We finally get a chance to witness von Stroheim's intended juxtaposed and parallel themes that show how little separates the debauchery of both the low and privileged classes, similar to the parallel themes of the intended full-length version of Greed (1924). We come to understand that von Stroheim may have seemed to be wildly out-of-control but was, instead perhaps, only ... Read morefanatical in his pursuit of his vision of cinema realistique… Ultimately, this book is a required acquisition for fans of von Stroheim, one that is on the same level of importance as Herman Weinberg's volumes on von Stroheim films.
Carl Bennet/Editor
Silent Era
The lengthy introduction, which traces the film's tortured production, shows all the hallmarks of dedicated research, whilst the script's descriptive passages vividly conjure a sense of the intended opulence...bound to impress scholars of the late silent era.
Film Review Magazine
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