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. A real knockdown kiss is administered when Von locks lips with GG way more enthusiastically than she likely saw coming. Her recoil ranks among best acting this actress achieved, a reaction clearly genuine. Scuttle is Garbo fled from the set in utter revulsion. Well, they told him to kiss her, and we feel yet that nasty tongue drilling in. Watch when you get a chance, and see what I mean, but wait, As You Desire me is currently withdrawn from broadcast and video availability, so for now at least, the famine is on.