All silent movie revviews are complete and unabridged
WOMANHANDLED
Starring Richard Dix and Esther Ralston
MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE
April 1926
As breezy and diverting a comedy as has come along in a blue moon is unfolded in "Womanhandled," which, unlike "Manhandled," tends to find its sense of humor early and stay on its natural tack. Richard Dix is the star of this pleasant little satire of the cow-country melodrama, and due to his easy acting and the human view-point, the humorous slant on the conventions by Gregory La Cava, the director, we can say that here is right smart entertainment.
La Cava, a real find if there ever was one, surely has a sympathetic touch as well as a whimsical touch. He doesn't beat around the bush but handles his situations in a straightforward manner and squeezes every ounce of substance from them. As for Dix, well, he hasn't been so happily cast in a long while than as the Easterner who encounters a girl with the belief that only Westerners are he-men.
The park-bench episode is neatly sketched, and the rescue of little Rollo is provocative of much merriment. But it is when the action shifts to the cactus country that the real fun is brought forth. They have to make over the up-to-date place to look like an old-time ranch - in order that the girl may fancy herself back in her little gray home in the West.
There is dash and spirit behind this picture. It chugs along at a neat pace, carries humor in every scene and situation and, moreover, is capitally titled. Dix makes every point score with his expressions. We recommend that he keep La Cava. As for Esther Ralston, well she is a pretty and talented foil for the spontaneous Richard.
(SAG note: Approximately 5-6 reels of the 7-reel feature survives)