Erich von Stroheim

Birthday: 22 September 1885, Vienna, Austria-Hungary [now Austria]

Birth Name: Erich Oswald Stroheim

Height: 170 cm

Erich von Stroheim was born Erich Oswald Stroheim in 1885, in Vienna, Austria, to Johanna (Bondy), from Prague, and Benno Stroheim, a hatmaker from Gliwice, Poland. His family was Jewish.After spendin ...Show More

[Sunday, May 18, 1941, article "I Am an American Day") I feel that the many reasons why I am glad to Show more [Sunday, May 18, 1941, article "I Am an American Day") I feel that the many reasons why I am glad to be an American will be propounded by others more articulate and eloquent than I . . . therefore I shall not touch "Liberty" and all other prerogatives that are America's. One reason I dare mention. I have been traveling abroad a great deal lately and I have had ample opportunity to notice the profound respect that little red passport with that gilded spread eagle and that simple inscription, "United States of America", commands everywhere . . . no matter who the bearer may be. They may not love us everywhere . . . but they respect and fear us. I prefer that! Hide

If you live in France and you have written one good book, or painted one good picture, or directed o Show more If you live in France and you have written one good book, or painted one good picture, or directed one outstanding film, 50 years ago, and nothing ever since, you are still recognized as an artist and honored accordingly . . . In Hollywood - in Hollywood, you're as good as your last picture. If you didn't have one in production in the last three months, you're forgotten, no matter what you have achieved ere this. It is that terrific, unfortunately necessary, egotism in the makeup of the people who make the cinema, it is the continuous endeavor for recognition, that continuous struggle for survival and supremacy, among the newcomers, that relegates the old-timers to the ashcan. Hide

[introducing his version of The Merry Widow (1925)] All the good things in this film were made by me Show more [introducing his version of The Merry Widow (1925)] All the good things in this film were made by me. The things that are no good in it were made by others. Hide

My Vienna is as different from what they call Vienna now as the quick is from the dead. My Vienna is as different from what they call Vienna now as the quick is from the dead.

[shouting at actors while shooting Foolish Wives (1922)] I'm making this picture for the theatre! No Show more [shouting at actors while shooting Foolish Wives (1922)] I'm making this picture for the theatre! Not for the actors! Hide

Yelling at Jean Hersholt and Gibson Gowland during a fight scene in Greed (1924), "Fight! Fight! Try Show more Yelling at Jean Hersholt and Gibson Gowland during a fight scene in Greed (1924), "Fight! Fight! Try to hate each other as you both hate me!" Hide

[on Irving Thalberg and the cutting of Greed (1924)] The man who cut my picture has nothing on his h Show more [on Irving Thalberg and the cutting of Greed (1924)] The man who cut my picture has nothing on his head but a hat! Hide

The difference between me and [Ernst Lubitsch] is that he shows you the king on the throne and then Show more The difference between me and [Ernst Lubitsch] is that he shows you the king on the throne and then he shows you the king in his bedroom. I show you the king in his bedroom first. Then when you see him on the throne you have no illusions about him. Hide

[dying in bed, telling his biographer] This is not the worst. The worst is that they stole 25 years Show more [dying in bed, telling his biographer] This is not the worst. The worst is that they stole 25 years from my life . . . Hide

[on seeing the two-hour version of Greed (1924), rather than the whole film] It was like viewing a c Show more [on seeing the two-hour version of Greed (1924), rather than the whole film] It was like viewing a corpse in a graveyard. Hide

Erich von Stroheim's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (14) as Director (1) as Creator (1)

Foolish Wives

Erich von Stroheim'S roles

Max von Mayerling