Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Foolish Wives

Foolish Wives is a 1922 American silent drama film written, directed, co-produced, and starring Erich von Stroheim as Count Sergius Karamzin, a fraudulent Russian aristocrat and con artist who, along with his accomplices, seduces and swindles wealthy women amid the casinos and villas of post-World War I Monte Carlo.^[1]^[2] Produced by Universal Film Manufacturing Company, the film was initially budgeted at $250,000 but incurred massive overruns exceeding $1 million, earning promotion as Hollywood's first million-dollar picture due to its lavish sets, costumes, and meticulous detail in recreating European opulence.^[3]^[4] Von Stroheim's auteur ambitions led to production delays, extended shoots, and clashes with studio executives, culminating in severe editing that reduced his intended multi-hour epic to a release version of approximately 14 reels.^[2]^[4] Despite the controversies, Foolish Wives stands as a landmark of silent cinema for its psychological insight into moral decay, voyeuristic gaze, and technical innovations, influencing later filmmakers with its uncompromising realism and visual splendor.^[3]^[1]

Synopsis and Characters

Plot Summary

Foolish Wives depicts the schemes of Count Wladyslaw Sergius Karamzin, a counterfeit-passing impostor posing as a White Russian aristocrat in post-World War I Monte Carlo, who lives in a seaside villa with two female accomplices masquerading as his cousins, Princess Olga and Vera Petchnikoff.^[5] Karamzin and his partners target affluent women for extortion through seduction and fraud, with Karamzin focusing on Helen Hughes, the impressionable young wife of Andrew J. Hughes, the newly appointed United States envoy to Monaco.^[5]^[6] Karamzin ingratiates himself with Helen via fabricated tales of aristocratic hardship and gallant exploits, gradually drawing her into an affair while siphoning her funds under pretenses of financial distress.^[5] Concurrently, he manipulates the Hughes household's maid, Maruschka, who harbors unrequited affection for him, by feigning romantic intentions to extract her modest savings.^[5] As Karamzin's advances toward Helen intensify during a societal ball amid a raging storm, Maruschka's jealousy erupts; she ignites a fire in the villa and then drowns herself in remorse.^[5]^[6] Andrew Hughes heroically saves Helen from the flames, exposing Karamzin's deceptions in the process and subjecting him to a physical thrashing.^[5] Undeterred initially, Karamzin shifts his predatory attention to Marietta, the daughter of local merchant Cesare Ventucci, but Ventucci confronts and fatally shoots him upon discovering the plot.^[5] Olga and Vera face arrest for their roles in the counterfeiting operation, underscoring the collapse of the trio's illicit enterprise.^[5]

Cast and Performances

Erich von Stroheim portrayed the central figure, Count Wladyslaw Sergius Karamzin, a fraudulent Russian aristocrat and con artist masquerading as a captain of hussars, in a role that demanded both charismatic allure and predatory menace.^[7]^[8] His depiction drew on personal reinvention, as Stroheim himself had fabricated an aristocratic background after emigrating from Austria-Hungary, infusing the character with a blend of earnest pathology and grinning psychopathy that captivated audiences despite the film's moral ambiguity.^[8] The principal supporting roles featured Rudolph Christians as Andrew J. Hughes, the unsuspecting American diplomat whose household becomes the target of Karamzin's schemes; Miss DuPont (Patricia Hannon) as Helen Hughes, the diplomat's naive wife susceptible to seduction; Maude George as Princess Olga, Karamzin's accomplice posing as a royal cousin; and Mae Busch as Princess Vera Petchnikoff, another fabricated relative aiding in the cons.^[7]^[9] Additional key performers included Dale Fuller as the hotel maid whom Karamzin deceives with false marriage promises, and Malvina Polo as the mentally impaired daughter of a criminal associate entangled in his web.^[8]^[9] Contemporary critics praised the ensemble as "thoroughly capable," with Stroheim's commanding presence dominating every scene through meticulous physicality and expressive gestures suited to silent cinema.^[7] Miss DuPont's Helen exhibited emotional vulnerability, particularly in sequences revealing psychological fractures amid opulent deception, enhancing the film's exploration of moral decay.^[8] George and Busch's portrayals of the false princesses conveyed casual complicity and undefined "true" selves, underscoring behavioral facades over deep backstory, while Fuller's maid added pathos to the victims' roster.^[10] These performances, filmed amid Stroheim's exacting direction, prioritized naturalistic interplay and predatory dynamics, though post-release cuts likely diminished some nuances.^[8]^[9]

Development

Script Origins

Erich von Stroheim conceived the script for Foolish Wives as an original screenplay, distinct from adaptations of pre-existing literature, following the completion of his 1920 film The Devil's Passkey. He pitched the project to Universal Pictures founder Carl Laemmle as a tale of seduction and intrigue set in Monte Carlo, expanding on motifs of infidelity and aristocratic deception explored in his earlier directorial efforts like Blind Husbands (1919).^[11] This narrative framework drew from von Stroheim's interest in European high society and moral corruption, themes he developed independently without reliance on novels or external sources.^[12] The screenplay is credited primarily to von Stroheim, who handled the story and scenario, with intertitles later adapted by Marian Ainslee and Walter Anthony to refine the silent film's textual elements.^[11] Unlike Blind Husbands, which von Stroheim adapted from his own novella The Pinnacle, Foolish Wives originated directly as a cinematic blueprint, allowing him greater latitude in scripting elaborate sequences of psychological tension and visual decadence. The title itself was selected to parallel Blind Husbands, signaling thematic continuity in critiquing gullible spouses ensnared by charismatic frauds, while von Stroheim envisioned a more opulent, multi-character ensemble.^[11]^[12] Von Stroheim's scripting process emphasized meticulous detail, incorporating authentic cultural references to Russian émigrés and Riviera locales to heighten realism, which foreshadowed the production's expansive scope and budgetary overruns. This authorial control reflected his auteurist ambitions at Universal, where he secured approval for the project in late 1920, positioning it as a prestige vehicle under the studio's Super-Jewel banner.^[11]

Pre-production Planning

Universal Pictures granted Erich von Stroheim significant autonomy in pre-production for Foolish Wives, building on his reputation from earlier directorial efforts, with an initial budget allocation of $250,000 to support his vision of a grand-scale drama depicting post-World War I European decadence.^[3] Stroheim conceptualized the film as a multi-hour epic, initially planning a six-hour runtime intended for screening over two consecutive evenings to allow deep immersion in the story's themes of aristocratic intrigue and moral corruption in Monaco.^[3] This format defied prevailing industry norms for feature-length films, prioritizing artistic completeness over commercial expediency, though studio executives later resisted the extended presentation.^[3] Set design planning emphasized meticulous replication of Monaco's lavish locales, including the casino and villas, to evoke authenticity without the uncertainties of overseas location shooting. Stroheim opted to construct full-scale sets on the Universal Studios backlot in California, a decision that facilitated precise control over visual details—such as ornate interiors and coastal facades—while avoiding logistical hurdles of filming on the French Riviera.^[13] This approach reflected his commitment to realism, informed by personal observations of European high society, but foreshadowed budgetary overruns as custom builds demanded extensive resources from the outset.^[3] Casting focused on performers who could convey ethnic and social nuances central to the narrative of deception among expatriates and innocents. Stroheim selected himself for the lead role of the fraudulent Count Sergius Karamzin, emphasizing his own Austrian heritage to embody the character's continental cynicism.^[14] Rudolph Christians was chosen as the American envoy Andrew J. Hughes for his ability to portray bureaucratic naivety, while Miss DuPont (Katharine Lester) was cast as Hughes's vulnerable wife Helen, drawing on her experience in dramatic roles to highlight themes of seduction and folly.^[14] Supporting actresses Maude George and Mae Busch were enlisted as Karamzin's accomplices, their selections prioritizing performers versed in portraying manipulative femininity to underscore the film's critique of opportunistic elites.^[14] These choices, made amid Stroheim's insistence on authenticity, set the stage for a production marked by his exacting standards in wardrobe, props, and rehearsal preparation.

Production

Filming Process

Principal photography for Foolish Wives began on July 12, 1920, and extended for nearly a year, concluding in June 1921, during which director Erich von Stroheim captured an extraordinary 320 reels of negative footage.^[14]^[15] This voluminous material reflected von Stroheim's insistence on exhaustive coverage to achieve precise compositions and authentic performances, a method that prolonged the schedule far beyond initial expectations.^[15] The production recreated the opulent Monte Carlo environment primarily through massive sets erected on the Universal Studios backlot in Universal City, California, including detailed facades of the casino and plaza areas that mimicked the European resort's architecture and atmosphere.^[16] Exterior sequences, intended to evoke the French Riviera, were shot on location in Northern California, utilizing coastal sites near Santa Cruz and Point Lobos for cliffside and seaside vistas, as well as urban scenes in San Francisco to represent the principality's streets.^[17]^[18] Von Stroheim's perfectionist tendencies—demanding multiple takes for nuanced actor expressions and environmental realism—escalated production challenges, resulting in expenditures surpassing $1 million and testing Universal's tolerance for his autonomous creative control.^[15] Despite these strains, the approach yielded intricate visuals, such as authentically furnished interiors and period-accurate costumes, underscoring the film's commitment to immersive detail over expediency.^[19]

Locations and Technical Details

Principal photography for Foolish Wives took place primarily at Universal City Studios in California, where director Erich von Stroheim oversaw the construction of expansive sets replicating the opulent environment of Monte Carlo on the backlot.^[16] These included full-scale facades and interiors for landmarks such as the Casino de Monte-Carlo, Café de Paris, and Hôtel de France, designed to evoke authentic European grandeur with meticulous attention to architectural and decorative details.^[11] Exterior sequences and supplementary sets were captured at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve along the California coast, where a temporary Monte Carlo replica was erected on Sea Lion Point to simulate coastal and cliffside scenes integral to the plot's climactic moments.^[20] ^[21] This location choice leveraged the rugged Monterey Peninsula terrain to stand in for the French Riviera, with production crews transforming the area over several weeks in 1920.^[17] Technically, the film was produced as a silent black-and-white feature on 35mm film stock, adhering to the orthochromatic emulsion standards of the era for high-contrast visuals suited to early cinema projectors.^[22] Cinematographers William H. Daniels and Ben F. Reynolds handled the photography, utilizing stationary and handheld cameras to frame the lavish interiors and dynamic exteriors, with an emphasis on deep-focus compositions to highlight von Stroheim's detailed set dressings and authentic props like real caviar and champagne.^[23] ^[15] Shooting commenced in July 1920 and extended through June 1921, amassing approximately 320 reels of negative footage—equivalent to over 60 hours of raw material—through a process involving multiple takes, reshoots, and on-set script revisions to refine salacious and narrative elements.^[11] ^[15] The aspect ratio was the standard 1.33:1 for silent films, enabling wide compositions of the recreated European villas and gambling halls without modern widescreen adaptations.^[24] Actors performed in genuine period attire sourced from European imports rather than studio costumes, contributing to the production's realism but escalating costs through von Stroheim's insistence on verisimilitude.^[11]

Budget and Expenditure Issues

Foolish Wives was initially allocated a budget of $250,000 by Universal Pictures for its production.^[3] However, under Erich von Stroheim's direction, expenditures ballooned to over $1 million, establishing the film as the first in Hollywood history to exceed that amount.^[25] ^[26] This overrun was driven by von Stroheim's perfectionism, which prioritized extravagant authenticity over fiscal restraint, including the construction of massive sets replicating Monte Carlo's casinos and palaces on a California hillside near Monterey at a cost exceeding $421,000 for sets alone.^[26] ^[4] Filming began in July 1920 and dragged on for over a year, with von Stroheim amassing more than 60 hours of footage by mid-1921, far beyond initial projections.^[11] Additional costs arose from demands for opulent details, such as $60,000 spent on Parisian interiors mismatched to the Monaco locale, real caviar and champagne props, and high-end costumes sourced for realism.^[25] ^[27] These choices, coupled with production delays from von Stroheim's exacting methods and unforeseen setbacks, prompted studio intervention by Irving Thalberg, who curtailed shooting to contain further losses.^[28] ^[11] Universal executives, frustrated by the unchecked spending, later pursued litigation over the excesses, highlighting tensions between artistic vision and commercial viability.^[11]

Post-production

Editing and Assembly

Following principal photography, Erich von Stroheim undertook the editing of Foolish Wives using approximately 326,000 feet of raw footage, equivalent to over 320 reels.^[2] He spent the second half of 1921, including six months in the editing room, refining this material into an initial cut of 31 to 32 reels, which ran several hours in length—far exceeding conventional feature runtime expectations of the era.^[29]^[30] Universal Pictures executives, concerned with commercial viability and overruns, barred von Stroheim from further involvement in post-production and reassumed control in December 1921.^[8] The studio reduced the film to 16 reels initially, then further to 14 reels (about 14,120 feet, or roughly 2.5 hours at standard projection speeds) for its New York premiere on January 11, 1922.^[15]^[31] This assembly prioritized narrative condensation, eliminating extraneous scenes to fit theater programming, though von Stroheim later described the result as a "skeletal" version of his vision.^[8] Subsequent adjustments arose from censorship demands, particularly from the New York State Censorship Board, leading to the excision of an additional four reels deemed morally objectionable, such as explicit content involving seduction and forgery.^[29] The final assembled print incorporated intertitles, tinting for atmospheric effects (e.g., amber for interiors), and a synchronized musical score cue sheet, though no complete original release version survives intact.^[32] These edits reflected broader industry tensions between artistic ambition and studio mandates for profitability, with Universal's interventions ensuring wider distribution despite von Stroheim's objections.^[33]

Censorship Challenges

The release of Foolish Wives was hampered by stringent censorship requirements imposed by state boards, primarily due to the film's portrayal of seduction, adultery, and moral corruption, which were deemed unsuitable for general audiences. In January 1922, following an initial screening, the New York Motion Picture Censorship Commission mandated additional deletions to excise objectionable content, reflecting concerns over the depiction of illicit relationships and the predatory actions of the protagonist, Count Karamzin.^[34] These cuts reduced the film's length and altered Stroheim's intended narrative emphasis on psychological intrigue and social vice. The Ohio State Censor Board outright rejected the film in early February 1922, classifying it as unfit for exhibition and upholding the ban despite appeals from Universal representatives, who argued for its artistic merit.^[35] This decision was echoed in contemporaneous reports highlighting the board's view of the material as promoting psychopathic tendencies and immorality, leading to widespread distribution challenges in conservative regions.^[35] Such rejections underscored the era's fragmented censorship landscape, where state-level oversight often prioritized moral propriety over creative expression, forcing Universal to produce abbreviated versions—ultimately trimming the film from its original multi-hour cut to approximately ten reels for general release.^[11] Further modifications were required in other jurisdictions, with censors demanding excisions of scenes involving explicit sensuality and ethical lapses, contributing to the loss of significant footage that Stroheim had meticulously crafted.^[36] These interventions not only delayed the film's rollout but also compromised its thematic depth, as later restorations have attempted to infer original intent from surviving scripts and censorship records, revealing how regulatory pressures distorted the director's vision of European decadence preying on American naivety.^[31]

Release and Commercial Aspects

Premiere and Distribution

Foolish Wives premiered on January 11, 1922, at the Central Theatre in New York City, with a runtime of approximately three and a half hours, including a five-minute intermission; select sequences, such as flames in a villa fire, featured hand-applied red tinting.^[2] The premiere screening presented a 14-reel version, shortened from director Erich von Stroheim's longer assembly to meet the deadline, amid ongoing post-production disputes.^[29] Universal Film Manufacturing Company handled distribution under its Super-Jewel production banner, with the film copyrighted on February 11, 1922.^[2] Marketed aggressively as "the first million-dollar movie," it targeted audiences with promises of lavish production values and exotic settings.^[1] A general release commenced on May 8, 1922, following the New York debut, though the distributed prints varied in length due to further edits imposed by the studio.^[2]

Box Office Results

Foolish Wives incurred production costs exceeding $1,000,000, marking it as the first film advertised as a "million-dollar picture," far surpassing its initial $250,000 allocation from Universal Studios.^[3]^[4] The overruns stemmed from director Erich von Stroheim's perfectionism, including extended filming and elaborate sets, which ballooned expenses during the 1921-1922 production.^[3] Despite generating audience interest as a commercial event and drawing crowds with its scandalous content, the film's high price tag ensured it failed to recoup its investment and turn a profit.^[4] This financial shortfall exacerbated conflicts between von Stroheim and studio executives, influencing future oversight of his projects.^[4]

Reception and Critical Analysis

Initial Critical Responses

Upon its New York premiere on January 11, 1922, at the Central Theatre, Foolish Wives elicited mixed critical responses, with reviewers often lauding its opulent production design and technical ambition while decrying its protracted runtime—initially 14 reels—and perceived moral licentiousness.^[31] The film's depiction of a fraudulent Russian count preying on vulnerable women in Monte Carlo settings drew accusations of sensationalism and indecency, positioning it as a provocative departure from prevailing cinematic norms.^[28] Mordaunt Hall's review in The New York Times on January 12, 1922, exemplified the ambivalence, portraying the protagonist as "a human beast of prey, an unbelievably contemptible rogue" and critiquing the narrative's emphasis on European vice corrupting American innocence, which some interpreted as a slur on national character.^[37] Similarly, other period commentators, including those in trade publications, condemned the story as an "insult to every American," particularly for illustrating the wife of a U.S. envoy succumbing to the count's schemes, thereby undermining ideals of marital fidelity and feminine virtue.^[38] Despite such rebukes, select voices appreciated von Stroheim's meticulous realism and the film's status as a "super-jewel" spectacle, the most costly production to date at over $1 million, though even admirers noted the challenge of its unhurried pace and episodic structure for general audiences.^[5] These initial reactions foreshadowed broader debates on artistic excess versus commercial viability, contributing to subsequent edits that reduced the runtime to approximately 12 reels amid censorship pressures in various regions.^[28]

Stylistic and Technical Achievements

Foolish Wives exemplifies Erich von Stroheim's commitment to cinematic realism through elaborate production design, including life-size replicas of Monte Carlo landmarks such as the casino, Café de Paris, and Hotel de France, constructed with such authenticity that they were opened for public tours.^[11] These sets incorporated genuine ocean views and luxurious details, enhancing verisimilitude and allowing actors to perform in expansive, tangible environments that pushed the boundaries of early 1920s filmmaking resources.^[11] Cinematography featured extreme compositions in depth, high and low angles, natural lighting, and expressionistic contrasts with stark black-and-white patterns to underscore moral ambiguity and realism, often transitioning from vast public spaces to intimate private ones.^[31]^[9] Point-of-view shots and sensuous pans advanced the visual language, immersing viewers psychologically by cutting between character close-ups and their focal points, a technique more sophisticated than contemporaries like D.W. Griffith.^[39] Editing, handled by Arthur Ripley from over 60 hours of footage originally spanning 30 reels, employed psychological sequencing to delve into character motivations, though initial versions suffered from arbitrary cuts emphasizing extraneous details before reductions to 10-14 reels for release.^[11]^[31] The film incorporated tints, tones, and hand-colored scenes to heighten atmospheric effects, contributing to its stylistic depth despite post-production constraints.^[31] Stroheim's perfectionism extended to authentic costumes, props like real caviar and champagne, masses of extras in crowd scenes, and nuanced performances emphasizing minute gestures and physiognomy, collectively mitigating melodrama with post-World War I realism and influencing subsequent directors in achieving immersive detail.^[11]^[31] Location shooting in Monaco further grounded the production in tangible locales, rare for the era, prioritizing empirical authenticity over studio artifice.^[11]

Thematic Elements and Interpretations

Foolish Wives centers on themes of deception and imposture, exemplified by the protagonist Count Sergius Karamzin, a fraudulent "Russian aristocrat" who fabricates his identity to prey on affluent victims in post-World War I Monte Carlo.^[40] Karamzin's cons, involving forged documents and manipulated relationships, underscore the fragility of social facades and the ease with which class pretensions enable exploitation.^[11] This motif extends to his accomplices, such as the pseudo-cousins Princess Olga and Countess Anastasia, who collaborate in schemes blending financial gain with personal gratification, revealing a web of mutual deceit among the European elite.^[11] Greed and moral corruption propel the narrative, as Karamzin targets the neglected wife of American envoy Richard Hughes, Helen, alongside other women, in pursuits driven by vanity, cowardice, and insatiable desire for luxury.^[40] The film's lavish depictions of Monte Carlo's casinos and villas contrast the characters' opulent excesses with their underlying hypocrisy, critiquing debauched aristocrats and the nouveau riche who mimic them, often at the expense of "saintly innocents" like the manipulated figures in the story.^[11] Such elements culminate in ironic reversals, including Karamzin's ignominious disposal in a sewer, symbolizing the literal and figurative rubbish heap awaiting unchecked avarice.^[40] Seduction emerges as a dual motif of erotic magnetism and Gothic horror, with Karamzin embodying an aberrant, satanic seducer whose allure masks repulsive intent, as seen in tense encounters blending desire and menace.^[41] Interpretations highlight this as evoking sublime terror through disorienting settings—like stormy landscapes and cavernous interiors—and the protagonist's perverse masculinity, which repulses while captivating, aligning the film with Gothic traditions of beauty intertwined with abjection.^[41] Social commentary on class tensions arises from these dynamics, portraying European aristocracy's decay against American newcomers' relative naivety, though the moralistic denouement imposes Victorian-era judgment on vice without romanticizing the culprits.^[42]^[11]

Legacy and Preservation

Historical Influence

Foolish Wives (1922) marked the first motion picture to exceed a production budget of one million dollars, totaling $1,053,290.80, which demonstrated the viability of lavish, resource-intensive filmmaking and prompted studios to impose stricter oversight on directors' expenditures.^[43]^[11] This extravagance, including the construction of full-scale Monte Carlo sets in California and insistence on authentic props like real caviar and couture, prefigured the conflicts between artistic vision and commercial constraints seen in later epics such as Heaven's Gate (1980).^[8] The film's costly overruns, spanning 11 months of shooting and yielding 60 hours of footage later cut drastically, contributed to the evolution of the Hollywood studio system under figures like Irving Thalberg, who prioritized producer authority to mitigate such fiscal risks.^[43]^[11] Stylistically, the film advanced a "novelistic" approach to cinema, emphasizing intricate social and psychological textures akin to 19th-century literature, through techniques like high and low camera angles, natural lighting, and detailed character close-ups that invited viewer engagement over rapid montage.^[40]^[9] Erich von Stroheim's focus on verisimilitude—replicating European locales and class dynamics—challenged simplistic narrative formulas, blending comedy, tragedy, and realism in ways that influenced subsequent depictions of deception and high society.^[9]^[8] This method elevated silent film's potential for depth, foreshadowing psychological realism in sound-era works. The film's legacy extended to specific inspirations for later filmmakers; Jean Renoir cited it as a major influence on his early oeuvre, while its con artist protagonist and Monte Carlo intrigue echoed in films like Monsieur Klein (1976) and Paper Moon (1973).^[44]^[8] Von Stroheim's persona as a meticulous auteur further fueled cinephile admiration, impacting directors such as Peter Bogdanovich and Orson Welles, and underscoring Foolish Wives' role in establishing the director's cut as a contested ideal in film preservation debates.^[8] Its 2022 centennial restoration by the Museum of Modern Art highlighted enduring appreciation for these elements amid silent cinema's canon.^[8]

Modern Restorations

![Advertisement for restored Foolish Wives][float-right] The most significant modern restoration of Foolish Wives was completed in 2023 through a collaboration between the San Francisco Silent Film Festival and the Museum of Modern Art, resulting in a 147-minute version mastered in 4K resolution.^[32]^[1] This effort incorporated elements from multiple archival prints, including a 35mm black-and-white print held by MoMA of an unreleased re-edited version, as well as international sources to approximate director Erich von Stroheim's intended cut more closely than prior editions.^[32]^[8] The restoration premiered in New York at MoMA on August 24, 2022, marking the film's centennial, and was subsequently released on Blu-ray and DVD by Flicker Alley, featuring original tints, hand-applied color in the fire sequence, and a new orchestral score.^[1]^[45] A precursor to this work, a 2013 restoration achieved a 142-minute runtime by combining domestic and foreign prints, though it remained shorter than the 2023 reconstruction.^[31] Earlier 20th-century attempts, such as Arthur Lennig's 1972 reconstruction from two prints, laid groundwork but were limited by available materials and technology.^[31] These modern restorations highlight ongoing archival efforts to recover von Stroheim's expansive vision, which original releases had severely truncated due to commercial pressures, with the 2023 version praised for its fidelity to surviving intertitles and visual elements.^[33]^[8]

References

[1]
Erich von Stroheim's Foolish Wives - MoMA
Aug 24, 2022 · Advertised as “the first million-dollar movie” when it was released in 1922, Erich von Stroheim's Foolish Wives offered American audiences a ...Missing: cast summary achievements controversies
[2]
Foolish Wives - Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List
Apr 20, 2025 · Directed by Erich von Stroheim. Cast: Erich von Stroheim [Count Sergius Karamzin], Maude George [Princess Olga Petchnikoff], Mae Busch ...<|separator|>
[3]
Foolish Wives - San Francisco Silent Film Festival
A hundred years ago, and for most of a year, Erich von Stroheim commanded Foolish Wives, as writer, director, and star. Universal had allotted him $250,000 ...
[4]
Hollywood's First Million-Dollar Movie - Alta Journal
Apr 28, 2020 · A new restoration of Erich von Stroheim's Foolish Wives reveals the extravagance of his imagination ... Budget overruns grew so large that ...Missing: production | Show results with:production
[5]
Foolish Wives (1922) Film Synopsis and Discussion
The plot is daring and quite advanced for 1922. Sexual pursuit and conquest, closely examined with sardonic wit, was not a typical subject of Hollywood movies.
[6]
Foolish Wives (1922) - The Movie Crash Course
Feb 20, 2019 · But the Count's real M.O. is seduction – winning over wealthy women and swindling them out of money. Their maid, Marushka, is already wrapped ...<|separator|>
[7]
Foolish Wives - Variety
Erich von Stroheim wrote the script, directed, and is the featured player. He's all over the lot every minute. His character is a Russian Captain of Hussars.<|separator|>
[8]
Create the Legend: Erich von Stroheim's Foolish Wives - Roger Ebert
Aug 14, 2022 · A movie called “Foolish Wives” by Erich von Stroheim is going to play a centennial celebration screening at MoMA in a brand new and frankly miraculous ...Missing: critical | Show results with:critical
[9]
Foolish Wives (Erich von Stroheim, 1922) - Senses of Cinema
The book 'Foolish Wives' within the film claims that the European finds a moral code vital while the American, motivated by the urgency of money-making, ...Missing: reception | Show results with:reception
[10]
https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2016/cteq/foolish-wives-erich-von-stroheim-1922
[11]
[PDF] film essay for Foolish Wives - Library of Congress
After directing “The Devil's Passkey”. (1920, a lost film), Stroheim offered Laemmle a simi- lar tale of seduction, this time set in Monte Carlo. The “Foolish ...
[12]
#365) Foolish Wives (1922) – The Horse's Head
Jun 5, 2019 · This is an original screenplay; there is no novel of “Foolish Wives”! ... Erich von Stroheim's original cut was allegedly anywhere from 6 to 10 ...Missing: script origins
[13]
Hollywood and the French Riviera – Revival of the French-American ...
... Foolish Wives (1921), Erich von Stroheim instead opted to build a colossal set of the Monte Carlo Casino on the back lot at Universal Studios. It was only ...
[14]
Foolish Wives - Film (Movie) Plot and Review - Publications
USA, 1922 · Director: Erich von Stroheim · Production: Universal Super Jewel; black and white; originally shot in 35mm, original length: 14,210 feet; released in ...<|separator|>
[15]
Foolish Wives - Silent Era : Home Video Reviews
For his third film Foolish Wives, von Stroheim shot 320 reels of negative, from July 1920 through June 1921. Production costs exceeded $1 million. Stroheim's ...Missing: cast | Show results with:cast
[16]
The Monte Carlo set built for Erich von Stroheim's “Foolish Wives” on ...
Jun 17, 2020 · The Monte Carlo set built for Erich von Stroheim's “Foolish Wives” on the Universal Studios backlot, Universal City, California, circa 1920.
[17]
What was Hollywood's first million-dollar movie? You'll have to go to ...
May 2, 2022 · But there may have been another ulterior motive for von Stroheim's decision to film so much of “Foolish Wives” in Northern California, according ...
[18]
Foolish Wives - UCSC Digital Collections
Foolish Wives, Film in Santa Cruz, 1920, Point Lobos - View of Hotel on Cliff, Santa Cruz County historic photograph collection, Heidrich, A. C., Erich Von ...
[19]
FOOLISH WIVES (1922) – Film Review - ZekeFilm
Mar 12, 2013 · Von Stroheim's work is often marked by an attention to detail. In Foolish Wives, as in all of his productions, the sets are lavishly decorated.Missing: legacy | Show results with:legacy<|control11|><|separator|>
[20]
Foolish Wives (1922) - Filming & production - IMDb
Filming locations ; Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, California, USA. (at Point Lobos) ; Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, California, USA. (set: Monte Carlo ...
[21]
Sea Lion Point | Point Lobos State Reserve - BLOGS@SCU
In 1919 filmmakers erected a full set on Sea Lion Point for the silent film Foolish Wives. The surrounding community of Carmel participated largely in the ...<|separator|>
[22]
Foolish Wives | Danish Film Institute - Det Danske Filminstitut
Foolish Wives. Danish title, Rouletten. Other titles, Rouletten. Director, Erich ... Technical info, 35 mm, Black/white, Silent. Danish theatrical release ...
[23]
Foolish Wives (1922) Technical Specifications - ShotOnWhat?
Jun 15, 2019 · Foolish Wives (1922) tech specs : Directed by Erich von Stroheim with Cinematography by William H. Daniels Cinematography by Ben F. Reynolds ...Missing: stock | Show results with:stock
[24]
Foolish Wives - Blu-ray News and Reviews | High Def Digest
Jan 13, 2014 · 'Foolish Wives' comes with a 1080p HD transfer presented in 1.33:1 aspect ratio. For a movie that is over 90 years old and has been tossed ...
[25]
See the 'million dollar movie' of 1922 at Historic Everett Theatre
about $16 million in ...Missing: budget overruns
[26]
Foolish Wives: the most expensive film in the history (in 1920)
Jun 27, 2022 · Foolish Wives was promoted during production as the “first million dollar movie,” with its budget updated weekly on a billboard in Times Square.Missing: cost length overruns
[27]
More than Max: Erich von Stroheim and Foolish Wives (1922)
Dec 16, 2023 · Sergius also preys on wealthy women who visit nearby Monte Carlo, and Foolish Wives shows us the females who fall under his spell, including ...Missing: critical legacy
[28]
Erich von Stroheim Outraged Those Who Lined Up To ... - PopMatters
Aug 8, 2023 · “The first real million dollar picture” was how Universal advertised Erich von Stroheim's 1922 silent film Foolish Wives, and that was an ...
[29]
FOOLISH WIVES | Il Cinema Ritrovato Festival
Jun 27, 2022 · The final tally reported by Universal's publicists was $1,053,290 – a great deal of money for the infant Hollywood of the time, but in 2022 ...Missing: initial | Show results with:initial
[30]
Facts about "Foolish Wives" : Classic Movie Hub (CMH)
Initially budgeted at $250,000, the film's production soared above $1 million, thanks to Erich von Stroheim's excesses. He started shooting in July 1920 and ...Missing: overruns | Show results with:overruns
[31]
330: Foolish Wives - Archival Spaces
Sep 18, 2023 · When Erich von Stroheim's Foolish Wives opened on 11 January 1922 at the Central Theater on Broadway, it had a length of 14 reels (14,120 ft) ...
[32]
Foolish Wives - San Francisco Silent Film Festival
Foolish Wives. Directed by Erich von Stroheim 147 min | 1922 | United States ... 1922. Runtime. 147 min. Cast. Erich von Stroheim, Miss DuPont, Rudolf ...
[33]
restoring Erich von Stroheim's monumental Foolish Wives - BFI
Sep 14, 2022 · The film reflects this imposture; it's all based around a fictitious book, the 'Foolish Wives ... It was intended to be a detailed story ...Missing: plot | Show results with:plot
[34]
CHANGE "FOOLISH WIVES."; Censors Order Further Deletions in ...
The New York Motion Picture Censorship Commission has ordered further deletions in "Foolish Wives," Joseph Levenson of the commission said yesterday.
[35]
AFI|Catalog
The 20 Nov 1920 Exhibitors Herald announced that director Erich von Stroheim was filming his final scenes. Among the extras were several San Francisco, CA, ...
[36]
2. A History of Censorship of the American Film
Valentino in Blood and Sand (1922) and Erich von Stroheim in Foolish Wives(1922) conveyed a strong sensuality. Although the screen was relatively free from ...
[37]
The Decline of Sentiment: American Film in the 1920s ...
” The New York Times (January 12, 1922: 15) characterized the central character of Foolish Wives as “a human beast of prey, an unbelievably contemptible ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[38]
Foolish Wives (1922) - Toronto Film Society
Aug 18, 2017 · An unworthy theme, the ugly amours of a pseudo-count from Russia, it has been produced with consummate care and unceasing imagination. There is ...
[39]
Foolish Wives (1922) - The Goods: Film Reviews
Jan 19, 2023 · Foolish Wives is a remarkable achievement of filmmaking even in its diminished form. von Stroheim insists the hack job ruined the movie, taking ...
[40]
Second Thoughts on Stroheim - Jonathan Rosenbaum
Aug 5, 2023 · They dramatize these problems, however, in a particularly revealing way: we remember his best works (FOOLISH WIVES, GREED, THE WEDDING MARCH, ...
[41]
“Beauty in the lap of horror”: the Gothic appeal of Erich von Stroheim ...
Aug 16, 2017 · Stroheim's script seals Mrs Hughes's fate. From Foolish Wives (Erich von Stroheim, 1922). This figure is not covered by the Creative Commons ...Missing: origins | Show results with:origins
[42]
Greed - notcoming.com
Aug 29, 2009 · There's no reason to think that the Victorian-flavoured moralistic endings that he gave Blind Husbands and Foolish Wives were not intended by ...<|separator|>
[43]
Hollywood Autocrat - Quillette
Oct 13, 2023 · Foolish Wives is the story of a trio of sleazy pseudo-aristocratic con artists, a phony Russian count (played by Stroheim himself) and his two ...
[44]
https://mediarep.org/bitstreams/d0422cea-2e99-460c...
... Foolish Wives was a major influence on his early work, and his admiration was directly recognized when he gave von Stroheim an important role in The Grand ...
[45]
The FOOLISH WIVES Restoration: Another Triumph For Flicker Alley
Jul 1, 2023 · A newly restored version of FOOLISH WIVES which is a collaborative effort from the Museum of Modern Art and the San Francisco Silent Film Festival.