House of Greed
"Wealth without mercy devours a noble house."
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About this film
Aleksandr Ivanovsky adapts Saltykov-Shchedrin's novel The Golovlyov Family as the drama Iudushka Golovlyov, known abroad as House of Greed. Vladimir Gardin plays hypocrite heir Porfiry Golovlyov, whose wealth cannot save his son or nieces from humiliation and death as the noble household decays in pre-revolutionary Russia.
More about this film
About the production
Themes
Themes & topics
Historical background
Soyuzkino released the 94-minute feature in the USSR in January 1934 after Stalin-era literary adaptations had become a staple of Soviet prestige cinema.
Why this film matters
The Saltykov-Shchedrin adaptation joined other Ivanovsky literary films in presenting feudal corruption to Soviet audiences; its export title House of Greed circulated in Western art-house programs.
What critics said
Soviet critics welcomed the faithful attack on landowner hypocrisy; Gardin's central performance drew praise in studio press, and foreign notices highlighted the novel's bitter family portrait.
Did you know?
- The source novel's nickname Iudushka (Judas) titles the Russian release.
- Vladimir Gardin also starred in early Russian silent classics.
Where to watch
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTJMmj-TuTg
- Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1933.%20%D0%98%D1%83%D0%B4%D1%83%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%B0%20%D0%93%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B2.webm