Is Foolish Wives Worth Watching?
Answer: Yes, Foolish Wives is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies.
It features a runtime of 143 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to general audiences.
Foolish Wives Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 1922, Foolish Wives emerges as a significant entry in the Drama, Thriller domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of A con artist masquerades as Russian nobility and attempts to seduce the wife of an American diplomat. Unlike standard genre fare, Foolish Wives attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and Foolish Wives features a noteworthy lineup led by Erich von Stroheim . Supported by the likes of Rudolph Christians and Miss DuPont , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Foolish Wives (1922) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.4/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Foolish Wives Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: Foolish Wives is a Drama, Thriller film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through nuanced character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Foolish Wives Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: Foolish Wives concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Foolish Wives reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Foolish Wives?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Foolish Wives Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $1.1M |
| Worldwide Gross | $400.2K |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Foolish Wives Budget
The estimated production budget for Foolish Wives is $1.1M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
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Full Cast & Crew of Foolish Wives
- Erich von Stroheim – Count Wladislaw Sergius Karamzin
- Rudolph Christians – Andrew J. Hughes
- Miss DuPont – Helen Hughes
- Maude George – Princess Olga Petchnikoff
- Mae Busch – Princess Vera Petchnikoff
Top Highlights
Erich von StroheimCount Wladislaw Sergius Karamzin
Rudolph ChristiansAndrew J. Hughes
Miss DuPontHelen Hughes
Maude GeorgePrincess Olga Petchnikoff
Mae BuschPrincess Vera Petchnikoff
Dale FullerMaruschka
Cesare GravinaCesare Ventucci
Malvina PoloMarietta
Albert EdmondsonPavel Pavlich
Mary PhilbinCrippled Girl (uncredited)
Where to Watch Foolish Wives Online?
Streaming HubParents Guide & Age Rating
Foolish Wives has not been officially rated yet. Based on its genres (Drama, Thriller), it contains mature themes, violence.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.4/10, and global collection metrics, Foolish Wives stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1922 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Foolish Wives movie hit or flop?
Foolish Wives has received mixed reviews with a 6.4/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is Foolish Wives worth watching?
Foolish Wives is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Drama, Thriller movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch Foolish Wives online?
Foolish Wives may be available for rent or purchase on digital platforms like Apple TV, Google Play, or Amazon Prime Video. Specific streaming availability can vary by country.
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How Foolish Wives Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Foolish Wives
It's a soap. Despite all the associated history of cuts, recuts and restoration it is still just a beautifully photographed soap opera. Erich von Stroheim did just about everything in this entertaining, if a little too cyclical, tale of a cad. That cad "Count Sergius Karanzim" (EVS) parades around the Côte D'Azur luring unsuspecting (wealthy) women to his rented villa in which he, with his two "cousins" (Maude George & Mae Busch as the Princesses "Petchnikoff") fleeces them relentlessly. For quite a while his charm, wit and guile provides them with a good living until he aims a little too high with the wife of an American diplomat in Monte Carlo. "Mrs. Hughes" (Miss Dupont) and her husband (Rudolph Christians) may well be about to put a spoke in the wheel of these confidence tricksters. It's good fun, this, with Von Stroheim eminently convincing as the con man and DuPont equally effective as his ditzy mark. The production is maybe a bit static, but at 100 years old, it is still delivered in a fashion that shows off the Mediterranean scenery whilst aiming one squarely between the eyes of the vacuous, riche, clientele who assumed their excesses of funds were adequate compensation for their gullibility, stupidity and naivety. It sags from time to time, so I am not hugely shocked that this original 21 reeler was scaled back somewhat. What we have here, though, still have flows well enough with succinct inter titles that are, at times, quite witty too. I am not sure I would ever bother to watch it again, but I am glad that I did. You can see here the template for so many films that followed.
movieMx Verified
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
