When young baby-faced producer Irving Thalberg fired legendary director Eric von Stroheim from his film Merry-Go-Round in 1923 it was apparent to all involved in the motion picture business that the age of director had ended. Prior to this and another event in 1927 – the release of the first all-sound picture, The Jazz Singer – the director had been king, ruler of the faces and guide to poor lost actors and actresses.
Following that he became a lesser being, although still wildly respected. I make note of course to a few directors such as Alfred Hitchcock who were kings; I would list Stanley Kubrick but I shan’t because Kubrick was also a screenwriter – and a good one. I mention that because as directors declined with the intrusion – or was it gift? – of sound, the screenwriters reigned supreme, a most dislikeable trait for a writer who must always be a narcissist regarding his work.
Following that he became a lesser being, although still wildly respected. I make note of course to a few directors such as Alfred Hitchcock who were kings; I would list Stanley Kubrick but I shan’t because Kubrick was also a screenwriter – and a good one. I mention that because as directors declined with the intrusion – or was it gift? – of sound, the screenwriters reigned supreme, a most dislikeable trait for a writer who must always be a narcissist regarding his work.
- 4/26/2013
- by Quinn Steers
- We Got This Covered
Feb 04, 2011
Frank Norris' novel McTeague was the basis for Erich von Stroheim's film Greed. Though he had purchased the rights to it, he never got the production off the ground until Irving Thalberg, disgusted with von Stroheim's method of extravagant production on Merry-Go-Round, quarrelled with him, and von Stroheim was dismissed as Universal's most prestigious director/producer. It did not take long for von Stroheim to sign with Goldwyn studios, where it was soon announced that his first production would be a film depiction of McTeague.
The Norris novel is a dramatic and sordid but realistic ...Read more at MovieRetriever.com...
Frank Norris' novel McTeague was the basis for Erich von Stroheim's film Greed. Though he had purchased the rights to it, he never got the production off the ground until Irving Thalberg, disgusted with von Stroheim's method of extravagant production on Merry-Go-Round, quarrelled with him, and von Stroheim was dismissed as Universal's most prestigious director/producer. It did not take long for von Stroheim to sign with Goldwyn studios, where it was soon announced that his first production would be a film depiction of McTeague.
The Norris novel is a dramatic and sordid but realistic ...Read more at MovieRetriever.com...
- 2/4/2011
- CinemaNerdz
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.