Main Cast: Erich Von Stroheim, Fay Wray, George Fawcett, George Nichols, ZaSu Pitts, Maude George
Release Year: 1928
Country: US
Run Time: 113 minutes
Plot
Having alienated virtually all the major Hollywood studios, filmmaker Erich Von Stroheim turned to independent entrepreneur Pat Powers for funding for his 1927 epic The Wedding March. Set during the Austro-Hungarian Hapsburg regime, the film stars director Von Stroheim as wastrelly Prince Nikki, who is advised by his parents to marry into money if he hopes to keep up his sumptuous lifestyle. During the Corpus Christi festival (much of which is lensed in early Technicolor), Nikki spots the beautiful peasant girl Mitzi (Fay Wray) in the crowd. The two fall in love, but happiness eludes them: Nikki is slated to marry the homely, clubfooted daughter (ZaSu Pitts) of a millionaire corn-plaster manufactuer, while Mitzi's erstwhile boy friend, a mean-spirited butcher (Matthew Betz) who despises the aristocracy, promises dire consequences to Nikki for compromising Mitzi. Despite his dissipated, debauched lifestyle, Prince Nikki develops into the most sympathetic character in the film. As it now exists, The Wedding March is one of Von Stroheim's best films; incredibly, it was originally the first half of a two-part production (the second half, The Wedding, no longer exists). Released by Paramount, the film did excellent business during its first week-then dropped off precipitously, one of several factors which caused an irreparable rift between Von Stroheim and his new benefactor Powers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The Wedding March benefits from the meticulous excesses of director Erich von Stroheim, though it benefits somewhat less from his lead performance. The early Technicolor sequences are quite striking, hinting at the visual masterpieces that von Stroheim might have made had he not become persona non grata in Hollywood studios. Unfortunately for von Stroheim, The Wedding March was less than successful at the box office, and it was the last of his major directorial efforts to be completed and released. Fans of King Kong will enjoy seeing Fay Wray in a substantial acting role, while ZaSu Pitts is similarly good as the rich girl that von Stroheim's character must marry. Also of note are the sets and the films' use of lighting to create atmosphere, both of which exemplify von Stroheim's mastery of production techniques. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide
Hughie Mack - Wine-garden keeper; Matthew Betz - Schani Eberle; Cesare Gravina - Martin Schrammel, Mitzi's Father; Dale Fuller - Katerina, Mitzi's Mother; Sidney Bracey - Navratil, Nikki's Valet; Albert Conti - Officer of the Imperial Guard; Carey Harrison - Officer of the Imperial Guard; Danny Hoy - Mountain Idiot; Lucille Van Lent - Maid to Prince Nikki; Anton Vaverka - Emperor Franz-Joseph; William Von Brincken - Officer of the Imperial Guard; Lurie Weiss - Maid to Cecelia; Don Ryan - Archduke Leopold Salvator; Alec C. Snowden - Black Servant at Brothel
Credit
Richard Day - Art Director, Erich Von Stroheim - Art Director, Max Ree - Costume Designer, Erich Von Stroheim - Director, Frank E. Hull - Editor, Josef von Sternberg - Editor, Louis de Francesco - Composer (Music Score), J.S. Zamecnik - Composer (Music Score), William McGann - Cinematographer, Hal Mohr - Cinematographer, Benjamin F. Reynolds - Cinematographer, Roy Klaffki - Cinematographer, Harry Thorpe - Cinematographer, P.A. Powers - Producer, Erich Von Stroheim - Screenwriter, Harry Carr - Screenwriter
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