Foolish Wives (1922)

Set in Monte Carlo, a bogus Russian "Count" (Erich von Stroheim) and his two female "cousins" (Maude George, Mae Busch) are scam artists. His specialty is seducing women and after placing them in compromising situations, extorting money from them. When an American diplomat (Rudolph Christians) and his pretty wife (Miss DuPont) arrive in Monaco, the Count sets about seducing the wife. Written and directed by Erich von Stroheim, this was the most expensive Hollywood film at the time. Monte Carlo was recreated on the stages of Universal studios and von Stroheim envisioned a six hour epic (reputedly it took almost a year to shoot) but Universal nipped that in the bud and cut the film down after its 3 1/2 hour cut premiered in New York. While I absolutely respect an artist's right to his vision, I suspect Universal was smart to edit the film because even at its surviving length of two hours and 14 minutes, the movie's slight narrative doesn't justify its running time. The film was beset with many problems including the death of Rudolph Christians during filming when all his scenes had not been completed and Universal refused von Stroheim's request to refilm his scenes with another actor. What remains is an overlong but often fascinating romantic melodrama. With Dale Fuller and Cesare Gravina.