Sex (1920 film)

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Sex is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Fred Niblo and starring Louise Glaum. It centers on Adrienne Renault, a glamorous star who heads the Midnight Follies at the Frivolity Theater in New York. The story follows the consequences of marital infidelity and a world of seduction among the rich and famous.

Plot in brief: Renault lures a married millionaire, Philip Overman. His wife, Mrs. Overman, suspects the affair, hires a private detective, and ultimately divorces him. Renault then marries a new millionaire, Dick Wallace, but Wallace falls for Renault’s young trainee, Daisy, whom Renault has coached to attract wealthy husbands. When Daisy refuses to release Wallace, Renault’s scheme ends with her sailing to Europe, while the Overmans are briefly reconciled on a ship—Renault ultimately ends alone. The film closes with a stern moral message about the “naked soul of Sex” and the need to strip away falsehoods through bitter tears.

Production notes: The film used three cameras—one for domestic prints, one for foreign prints, and a third at a different angle to capture dramatic action in a new way. Sex was a box-office success and sparked intense debate over its provocative content and title. Advertisers urged audiences to “SEE SEX,” and censors in Pennsylvania initially banned the film under a different title, Sex Crushed to Earth. Some theaters defended its social value, while others criticized its celebration of indiscretion.

Reception and legacy: Critics were divided. Some praised the film for its bold examination of sex and morality, while others condemned its depictions of revelry and infidelity. Louise Glaum’s performance as Renault was widely acclaimed as a striking vamp. Decades later, commentators noted the film’s edge in presenting a blunt, honest portrait of seduction. Sex remains notable for its daring themes and its role in early 1920s debates about sex on screen.