Legendary Viennese-born actor/director Erich von Stroheim was once described by Orson Welles as “a true artist – my God, he had talent!”. Yet his battle with the Hollywood establishment and his reputation for extravagance destroyed his film-making career before the coming of sound, leaving such masterworks as Foolish Wives (1922) and severely cut versions of Greed (1924) and The Wedding March (1928).

He remained a charismatic performer in many American and French films, however, appearing with Garbo in As You Desire Me (1932) and working with Renoir in the classic La Grande Illusion (1937). But, sadly, von Stroheim is perhaps best remembered by many for Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950) and his moving portrayal of Norma Desmond’s (Gloria Swanson) ex-director, who is reduced to being her butler. In reality he had directed Swanson in the never-completed Queen Kelly in 1928. When they first met on the set of Five Graves To Cairo in 1942, Wilder told him he’d been ten years ahead of his time. Stroheim replied: “twenty”.

Using a wide selection of clips from many of von Stroheim’s silent and sound films, writer/broadcaster Michael Pointon will profile his career, closing the evening with a rare screening of his first masterpiece from 1919, Blind Husbands, with piano accompaniment.

Doors open at 18.30, for a 19.30 start.

Refreshments will be available in our licensed cafe/bar.

TICKETS & PRICING

£4 (Supported by the Kennington Bioscope). Tickets on the door only.