STROHEIM, ERICH VON. (1885-1957). Austrian-Jewish, American avant-garde silent film director, screenwriter and actor. DS. (“Erich von Stroheim”). 2pp. On a single sheet. 4to. Culver City, July 21, 1936. Partially printed contract completed in type on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation letterhead by which Stroheim sells the rights to a film project, Arsène Lupin, to MGM.
Stroheim’s 1924 Silent Film “Greed”
After fleeing Austrian military service, Stroheim made his way to Hollywood where he gained a foothold into the film industry by working as a stuntman, extra and consultant on German culture. With the American entry into World War I, he was cast as the German villain in films including The Hun Within and The Heart of Humanity. But by 1919, he was directing and starring in his own films including, Blind Husbands, The Devil’s Pass Key (now lost), Foolish Wives, and Merry-Go-Round. His 1924 film Greed, one of the first movies to be shot entirely on location, is considered one of the best films ever made, with much lore surrounding the now-lost uncut version. During filming, Goldwyn Pictures studio was purchased by Marcus Loew to become Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which removed control of Greed from Stroheim after he was unable to edit it to under three hours in length. The studio’s shortened version was a box office flop but was followed by Stroheim’s popular The Merry Widow in 1925. The demise of silent films combined with Stroheim’s artistic disagreements with those who ran the film industry led to fewer opportunities as a director and so he turned to acting in the French film industry, starring in Jean Renoir’s La Grand Illusion and other films. As an actor, he is best remembered for his semi-autobiographical character in Billy Wilder’s 1950 film Sunset Boulevard.
Our contract regards the 1938 film Arsène Lupin Returns, based on French author Maurice Leblanc’s eponymous gentleman thief character. The screenplay was initially credited to Stroheim and George Harmon Coxe and was meant to star William Powell as Arsène Lupin and Spencer Tracy as an American detective. Ultimately, however, the film featured Melvyn Douglas, Warren William and Virginia Bruce. “Stroheim’s name is not mentioned in connection with the screenplay after 1936, and the extent of his participation in the completed film has not been determined,” (AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The First 100 Years 1893-1993, catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/4938).
Boldly signed and dated in Stroheim’s hand. Uncommon.
