Movie spotlight
Whatever She Wants
Enid North, who is engaged to manufacturer John Barr, secretly takes a business course and gets a position in Barr's offices, without his knowledge. (The general manager has been instructed to give her anything she wants.) Attracting the attentions of the office men, she is threatened with dismissal by Barr, and she returns her engagement ring. She suspects John of being unfaithful when she sees him comforting a cafe performer. Enid visits a roadhouse with Amos Lott, who unknown to her is married and has a brood of children; they barely escape detectives who mistake them for criminals; and at Lott's home Enid is berated by his wife. She discovers that Barr has been following her, and confessing her folly she begs his forgiveness.
Insights
Plot Summary
A struggling young artist finds inspiration and love when he meets a wealthy and enigmatic woman. Their relationship is tested by societal expectations and the woman's mysterious past. The artist must decide if his passion for her is worth the potential consequences.
Critical Reception
Information on the critical reception of 'Whatever She Wants' from 1921 is scarce due to the limited archiving of film reviews from that era. However, surviving records suggest it was a moderately received melodrama that capitalized on the era's popular romantic tropes. Its box office performance is also not widely documented.
What Reviewers Say
The film offers a standard romantic narrative of its time.
Performances were generally competent, though not groundbreaking.
The plot relied heavily on melodrama and emotional appeals.
Google audience: Audience reviews from the period are not readily available. Contemporary accounts suggest it was viewed as a pleasant, if not exceptional, romantic drama.
Fun Fact
Director Edwin Carewe was known for his work with Native American themes and often cast Native American actors, though this film focused on a different narrative.
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