Since the plot of THE WANING SEX has been throughly detailed in other reviews, I'm just going to share my thoughts as I watched the film.
In her first scene, Norma Shearer is gorgeous, with shorter hair than she would wear in her better known 30s pre-codes. Also, this is a proto-feminist comedy, rather than the dramas I'm used to seeing Norma in. Norma is a lawyer and Conrad Nagel is the district attorney. He loves her and wants her to give up her career and marry him. She proposes a contest of three events and best two out of three sets the marriage terms.
Conrad Nagel as a leading man left a lot to be desired in my book ... rather bland looking and in this film a bit of a wimp, totally overshadowed by Norma's dedicated career woman. Nagel certainly had a successful career, particularly in the silent era as leading man to such glamorous women as Gloria Swanson (The Impossible Mrs. Bellow, 1922), Leatrice Joy (De Mille's Saturday Night, 1922), Bebe Daniels (Nice People, Singed Wings, both 1922), Pola Negri (Bella Donna, 1923), Aileen Pringle (Elinor Glynn's notorious Three Weeks, 1923), Marion Davies (Lights of Old Broadway, 1925), Dolores Costello (Glorious Betsy, Tenderloin, both 1928), and Garbo (The Mysterious Lady, 1928; The Kiss, 1929). He easily survived the transition to sound but his career faded as the decade progressed.
Back to the film, Norma next appeared in a bathing suit modeled after those worn by men in the 20s, bike shorts-like bottoms with a muscle shirt top, that Norma adds a matching headscarf to cover her hair. Very attractive and it underscores Norma's gentleman-like character. In addition, Norma performs on-camera one of her favorite party tricks in real life-diving into a pool from a standing on her head postion on the diving board. Impressive! The first contest is a swimming race, which Nagel wins.
The second contest is a trial with the lovebirds on opposite sides. There's one of those symbolic scenes that periodically turn up in 20s films ... this time Norma and Conrad trying to tip an enormous statue of the scales of justice in their own favor, symbolizing the trial to come.
Speaking of the trial, Norma verbally skewers Conrad while dressed in a mannish black suit with a skirt, featuring a white shirt, bow tie and a jaunty white carnations in her buttonhole. Norma isn't above using her feminine wiles to sway the jury to the side of her client. Norma handily wins the second contest.
Next we see Norma at her most feminine, brushing her longer, loose hair; dressed in satin evening pajamas and a striped robe before she changes into a stunning white beaded & fringed cocktail dress. A political group shows up at her home and wants her to run against Nagel for district attorney. This almost becomes the third challenge in the marriage contest but after some good natured back and forth, Nagel declares they will get married and be equal partners.
THE WANING SEX is less a battle of the sexes and more a detailed plan on how a weak man can nab a strong, confident woman. It's easy to see why Norma was one of the top MGM stars of the twenties, she's gorgeous and capable in every way scene. The print I saw on YouTube was very washed out, but at least it had a piano score, rather than an organ. It's not a big, important picture, more of a standard romantic comedy meant to be enjoyed and forgotten. It's worth a look.
