Blind Husbands (1919)

Note des utilisateurs:

6.7/10   

Réalisateur:

Erich von Stroheim

Writers:

Lillian Ducey (titles)
Erich von Stroheim (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 octobre 1919 (USA)

Genre:

Drame | Romance

Plot:

An Austrian military officer and roue' attempts to seduce the wife of a surgeon. The two men confront...

Plot Keywords:

Wife | Mountain Climbing | Dog | Husband Wife Relationship | Rescue

Avis des utilisateurs:

Restraint

Ensemble

Sam De Grasse	...	Dr. Armstrong
Francelia Billington	...	Margaret Armstrong
Erich von Stroheim	...	Lieutenant Erich von Steuben
Gibson Gowland	...	Silent Sepp (as T.H. Gibson Gowland)
Fay Holderness	...	The 'Vamp' Waitress
Ruby Kendrick	...	A Village Blossom
Valerie Germonprez	...	The Newlywed
Jack Perrin	...	The Newlywed
Richard Cummings	...	The Village Physician
Louis Fitzroy	...	The Village Priest
William De Vaull	...	Man from 'Home'
Jack Mathis	...	Man from 'Home'
Percy Challenger	...	Man from 'Home'

Autre(s) titre(s):

The Pinnacle (USA) (working title)
La loi des montagnes (France) [fr]

Durée:

68 min | USA:91 min (DVD release) | Germany:99 min (Berlin International Film Festival)

Pays:

USA

Langue:

Anglais

Couleur:

Noir et Blanc

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Son:

Silent

Company:

Universal Film Manufacturing Company

Anecdotes:

422 different titles were considered for the adaptation of "The Pinacle". The eventual choice was made by New York exhibitors from a shortlist of eight.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In one shot, when the wife walks across her bedroom, a spotlight beam is visible on the ground following her.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Hollywood" (1980)

Restraint

The story is simple and unoriginal: a love triangle, plus man's determination to conquer nature. But, this early effort by director Erich von Stroheim displays great restraint, especially for a filmmaker who would become notorious for excess. His films, such as 'Greed' (1924) are better known for their production and post-production histories than for their actual merits. He would shoot an excessive amount of footage for films of extraordinary length, which the producers then butchered. That's not the case with 'Blind Husbands,' though; this one has a normal runtime.

It also features the familiar Stroheim touches on a smaller scale. The acting is rather subtile. Stroheim introduces his typical role as a villainous Teutonic womanizer, with a scar, a monocle and a history of military service--"the man you love to hate." Here, he's the other man. Furthermore, the mise-en-scène takes precedence over camera movement or editing. The décor is detailed and occasionally allegorical to the melodrama. Attention to lighting is also evident. 'Blind Husbands' is sensational and too contrived and ruminant at times, but, for the most part, the simple story is harmonious with the restrained, yet detailed, film-making.