Blind Husbands
"A story of the mountains and men who dared their dangers!"
Plot
Dr. Armstrong, a dedicated American surgeon, takes his wife Margaret on vacation to the Austrian Alps, hoping to spend quality time together. Their peaceful retreat is interrupted when they encounter the dashing and predatory Austrian officer, von Steuben, who becomes immediately infatuated with Margaret. As Dr. Armstrong remains oblivious to his wife's emotional needs, von Steuben systematically attempts to seduce Margaret through charm, persistence, and psychological manipulation. The tension culminates when both men engage in a dangerous climbing competition on the treacherous mountain peaks, serving as a metaphorical and literal test of their abilities and character. The confrontation ends in an unexpected twist that reveals the true nature of both men and the strength of the Armstrong marriage. The film explores themes of marital neglect, temptation, and redemption against the spectacular backdrop of the Alps.
About the Production
Erich von Stroheim insisted on filming on location in the Sierra Nevada mountains despite studio objections, requiring cast and crew to endure harsh conditions at high altitudes. He demanded absolute authenticity, using real mountain climbing equipment and hiring professional climbers as stunt doubles. The production was notorious for going over budget and schedule due to von Stroheim's perfectionism and his tendency to shoot excessive footage. Universal initially wanted to fire him but was impressed by the dailies. The film's original title was 'The Pinnacle' before being changed to 'Blind Husbands.'
Historical Background
Made in the immediate aftermath of World War I, 'Blind Husbands' reflected changing attitudes toward marriage, sexuality, and European sophistication in America. The film's Austrian villain resonated with contemporary audiences still processing the war's aftermath and the complex relationship between America and Europe. 1919 was also a period of significant transformation in Hollywood, with directors beginning to assert more creative control and films becoming increasingly sophisticated in their storytelling and visual style. The year marked the beginning of Hollywood's golden age, with studios investing more heavily in quality productions. The film's exploration of marital dissatisfaction and female desire was somewhat progressive for its time, reflecting the broader social changes of the Jazz Age, including evolving gender roles and increasing frankness about sexuality in popular culture.
Why This Film Matters
'Blind Husbands' marked a turning point in American cinema, demonstrating that films could tackle complex psychological themes and adult relationships with sophistication. It established von Stroheim as a major auteur director and helped elevate the artistic ambitions of Hollywood filmmaking. The film's success proved that audiences would accept morally ambiguous characters and complex narratives, paving the way for more sophisticated Hollywood productions in the 1920s. Its realistic location shooting influenced other directors to move beyond studio constraints, while its psychological depth prefigured the film noir movement of the 1940s. The film also helped establish the 'triangle' plot structure that would become a staple of melodramatic cinema. Von Stroheim's meticulous attention to detail and refusal to compromise his artistic vision inspired future generations of filmmakers to fight for creative control.
Making Of
The production of 'Blind Husbands' was marked by von Stroheim's legendary perfectionism and conflicts with Universal Studios. He insisted on filming in actual mountain locations, forcing the cast and crew to work in extreme weather conditions. Von Stroheim would often shoot 50-100 takes of a single scene, driving Universal executives to distraction. He also demanded complete creative control, refusing studio interference in any aspect of production. The film's success was particularly surprising given that Universal had considered firing von Stroheim multiple times during production. His methods, while costly and time-consuming, resulted in a film of unprecedented visual sophistication and psychological depth for its time. The mountain climbing sequences were especially dangerous, with performers actually suspended hundreds of feet above ground without safety nets or modern safety equipment.
Visual Style
The cinematography, primarily by William H. Daniels, was groundbreaking for its time, featuring extensive location photography in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Daniels utilized natural light and dramatic landscape compositions to create visual metaphors for the emotional states of the characters. The mountain climbing sequences were particularly innovative, employing wide-angle shots to emphasize both the beauty and danger of the alpine setting. The film made effective use of deep focus and chiaroscuro lighting techniques, influenced by German Expressionism. Von Stroheim insisted on using real mountain locations rather than studio backdrops, resulting in unprecedented visual realism. The cinematography also employed innovative camera movements, including tracking shots following the climbers up the mountain faces, creating a sense of vertigo and danger that studio-bound films of the era could not achieve.
Innovations
The film pioneered several technical innovations in American cinema. Most notably, it was one of the first American films to extensively use location shooting in challenging mountain environments, requiring innovative solutions for transporting and operating camera equipment at high altitudes. The production developed special camera mounts and safety harnesses for the dangerous climbing sequences. The film also experimented with narrative techniques, including sophisticated use of cross-cutting between parallel actions and psychological visual metaphors. Von Stroheim employed innovative lighting techniques to create mood and character development, influenced by European cinema. The film's editing style was more complex than typical American productions of the era, using rhythmic cutting to build tension and emotional impact.
Music
As a silent film, 'Blind Husbands' was originally accompanied by live musical performances in theaters. The typical score included classical pieces by composers such as Wagner and Strauss, reflecting the Austrian setting and dramatic tone. Universal provided cue sheets for theater organists, suggesting specific musical pieces for different scenes. In 1925, when the film was re-released, it featured a synchronized musical score using the Phonofilm process, one of the early attempts at adding sound to film. The score emphasized the psychological tension and romantic elements of the story, with leitmotifs for each main character. The music for the mountain climbing sequences was particularly dramatic, using percussive elements to create tension and excitement.
Did You Know?
- This was Erich von Stroheim's directorial debut, though he had been acting and writing for several years.
- Von Stroheim played the villainous officer despite being offered the role of the husband.
- The film was so successful that it saved Universal from bankruptcy in 1919.
- Gibson Gowland, who played Dr. Armstrong, would later star in von Stroheim's 'Greed' (1924).
- The mountain climbing sequences were considered groundbreaking for their realism and danger.
- Von Stroheim reportedly spent $10,000 on authentic Austrian military uniforms for the production.
- The film was re-released in 1925 with a synchronized music score using the Phonofilm process.
- Contemporary audiences were shocked by the film's psychological complexity and moral ambiguity.
- Von Stroheim's attention to detail extended to having real snow shipped to the studio for retakes.
- The success of this film established von Stroheim as a major directorial talent in Hollywood.
What Critics Said
Contemporary critics praised 'Blind Husbands' for its artistic ambition, visual sophistication, and psychological depth. The New York Times hailed it as 'a masterpiece of psychological drama' while Variety noted its 'unprecedented realism and emotional intensity.' Critics particularly praised von Stroheim's direction and performance, as well as the stunning mountain photography. Modern critics have reevaluated the film as a groundbreaking work that introduced European cinematic sensibilities to American audiences. Film historian Kevin Brownlow has called it 'the first truly adult American film,' while many contemporary scholars consider it a precursor to film noir in its moral ambiguity and psychological complexity. The film is now recognized as a pivotal work in the transition from simple melodramas to more sophisticated narrative cinema.
What Audiences Thought
The film was a major commercial success, surprising Universal executives who had doubted its commercial potential. Audiences were drawn to its combination of spectacular mountain scenery, romantic tension, and sophisticated storytelling. Many contemporary viewers were shocked by the film's frank treatment of marital problems and sexual desire, with some critics noting that it pushed the boundaries of acceptable content for the time. The film's success led to increased demand for more sophisticated adult dramas in Hollywood. Audience reaction to von Stroheim's performance as the villain was particularly strong, establishing him as a major star. The film's popularity extended beyond America, with successful releases in Europe where von Stroheim's European sensibilities were particularly appreciated.
Awards & Recognition
- Photoplay Magazine Medal of Honor (1919)
Film Connections
Influenced By
- German Expressionist cinema
- European melodrama tradition
- Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau's visual style
- Victor Sjöström's nature films
- Maurice Tourneur's psychological dramas
This Film Influenced
- The Merry Widow
- 1925
- The Wedding March
- 1928
- Greed
- 1924
- The Great Gabbo
- 1929
- Sunrise
- 1927
- The Last Command
- 1928
- similarFilms
- Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans,1927,The Cheat,1915,The Way of All Flesh,1927,The Docks of New York,1928,A Woman of Paris,1923,The Wind,1928,],,famousQuotes,A woman's heart is like a mountain flower - it must be plucked before it withers.,You Americans think you can buy everything, even a woman's loyalty.,In the mountains, there are no rules except those of nature.,Love is the most dangerous climb of all.,Sometimes a husband's greatest blindness is not seeing what is right before his eyes.,memorableScenes,The opening sequence establishing the Armstrongs' strained relationship as they prepare for their Alpine vacation,Von Steuben's first encounter with Margaret, where his predatory nature is immediately established through subtle gestures and gazes,The tense dinner scene where von Steuben systematically undermines Dr. Armstrong's confidence while seducing Margaret with stories of European sophistication,The spectacular mountain climbing sequence where both men race to the summit, using actual climbing techniques and featuring breathtaking cinematography,The final confrontation on the mountain peak where the true nature of both men is revealed in a moment of crisis,The emotional resolution where Margaret and Dr. Armstrong reconcile, having learned valuable lessons about their marriage,preservationStatus,The film is preserved in the Library of Congress and has been restored by several archives including the Museum of Modern Art. A complete 35mm print exists, though some scenes show deterioration typical of films from this period. The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2008 for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. Several restoration projects have been undertaken, most notably by the George Eastman Museum, which created a high-quality digital restoration in 2015. The restored version includes the original tinting and intertitles, preserving the film's original artistic intent.,whereToWatch,The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray/DVD),Kino Lorber (DVD release),The Criterion Channel (streaming),MUBI (streaming),FilmStruck (archive),Museum of Modern Art film screenings,Academic film archives,Public domain versions on YouTube (lower quality)