The Marriage Clause

On Broadway a chorus of ambition introduces Sylvia Jordan, a newcomer with star potential and an eye for drama. A seasoned director, Barry Townsend, becomes her principal mentor, guiding her through daring performances and growing fame. Their professional partnership deepens into a real romance, born from shared success and mutual trust, yet complicated by the power dynamics of the theater world. The film follows how their bond is tested by a clause inserted into Sylvia’s contract by her producer, designed to protect financial interests and control over her career. As they wrestle with loyalty, ambition, and the cost of stardom, the couple must decide what matters most. The tension between art and commerce lingers through much of the story, enduring.

Directed by Lois Weber, The Marriage Clause (1926) is a silent dramatic feature with a screenplay by Weber and Dana Burnet. It showcases Francis X. Bushman as Barry Townsend, Billie Dove as Sylvia Jordan, with Warner Oland among the cast.

Box office data for The Marriage Clause isn't widely documented. Like many silent era dramas, exact grosses were not consistently recorded, and modern databases lack a reliable worldwide figure for this title. Consequently, contemporary financial success remains uncertain at present.

There are no widely documented awards or nominations for The Marriage Clause. While it is notable for Lois Weber's role as writer and director and for its star cast, it did not become a major award recipient in the silent era or later retrospectives in film history or scholarship anywhere.

Contemporary critics viewed the film as a clear look at romance within show business' strict structures. Its themes include artistic collaboration versus control, ambition, and the personal cost of negotiating love under a contract. The performances by Francis X. Bushman and Billie Dove carried much of the emotional weight today.