# Greed

> 1924 film by Erich von Stroheim

**Wikidata**: [Q690583](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q690583)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greed_(1924_film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/greed

## Summary
*Greed* is a 1924 silent drama film directed by Austrian filmmaker Erich von Stroheim, produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in the United States. It is renowned for its exploration of human avarice and is preserved in the U.S. National Film Registry for its cultural significance.

## Key Facts
- **Release Date**: January 1, 1924.
- **Director**: Erich von Stroheim (Austrian actor and director, 1885–1957).
- **Genre**: Drama film, silent film (no synchronized recorded dialogue).
- **Production Company**: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), founded April 17, 1924, in the United States.
- **Country of Origin**: United States.
- **Theme**: Centers on the concept of greed, defined as an insatiable longing for material gain.
- **Preservation Status**: Selected for the National Film Registry (established 1988) by the U.S. Library of Congress.
- **Wikidata Sitelinks**: 33 references across languages.
- **Wikipedia Title**: *Greed (1924 film)*.

## FAQs

**Who directed *Greed*?**
Erich von Stroheim, an Austrian-American filmmaker known for his meticulous and often controversial directorial style, helmed *Greed*. His work on the film is considered one of his most ambitious projects, though it faced significant studio interference.

**What is *Greed* about?**
The film is a dramatic exploration of human greed, depicting characters consumed by their desire for wealth and material possessions. It is based on Frank Norris’s 1899 novel *McTeague* and is celebrated for its psychological depth and stark realism.

**Is *Greed* a silent film?**
Yes, *Greed* is a silent film, meaning it has no synchronized recorded dialogue. Like other films of its era, it relies on visual storytelling, intertitles, and musical accompaniment to convey its narrative.

**Why is *Greed* significant in film history?**
*Greed* is preserved in the National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance. Its original cut was reportedly over 8 hours long, though it was heavily edited by MGM, making it a notable example of studio interference in artistic vision.

**Which studio produced *Greed*?**
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), one of the most prominent American film studios, produced *Greed*. MGM was founded in 1924, the same year the film was released, and played a major role in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

## Why It Matters
*Greed* is a landmark in cinematic history for its unflinching portrayal of human vice and its technical ambition. As one of Erich von Stroheim’s most famous works, it exemplifies the director’s commitment to realism and psychological complexity, despite the studio’s drastic edits. Its inclusion in the National Film Registry underscores its enduring influence on filmmaking, particularly in the silent era. The film also serves as a critical commentary on materialism, a theme that remains relevant in modern society. By pushing the boundaries of narrative and visual storytelling, *Greed* helped shape the language of cinema and inspired generations of filmmakers.

## Notable For
- **Original Length**: The director’s cut was reportedly over 8 hours long, though the theatrical release was significantly shorter due to studio edits.
- **National Film Registry**: Selected for preservation by the U.S. Library of Congress in recognition of its cultural significance.
- **Silent Era Masterpiece**: A prime example of the artistic potential of silent films, using visuals and intertitles to convey deep emotional and psychological themes.
- **Controversial Production**: Known for the conflict between Erich von Stroheim’s artistic vision and MGM’s commercial interests, leading to extensive cuts.
- **Literary Adaptation**: Based on Frank Norris’s naturalist novel *McTeague*, which critiques the destructive power of greed.

## Body

### Overview and Genre
*Greed* is a 1924 silent drama film directed by Erich von Stroheim, a key figure in early American cinema. As a drama film, it focuses on intense emotional and psychological conflicts, while its classification as a silent film places it within a distinct era of cinematic history where storytelling relied on visuals, expressions, and text intertitles rather than spoken dialogue.

### Production and Studio
The film was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), a major American film studio founded on April 17, 1924. MGM’s involvement in *Greed* marked an early example of the studio’s influence over creative projects, as the original version was drastically shortened from von Stroheim’s intended 8+ hour runtime to a more commercially viable length. This intervention highlights the tensions between artistic vision and studio control in early Hollywood.

### Director: Erich von Stroheim
Erich von Stroheim, born in Austria in 1885, was a multifaceted filmmaker known for his roles as an actor, director, and screenwriter. His directorial style was characterized by realism, attention to detail, and often controversial subject matter. *Greed* is considered one of his most ambitious works, though his perfectionism frequently clashed with studio executives. Von Stroheim’s career spanned both Austrian and American cinema, and his contributions to silent films remain influential.

### Themes and Source Material
The film’s central theme is greed, defined as an insatiable longing for material gain. It adapts Frank Norris’s 1899 novel *McTeague*, a naturalist work that explores the corrosive effects of avarice on individuals and society. Von Stroheim’s adaptation retains the novel’s grim tone, focusing on the moral decay of its protagonists as they succumb to their desires.

### Cultural and Historical Significance
*Greed* is preserved in the National Film Registry, a selection of films deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant by the U.S. Library of Congress. Established in 1988, the registry ensures the preservation of important cinematic works, and *Greed*’s inclusion reflects its enduring impact on film history. The film’s original length and the subsequent edits by MGM also make it a case study in the dynamics between directors and studios during the silent era.

### Legacy and Influence
Despite its troubled production, *Greed* has been praised for its technical achievements and narrative depth. The film’s use of location shooting, realistic sets, and unflinching portrayal of human flaws set it apart from contemporary melodramas. Its influence can be seen in later films that explore similar themes of obsession and moral decay, as well as in the ongoing discourse about artistic integrity versus commercial viability in cinema.

### Related Entities
- **Silent Film Genre**: *Greed* is part of a broader tradition of silent films, which dominated early cinema before the advent of synchronized sound.
- **Drama Film Genre**: As a drama, it aligns with films that prioritize character development and emotional conflict over action or comedy.
- **United States Cinema**: The film is a product of the American film industry during its formative years, reflecting the country’s growing cultural influence in the early 20th century.
- **Greed as a Concept**: The film’s exploration of greed connects it to broader philosophical and literary traditions that examine human vice and materialism.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. The Movie Database
3. [Source](https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/)
4. Greed. Rotten Tomatoes
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Kinopoisk
7. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=4172.html)
8. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
9. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/30931)
10. Online-Filmdatenbank
11. mymovies.it
12. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
13. Trakt.tv
14. FilmVandaag.nl