Marion Davies stars as an Irish lass pursued by an older man (Wyndham Standing) and a rakish poet(Carl Miller). She falls for the poet until she discovers he has a bevy of girlfriends and eventually settles for the older man, who happens to be the local lord. People wonder if the lord will re-enact the ancient custom of the "bride's play," whereby the bride addresses the gathered men and asks if he is the one she loves best. Traditionally, the men say no and when she asks the groom, he says yes.
As with many Davies films, this one has a fantasy sequence which shows Davies as a 12th Century woman named Enid who enacts the "bride's play" but runs off with her true love when she asks if he is the one she loves best. They leave the would-be groom fuming.
But in the modern-day story, as she is about to enact the "bride's play," the poet makes a startling appearance and takes his place in line. What will happen when she asks him the fateful question? Gorgeous film with ocean backdrops and massive castle sets by Joseph Urban, who also designed Davies' ENCHANTMENT and THE RESTLESS SEX. Davies is, as always, very beautiful as the medieval Enid and the modern-day Aileen. Standing is 20 years her senior but that's what the plot calls for. Thea Talbot plays the jaded Sybil, and George Spink plays the butler. Spink supposedly wrote a symphonic score for the film's premiere but it seems to be lost.
Davies is always worth watching, and the lush surroundings and beautiful camera work enhance the film greatly.
