One of those silent movies that feels like a hazy dream when viewed (just add Dark Side of the Moon and a joint to complete the illusion). Von Stroheim struts about in his fetishistic military regalia, but it's a young Fay Wray who shines as the innkeeper's daughter who catches his eye.
The story is ostensibly a simple love triangle in Vienna, but it's elevated considerably by director Erich von Stroheim via his biting commentary on men and marriage. Fay Wray plays an innkeeper's daughter who is dating a crude butcher (Matthew Betz) when she sees and begins flirting with a cavalry officer (von Stroheim).
A young impoverished aristocrat falls in love with an inn-keeper's daughter (Fay Wray), but has to marry money.As was often the case with films directed by Stroheim, the film's accuracy resulted in high expenses and production value.
Known today mostly for his heartbreaking servile turn in Sunset Boulevard, people forget how close that role hit home for Erich von Stroheim, as he really WAS a former director of the silent era, with The Wedding March as one of his greatest triumphs.The film is far more humorous and light than I had expected, at least initially.
In Vienna, before The Great War (aka World War I), dashing Erich von Stroheim (as Nicki) is a Prince with little family money; therefore, parents George Fawcett and Maude George (as Prince and Princess von Wildeliebe-Rauffenburg) want their son to wed the wealthy, but crippled, Zasu Pitts (as Cecelia). Mr.
Erich von Stroheim directs himself in the lead in this silent film from 1928.The Wedding March tells about Prince Nicki (von Stroheim) who has to marry money.
Once more Von Stroheim formulates a sharp rejectance towards the declined empire of the Habsburg monarchy in Austria, where marriages for financial reasons are discussed in whorehouses, where noble lovers disdainfully seduce and then leave simple girls from the commons. The dramaturgic constellation is sentimentally done, but the staging is all the more furious and aggressive.
Lavish film by Erich von Stroheim with Fay Wray (minus King Kong!).
A sweet, sweet film full of apple blossoms, parades, and Miss Wray's delight at being bought a box of chocolates ... absolutely wonderful ...
