MovieChat Forums > The Wedding March (1928) Discussion > Only problem was casting Erich von Stroh...

Only problem was casting Erich von Stroheim as a prince.

posted 8 years ago by kevin-bergin
4 replies | jump to latest

Don't feel sorry for Fay Wray since I doubt Eric had "sweep-her-off-her feet" type looks?
So it was the royal title from the first go round.

"It's the system, Lara. People will be different after the Revolution."

[–] wmorrow59 8 years ago

True, he was no matinee idol. But from what I gather, Von Stroheim cast himself in the lead for strategic reasons: he figured he couldn't be replaced as director, as he was on Merry-Go-Round, if he also played the lead. If producer Pat Powers were to fire him halfway into the production, he'd have to have all his scenes re-shot with a different actor, which would be too expensive. So, he cast himself as Nicki as an insurance move, in a sense. In the end, of course, production was halted by the producer anyway.

[–] mdonln 8 years ago

kevin-bergin says > Don't feel sorry for Fay Wray since I doubt Eric had "sweep-her-off-her feet" type looks? So it was the royal title from the first go round.

1. I know you're not suggesting all princes have matinee idol good looks. That's definitely not the case. Being much older than the women they date isn't unusual either.

2. I don't think Mitzi knew who he was at first. He introduced himself only as Nicki saying 'let's leave it at that'. Obviously she later learned his identity but that was after she had fallen for him. Had her family known who he was they might have been more approving as well.

3. Until he threw her over for Cecilia and her family's money, Nicki had treated Mitzi well. He genuinely cared for her and probably would have chosen to marry her if he hadn't needed the money.

4. Considering her options, even without a title, Nicki was the better package. Eberle wasn't a nice person and he looked every bit the creep that he was. Eberle always tried to take her by force even though she wanted no part of him. Nicki, on the other hand, made her feel so special she willingly gave herself to him.

5. Women don't tend to be as driven by looks as men. We see the exterior and can appreciate it but we also pay attention to what's going on internally. How a guy makes us feel is as important, if not more important, than how good he looks.

6. Let's face it, some women fantasize about being a princess. Unless they're born into it the only other way to get there is to marry a prince. Mitzi was a peasant girl who hadn't gotten a lot of breaks in life. Nicki gave her a taste of a new and different life. He gave her hope and the ability to dream. As we see by her family's reaction to him, Eberle was the best catch in her world. Perhaps at some point he was what she wanted but once she realized she didn't have to settle her world and heart opened up.

There's nothing wrong with wanting more but that's usually where people clash. Nicki had debts and a lifestyle he wanted to maintain so he wanted more money. Eberle wanted a very beautiful girl. Cecilia wanted love and marriage even though she was 'damaged goods'. Everyone can't always have what they want but pursuing it, in itself, is not wrong. What's wrong is not being honest with ourselves and others because it leaves hurt and/or injured people in our wake.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] kevin-bergin 8 years ago

I don't think Mitzi knew who he was at first. He introduced himself only as Nicki saying 'let's leave it at that'.

A little too handy don't you think? Since you were so nice to leave a major response, did you ever see this:
https://vimeo.com/144566862

"It's the system, Lara. People will be different after the Revolution."

[–] mdonln 8 years ago

Nope, I'd never seen that clip but it was interesting. Unfortunately, those old Saturday Night Live sketches don't always work in the present day. Rather, I don't find the humor in them that I assume audiences back then once did.

In this skit they seem to be spoofing the speed at which the couples in old movies got married. The girls would breeze into town and the world would practically fall at their feet. By the end of the movie they'd have achieved all their dreams and found love to boot.

It's a bit exaggerated but that's what comedy often is. What's really funny is how that kind of stuff really did and still does happen to a certain extent. These days there may not be a quick proposal but that's because a few free gifts and other minor perks will get the guy all the uncommitted sex he can stand.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]