141.22 min.
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Foolish Wives (1922) is an American drama silent film written and directed by Erich von Stroheim. Although uncredited, Irving Thalberg, aged 22, was in charge of production and would go on to become one of the most famous studio heads of all time at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The drama features von Stroheim, Rudolph Christians, Miss DuPont, Maude George, and others.
When released in 1922, the film was the most expensive film made at that time, and billed by Universal Studios as the "first million-dollar movie" to come out of Hollywood. Originally, von Stroheim intended the film to run anywhere between 6 and 10 hours, and be shown over two evenings, but Universal executives opposed this idea. The studio bosses cut the film drastically before the release date.
In 2008, Foolish Wives was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
The silent drama tells the story of a man who names himself Count Wladislaw Sergius Karamzin (von Stroheim) in order to seduce rich women and extort money from them.
He has set up shop in Monte Carlo and his partners in crime (and possible lovers) are his cousins: faux-Princess Vera Petchnikoff (Busch) and faux-Her Highness Olga Petchnikoff (George).
Count Karamzin begins his latest scam on the unworldly wife of an American envoy, Helen Hughes (Miss Dupont), even though her husband is nearby.
Cast
Rudolph Christians as Andrew J. Hughes, U.S. Special-Envoy to Monaco
Miss DuPont as Helen Hughes, his wife
Maude George as Her Highness Olga Petchnikoff
Mae Busch as Princess Vera Petchnikoff
Erich von Stroheim as Their Cousin, Count Wladislaw Sergius Karamzin (Russian Captain of Hussars)
Dale Fuller as Maruschka, a Maid
Al Edmundsen as Pavel Pavlich, a Butler
Cesare Gravina as Cesare Ventucci, a Counterfeiter
Malvina Polo as Marietta, his half-witted daughter
C.J. Allen as Albert I, Prince of Monaco
The film began director von Stroheim's reputation as a "manic perfectionist," a huge money spender, and as a director that needed to be brought under control. During filming, the costs for the film soared. While the budget was slated at $250,000, according to von Stroheim, it ended at $750,000. At the end, Universal Studio, estimated the costs at $1,225,000. During the production, Carl Laemmle, the head of Universal, appointed 20-year-old Irving Thalberg as head of the studio. Right away the new studio chief started clashing with von Stroheim, whom he considered a spendthrift.
The producers had censorship problems with the New York Motion Picture Censorship Commission. Not only did the Commission order specific cuts in the film, but they requested that all advertising be submitted for their review. Carl Laemmle denied to the press that they complied with any specific request from the Commission. Instead, he said the cuts were made due to the film's excessive length.
Actor Rudolph Christians died on February 7, 1921 from pneumonia during production, and his part was taken over by Robert Edeson. Edeson only showed his back to the camera so as not to clash with shot footage of Christians that was still to be used in the completed film.
Original prints reportedly had hand coloring of certain scenes by artist Gustav Brock.
When released, the staff at Variety magazine, in their review of the film, concentrated on the film's expensive costs and von Stroheim's involvement. They wrote, "According to the Universal's press department, the picture cost $1,103,736.38; was 11 months and six days in filming; six months in assembling and editing; consumed 320,000 feet of negative, and employed as many as 15,000 extras for atmosphere. Foolish Wives shows the cost - in the sets, beautiful backgrounds and massive interiors that carry a complete suggestion of the atmosphere of Monte Carlo, the locale of the story. And the sets, together with a thoroughly capable cast, are about all the picture has for all the heavy dough expended. Obviously intended to be a sensational sex melodrama, Foolish Wives is at the same time frankly salacious...Erich von Stroheim wrote the script, directed, and is the featured player. He's all over the lot every minute."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foolish_Wives
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