AllMovie

John Gilbert was on the brink of superstardom when he appeared in this routine domestic drama -- his fame would explode within a year, when he starred in The Merry Widow and The Big Pararde back-to-back. Even though The Wife of the Centaur (based on the novel by Cyril Hume) wasn't a brilliant film, director King Vidor gave it his usual thought-provoking touch. Jeffrey Dwyer (Gilbert) is a writer and a poet who wrestles with the conflicts between his idealism and his passion. The two sides of his nature are personified in the women he loves: the sweetly innocent Joan Converse (Eleanor Boardman), and the sexy, charismatic Inez Martin (Aileen Pringle). Inez eventually dumps Dwyer in favor of Harry Todd (Philo McCullough), but her marriage to him fails. After burying his unhappiness in a round of wild parties, Dwyer marries Joan and they go to a mountain lodge. Inez rents a nearby house and once again Dwyer begins falling for her. He fights his emotions until he can take it no longer, and, after leaving a note for Joan, he goes to Inez. But his better nature ultimately takes over and he returns to his forgiving wife.