Queen Kelly
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Queen Kelly | |
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| Directed by | Erich von Stroheim, Sam Wood (uncredited), |
| Produced by | Eric von Stroheim, Gloria Swanson |
| Written by | Erich von Stroheim, Marion Ainslee (titles) |
| Starring | Gloria Swanson, Walter Byron, Seena Owen |
| Music by | Adolph Tandler |
| Distributed by | Kino Video |
| Running time | 101 minutes |
| Language | Silent with English title cards |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Queen Kelly is the title of an American silent film produced in 1928-29.
The film was directed by Erich von Stroheim and starred Gloria Swanson in the title role.
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[edit] Plot
Kelly is a poor student in a convent who is pursued by a young prince (Walter Byron). The prince is obsessed with her and creates a fake fire (lots of smoke, little fire) in the convent. While the convent seems to be burning he rescues her and bringes her to the castle where he tells her that he loves her. Suddenly the mad queen (Seena Owen) -- who is engaged to be married to the young prince -- storms into the room with a whip, whips Kelly out of the castle, and imprisons the prince. Kelly first tries to commit suicide, but then sails off to Africa to visit her dying aunt -- who owns a brothel. There she marries an old man and takes over the brothel -- finally becoming Queen Kelly.
[edit] Production
The production proved to be very difficult. Von Stroheim had filmed more than four hours worth of film, with much of the story remaining to be filmed, when Swanson, upset by his filming methods, had producer Joseph P. Kennedy fire von Stroheim and halt production. Additional footage was filmed under Swanson's supervision at different times by Richard Boleslawski, Edmund Goulding, and Sam Wood. Some additional scenes were directed by Swanson herself.
[edit] Reception
Queen Kelly was widely publicized during its production due to its elaborate sets and high production values. The new version was not successful with film critics or the viewing public. Von Stroheim's career was virtually ruined by the event, with Hollywood producers viewing him as undisciplined. Swanson's own career was severely damaged by the enterprise. She had new scenes filmed in 1932 which provided some conclusion to some of the storylines, and this new version was released in 1933, outside the U.S. only, due to Swanson's contract with von Stroheim. This version also failed to find an audience.
The film has been reassessed by some modern critics who consider that it contains some of von Stroheim's most striking work.
[edit] Reconstruction and Restoration
Reconstructions of the film, beginning in 1984, have included still photographs from unfilmed sequences, together with previously removed footage, to approximate the film as originally envisioned by von Stroheim.
[edit] Trivia
- Scenes from the film are shown in Sunset Boulevard being watched by Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, and von Stroheim playing her former husband/director, now her butler. Reportedly, von Stroheim suggested using the footage, with his great sense of irony. The film was depicted as having been one of Norma Desmond's great successes.
- According to crew members, the girls who accompany Wolfram to the palace gates were played by real prostitutes from one of the best brothels in Hollywood.[1]
- When Tully Marshall dribbled tobacco juice on Gloria Swanson's hand during the wedding sequence and explained that director Erich von Stroheim ordered him to do it, it was the final straw. She called Joseph P. Kennedy and demanded that Erich von Stroheim be fired, and he was, effectively shutting down the production.[2]
- The positions of the two different groups, the troops and the convent girls, are constantly changing in relation to the shrine on Kambach road.[3]
