Von Stroheim's Wearing That Suit Again!


Good friend Mark Vieira (author of seriously gorgeous coffee table books on movie imagery) has alerted me to fact that wily Von has again been sighted in that infamous suit. Was Metro economizing, still punishing him for Greed, or was Stroheim insistent on using his own wardrobe? (note too the ubiquitous bamboo cane of numerous EvS portrait sittings) Anyway, this still’s from As You Desire Me, the year 1932, so the suit remains fresh enough, I assume. Greta Garbo is here with Von, and not unexpectedly, he’s insanely jealous in As You Desire Me as well, so quirky in scenes with stiff, conventional Melvyn Douglas as to make the latter hate him thereafter (as in "The Man You Love To…"). A real knockdown kiss is administered when Von locks lips with GG way more enthusiastically than she likely saw coming. Her recoil after represents finest acting this actress achieved, perhaps because this reaction came most from the heart. Scuttle is Garbo fled from the set in utter revulsion! Well, they told him to kiss her, and holy cats, you can almost feel that nasty tongue all these years later. Watch when you get a chance, and see what I mean.