Foolish Wives Overview:

Foolish Wives (1922) was a Drama - Black-and-white Film directed by Erich von Stroheim and produced by Irving Thalberg.

Foolish Wives was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2008.

BlogHub Articles:

More than Max: Erich von Stroheim and Foolish Wives (1922)

By shadowsandsatin on Dec 16, 2023 From Shadows and Satin

If you?re like me, you know Erich von Stroheim best as Max Von Mayerling, the butler (and first husband) of aging silent movie star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) in the classic 1950 noir Sunset Blvd. But there was so much more to von Stroheim than Max. While writing about von Stroheim for the soon-... Read full article


See all Foolish Wives articles

Quotes from

No Quote for this film.

Facts about

Erich von Stroheim's excesses on the film also included ordering lavish evening gowns from Paris, silk stockings, and monogrammed silk underwear for his actors to wear so they could "feel more like aristocrats." He decorated his sets with real porcelain, tapestries and crystal chandeliers. At banquet scenes he insisted on using real champagne and caviar. When asked by a studio executive why he couldn't substitute ginger ale and blackberry jam as props for the champagne and caviar, von Stroheim replied, "Because my actors will know the difference, I will know the difference, and the camera will know the difference."
In an episode of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, entitled "Hollywood Follies," a young Indiana Jones (played by Sean Patrick Flanery) is sent to Hollywood by Carl Laemmle to order Erich von Stroheim (played by Dana Gladstone) to shut down production on "Foolish Wives" - something the egomaniacal director refuses to do, despite Indy's efforts. Ironically, one of the actual cast members of "Foolish Wives" was Harrison Ford, a noted silent movie actor (and no relation to the "Indiana Jones" series star).
Mrs. Hughes can be seen reading a book with the title "Foolish Wives", written by Erich von Stroheim.
read more facts about Foolish Wives...
Share this page:
Visit the Classic Movie Hub Blog CMH
National Film Registry

Foolish Wives

Released 1922
Inducted 2008
(Silent)




See All Films in National Registry >>
Also directed by Erich von Stroheim




More about Erich von Stroheim >>
Also produced by Irving Thalberg




More about Irving Thalberg >>
Also released in 1922




See All 1922 films >>