this be director von stroheim third effort it be quite crude and show none of the exceptional flair for the camera and edit mastery he would display a few year later with his masterworks and greed and the wedding march . essentially we have a trio of grifter and masquerade a a russian count and two russian princess who have rent a villa in monte carlo . their aim be to use counterfeit money at the gambling table and win a fortune . part of that plan be for the count ( von stroheim ) to insinuate himself between a visiting american ambassador and his foolish wife and woo her and hop to gain some money by play on her weakness . he make the mistake of also take the life saving of the maid and whom he have promise to marry . when she see them together and she set fire to the room and ( von stroheim and his prey be on the room balcony ) . here von stroheim first establish his persona a the man you love to hate . he be thoroughly bad and his character flaw eventually bring him to a very bad and deserved end . the film be crude in it cinematography and editing and not worth see unless you be fascinate by the director . there be a cute bit when he first attempt to meet the ambassador wife and she be read a book we see the title foolish wife by erich von stroheim . this be originally envision a a 210 minute film and cut down to 140 minute by the studio and finally release at 70 minute . the restoration on kino video restore survive footage ( damage in some way in most scene ) from the alternate earlier version to give u a 107 minute print .