Regular readers will know that
Flicker Alley is responsible for some of the most impressive classic film releases of the last few years.
Flicker Alley has done it again with this summer's release of
Erich von Stroheim's silent film FOOLISH WIVES (1922). This combination Blu-ray/DVD set features a new restoration of the movie by the Museum of Modern Art and the San Francisco Silent Film Festival.
The film, which premiered in 1922 at a length of 14 reels, was gradually cut down to 117 minutes. This version, based on an early 1970s restoration by the American Film Institute, runs 147 minutes.
The Flicker Alley booklet says that while the new release is the same running time as the restoration of half a century ago, this is "a significant upgrade," combining the earliest possible film sources with modern restoration techniques.
von Stroheim not only directed FOOLISH WIVES, he also wrote the original story and stars as "Count" Karamzin. Karamzin and his "cousins" (Maude George and Mae Busch), supposedly Russian princesses, are renting a villa outside Monte Carlo.
In reality the trio are unscrupulous fraudsters who pass counterfeit money and bilk the wealthy. Karamzin's latest target is Helen Hughes (Miss Dupont), the wife of the new ambassador to Monaco (Rudolph Christians); he believes that cultivating her as a friend -- or
more -- will cause Monaco society not to question his "family's" background. Helen is sweet, gullible, and a little bored with her devoted but staid husband; she's the perfect mark.
Karamzin is a sleaze extraordinaire, as he also has his eye on the mentally challenged daughter (Malvine Polo) of the counterfeiter (Cesare Gravina) he works with...and he's also promised to marry the maid, Maruschka (Dale Fuller).
The maid, realizing she's been led on, sets fire to a building which traps Karamzin and Helen, which starts the ball rolling downhill to Karamzin's ruin...
This was an interesting film, described by von Stroheim in an opening narrative card as "A tale of crime through the life of someone who knows it." The plot was frankly a little "out there" for me to fully enjoy that aspect; the dark tone is set from the opening scenes in the villa, with incense burning, one of the mean "Princesses" pinching the maid's arm when she's displeased, and the Count drinking an animal blood cocktail (?!) for breakfast. It's made clear at the outset that these are very abnormal people.
On the other hand, the film's narrative cards are delightful, even hilarious, such as a description of Monte Carlo which says in part that it's a place of "Amours! - and Suicides - and waves - and waves - and waves!"
After the Count and Helen end up trapped by the fire, one of the "princesses" says "You were supposed to compromise her, but you didn't have to call out the fire department!"
That levity helped offset the story itself, which frankly feels fairly grimy at times. von Stroheim, in particular, is fearless in playing a real creep. The moment where he jumps from a burning building first, leaving Helen behind, was a true gasp-inducing moment.
I was also wowed by the production values of this famously expensive movie, "the first real million dollar picture." There are elaborate sets with scores of extras; some of the filming (by William Daniels and Ben Reynolds) took place along California's Monterey coastline.
In addition to the aforementioned fire, there's a huge rainstorm, and the night scenes have beautiful tinting. The film is a visual pleasure, even if the story is on the sordid side, and it's hard to imagine this century-old film looking better than it does as seen on Flicker Alley's new Blu-ray.
As usual, Flicker Alley's set is visually enticing in and of itself; the Blu-ray and DVD (seen here) have attractive coordinated colors, and there's also reversible cover art. An informative illustrated 24-page booklet is included in the case.
Extensive extras include a documentary on the making of the film with Dave Kehr of MOMA; featurettes on the film's restoration and on the locations; an archival short with footage from the set; photo galleries; and restoration comparisons.
The film is accompanied by a new orchestral score composed and conducted by Timothy Brock which was originally commissioned for the 2020 San Francisco Silent Film Festival.
Thanks to Flicker Alley for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray/DVD set.
The set may be purchased at the Flicker Alley website or through retailers such as Amazon.
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