Erich von Stroehim

 Erich von Stroheim




Blind Husbands (1919)

Foolish Wives (1922)

Greed (1924)

The Merry Widow (1925)

Queen Kelly (1932)




RANKED:

5. Queen Kelly (1932)


"Queen Kelly" was the last film Erich von Stroheim ever directed. Although it was in production in 1928, it did not get an official release until 1932. This was due to Stroheim being fired from the production for an undesirable storyline. The film, although it was forgotten amongst the talking pictures that year, does have a connection to a massive film. "Sunset Boulevard" has its connections to the film, showcasing Erich von Stroheim and Gloria Swanson as forgotten powerhouses of the industry. That seems to be what the film represents now: a forgotten relic of a bygone era. 




4. The Merry Widow (1925)


In this adaptation of the famous German operetta, "The Merry Widow" demonstrates how the lust for sex and the lust for power are inseparable to the extremely wealthy. It was in Erich von Stroheim's contract to direct this film, and he brought his typical Stroheim lavishness. The sets were immaculate, the costumes were lush, and the story was seeping in sexual overtones. This silent MGM classic went on to be the highest-grossing film of Stroheim's career.




3. Foolish Wives (1922)


Simplistically, you could define Erich von Stroheim's "Foolish Wives" as the initial fuse that lit the flame of the 'controlling' Hollywood Studio System narrative. Marketed as the 'first million dollar picture,' the film used its budget in the decor. The authenticity of the facsimile Monte Carlo wowed and stunned audiences. The plot, however, was simply a melodramatic sex romp. Because of the increasing prudish nature of the Hollywood system, they heavily censored the film's sexual overtones. What remains is a film with all style, and no substance - despite its rousing success which would ensure the success of all future emptily, lavish productions.




2. Blind Husbands (1919)


In his debut feature film, Erich von Stroheim took cinematic inventions from D.W. Griffith and carried on the innovative tradition. "Blind Husbands" showcase how cinema could continue on with its camerawork, acting, and psychological storytelling. A very simple story about a love triangle turned into a sensational masterwork in subtle filmmaking advancements. 



1. Greed (1924)


Considered a masterpiece by all, "Greed" had an enormous impact on cinema. Erich von Stroheim's original 6-hour film was reduced to only 2 hours. Many who saw the original version consider it the greatest film ever made. Its contents are now lost, but the 2-hour version that remains is still what Jean Renoir calls "the film of films." Stroheim uses naturalism to depict humanity as animals driven by their basic impulses. His unyielding gaze at humanity's fallouts invigorated storytellers everywhere. Jean Renoir, Ernst Lubitsch, Sergei Eisenstein, and Josef von Sternberg were all influenced by "Greed." Stroheim's use of Soviet montage, deep focus, lighting, and on-location shooting were methods employed well before their popularity. All of these filmmaking techniques were employed to show a modern Greek tragedy. At the heart of "Greed" lies a story of characters who are not trapped by what is happening TO them, but rather, what they are doing to themselves.

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