answer to the film's title question. Characters: Frank, Hallie Location: Frank and Hallie's home

Story Breakdown

• Oakdale Social Divide — The opening establishes Hallie's popularity and Bertha's painful exclusion.
  • Schoolroom Isolation — Bertha is left alone because of her family background, poverty, and plain appearance.
  • Ballroom Hierarchy — Hallie becomes the belle while Bertha watches from the margins.
• Competing Affections — Frank and Arthur's shared love for Hallie creates the early romantic tension.
  • Brothers Love Hallie — Both brothers are identified as Hallie's admirers.
  • Arthur's Invitation — Frank asks Arthur to invite Bertha to dance.
• Bertha's Tragedy — Bertha's gratitude becomes love, but the surrounding events end in her drowning.
  • Unexpected Attachment — Bertha falls in love with Arthur after he dances with her.
  • Drowning — A later chain of events leads Bertha to end her life.
• Domestic Prosperity — Frank and Hallie marry, gain comfort through his invention, and build a household with children.
  • Successful Invention — Frank's invention provides comfortable living.
  • Ideal Household — Several children arrive, making the home appear happy and complete.
• Frank's Restlessness — Frank abandons domestic contentment for city life and the fast set.
  • City Residence — Frank takes up a residence in the city.
  • Waning Affection — His attraction to the other girl weakens his relationship with Hallie.
• Hallie's Loneliness — Hallie focuses on the children while struggling to preserve her husband's love.
  • Unavailing Efforts — Hallie unsuccessfully tries to hold Frank's waning affection.
  • Moral Resistance — Hallie's honesty makes her reject Yost's blandishments.
• Jealous Misreading — Frank mistakes Yost's visit for evidence of Hallie's betrayal.
  • Yost Enters — Frank sees Yost enter the house and waits outside.
  • Accusation — Frank rushes inside and accuses Hallie after waiting in suspicion.
• Truth And Reconciliation — Arthur corrects Frank's misunderstanding, allowing the marriage to recover.
  • Arthur Explains — Arthur convinces Frank that Hallie is innocent.
  • Marital Renewal — Frank and Hallie achieve a real reconciliation, and Frank discovers the title's answer.

Directed by

Lois Weber

Key Cast

• Claire Windsor — Hallie
• J. Frank Glendon — Frank
• George Hackathorne — Arthur
• Hallam Cooley — Yost
• Edith Kessler — Bertha