Foolish Wives Apr 2026

: Played by von Stroheim himself, Karamzin is a "suave but penniless seducer" whose calculated cruelty is masked by a thin veneer of aristocratic charm.

The narrative follows Karamzin and his two "cousins" (accomplices posing as princesses) as they maintain a lavish lifestyle through counterfeiting and social manipulation. Foolish Wives

: Karamzin targets Helen Hughes, the naive wife of an American envoy, intending to extort her family. : Played by von Stroheim himself, Karamzin is

Erich von Stroheim's 1922 masterpiece, , is a decadent, lurid character study that serves as both a triumph of silent cinema and a cautionary tale of directorial excess. Known for its staggering production costs and legendary "lost" footage, the film centers on Count Sergius Karamzin—a fraudulent Russian aristocrat who seduces and fleeces wealthy women in Monte Carlo. A Study in Seduction and Scams Erich von Stroheim's 1922 masterpiece, , is a