Monte Carlo, immediately following the end of the The Great War: In a rented villa, the rakish “Count” Vladislaw Sergius Karamzi (von Stroheim) is wiling away the summer with his two “cousins,” Her Highness Olga Petchnikoff (Maude George) and Princess Vera (Mae Busch). The threesome enjoys a life of luxury while passing the counterfeit money they receive from an Italian engraver named Ventucci (Cesare Gravina).
To make their scam seem more believable they conspire to get into the good graces of an inept American diplomat Mr. Hughes (Rudolph Christians) and his wife, Helen (Miss DuPont), newly arrived in Monaco, and unfamiliar with the area and way of life. Karamzi, a ladies’ man with a weakness for American women,” sets out to try and woo the beautiful Helen without raising suspicions with her husband. In one sequence, he takes Helen for a walk in the countryside—his “cousin,” posing as chaperone, stays behind at the local inn—and intentionally gets them lost in a vicious storm, forcing them to take shelter in the cottage of an old hag. All the while, Karamzi is planning his ‘romantic assault.’ Despite careful planning, he’s interrupted by a priest hoping to get out of the rain! The contrasting personalities of the two men serve to point out just what a predatory louse Karamzi is.
von Stroheim had a reputation as an egotistical, tyrannical director who often brought his actors to tears. He always kept a tight grip on his productions, running over budget (this was the first film to cost $1 million), and schedule. It should come as no surprise then that most of von Stroheim’s acting roles were villains, and he was very adept and comfortable playing them. Foolish Wives finds him playing the villain alongside with two ladies who are equally villainous. Both Maude George and Mae Bush are brilliantly wicked as his accomplices. Mae Bush’s sarcastic faces are particularly effective; this is a woman willing to do whats needed to see the scam through.
The American Film Institute led the restoration that was used on this Blu-ray, assembling every available piece of footage to get Foolish Wives as close as possible to what Erich von Stroheim intended. The 1.33:1, 1080p transfer is excellent. Resolution is amazing, and the grain appears natural. While there is some obvious damage to the source elements, it’s obvious that great care was taken to make it look as good as possible. The contrast in the black-and-white presentation enables a strong level of detail. Silent film aficionados should be very pleased.
Rodney Sauer has recorded the original score for the disc, written for Foolish Wives‘ initial release by Sigmund Romberg. The stereo track sounds great, with appropriate volume levels that enhances the viewing experience.
The following extras are available:
- Audio Commentary with von Stroheim Biographer Richard Kozarski: Kozarski discusses the film’s themes, while also looking at it’s somewhat bumpy production. Kozarski clearly knows his stuff, and shares information that fans of the film will be happy to discover.
- The Man You Loved to Hate (HD, 1:30:08) The gem of the set, Patrick Montgomery’s 1979 documentary looks at on Stroheim’s life and career, featuring clips from his films and acting appearances and interviews with producers, cinematographers, screenwriters, and others who knew him.
- Audio Interview Clips: Includes additional audio-only interviews with von Stroheim producer/agent Paul Kohner (5:06) and wife Valerie von Stroheim (4:58), taken from The Man You Loved to Hate research materials.
- New York Censor Board Cuts (HD, 3:45) A montage of scenes/shots cut as required by the New York Censor Board.
- Photo Gallery (HD) A user-controlled gallery with 32 stills and promotional images.·
