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Erich von Stroheim

Erich von Stroheim

Actor, writer and director, also producer and editor · Died May 12, 1957, aged 71 · Vienna, Austria-Hungary [now Austria]

Erich von Stroheim (September 22, 1885 – May 12, 1957) was a multifaceted Austrian-American actor, director, and writer known for his contributions to cinema during the silent film era. He was renowned for his meticulous attention to detail as a director and for portraying intense, often morally ambiguous characters on screen. Stroheim gained fame for directing and starring in films like "Greed" and "The Merry Widow." His style was marked by elaborate storytelling and a commitment to realism. Stroheim's career was impactful, though often marked by conflicts with studios due to his uncompromising vision, which led to some of his films being heavily edited against his wishes.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 22, 1885
Died
May 12, 1957 (aged 71)
From
Vienna, Austria-Hungary [now Austria]
Works as
Actor, writer and director, also producer and editor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 83 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 15% in 30 days

What are Erich von Stroheim's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
25%
Morality
24%
Self
18%
Power
17%
Survival
9%
Society
7%
Romantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass4 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 9 · Dark 9

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 11 · Intense 8

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 2 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 8

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 9 of 13 analyzed roles.

Shadow
9 of 13
Threshold guardian
2 of 13
Hero
1 of 13
Mentor
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Melancholic
17
Romantic
7
Dread
5
Hopeful
4
Other
7

How their films linger

Bittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic8
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Erich von Stroheim's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Erich von Stroheim's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

83 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 10 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Morceaux de Cannes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • Quand Jean devint Renoir(2017)

    as Captain von Rauffenstein (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Erich von Stroheim - Der Mann mit dem bösen Blick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as (archive footage)

  • Armored Attack! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Dr. Otto Von Harden

  • Papatya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Original Story

  • La Madone des sleepings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Dr Siefgried Traurig

  • Napoleon(1955)

    as Ludwig van Beethoven

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Série noire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Sacha Zavaroff

  • Alarm in Morocco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Conrad Nagel

  • Other Side of Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as William O'Hara

  • Midnight... Quai de Bercy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Le professeur Kieffer

  • Unnatural (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Jacob ten Brinken

  • Sunset Boulevard(1950)

    as Max von Mayerling

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Portrait of a Murderer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Eric

  • The Red Signal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Mathias Berthold

  • La Danse de mort (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Edgar

  • Devil and the Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Frank Davis

  • One Does Not Die That Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Eric von Berg

  • The Mask of Diijon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Diijon

  • Scotland Yard Investigator (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Carl Hoffmeyer

  • The Great Flamarion(1945)

    as The Great Flamarion

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Storm Over Lisbon(1944)

    as Deresco

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Lady and the Monster(1944)

    as Prof. Franz Mueller

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The North Star(1943)

    as Dr. von Harden

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Five Graves to Cairo(1943)

    as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Gambling Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Werner von Krall

  • So Ends Our Night(1941)

    as Brenner

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • I Was an Adventuress(1940)

    Writer · as Andre Desormeaux

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Thunder Over Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Korlick

  • Threats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Le professeur Hoffman

  • Personal Column (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Pears, l'ex-couturier

  • Immediate Call (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Actor

  • The World Will Shake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Emil Lasser / Monsieur Frank

  • Behind the Facade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Eric, German naturalized French

  • Ultimatum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as General Simovic

  • Boys' School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Walter, le professeur d'anglais

  • Gibraltar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Scenario Writer · as Eric Marson

  • The Lafarge Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Denis

  • Rail Pirates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Tchou King

  • Alibi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Professor Winckler

  • Under Secret Orders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Col. W. Mathesius / Simonis

  • Between Two Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Story

  • Grand Illusion(1937)

    as Captain von Rauffenstein

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Marthe Richard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as van Ludlow

  • The Devil-Doll(1936)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Crime of Doctor Crespi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Dr. Andre Crespi

  • Crimson Romance(1934)

    as Capt. Wolters

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Fugitive Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Hpt. Oswald Von Traunsee

  • Hello, Sister!(1933)

    Director · Scenario Writer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • As You Desire Me(1932)

    as Carl Salter

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Lost Squadron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Arthur von Furst

  • Friends and Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Victor Sangrito

  • Three Faces East (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Valdar / Schiller / Blecher

  • Queen Kelly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · Original Story · Producer

  • The Honeymoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · Writer · as Prince Nicki

  • The Great Gabbo(1929)

    as Gabbo

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Wedding March(1928)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer · as Nicki / Prince Nickolas

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Merry Widow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director · Writer

  • Greed(1924)

    Director · Art Direction · Production Design · Screenplay · as Balloon Vendor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Merry-Go-Round(1923)

    Director · Costume Design · Writer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Foolish Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Director · Scenario Writer · Writer · as Count Wladislaw Sergius Karamzin

  • The Devil's Passkey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Director · Art Direction · Writer

  • Blind Husbands(1919)

    Director · Art Direction · Editor · Producer · Screenplay · Story · as Lt. Erich von Steuben

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Fall of Babylon(1919)

    as A Pharisee

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Heart of Humanity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Eric von Eberhard

  • The Hun Within (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Von Bickel

  • Hearts of the World(1918)

    as A Hun

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Unbeliever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Herr Lieutenant Kurt von Schnieditz

  • Sylvia of the Secret Service (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Assistant Director · Technical Advisor · as Peter

  • For France (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Minor Role (uncredited)

  • Blind Man's Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Technical Supervisor

  • In Again, Out Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Art Direction · Assistant Director · as Officer (uncredited)

  • Panthea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Assistant Director · as Lieutenant

  • Less Than the Dust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Assistant Director

  • The Social Secretary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Assistant Director · as The Buzzard

  • Intolerance(1916)

    Assistant Production Manager · as Second Pharisee (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Macbeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Assistant Director

  • The Flying Torpedo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    as Accomplice

  • His Picture in the Papers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Assistant Director · as One of the Weazels (uncredited)

  • Old Heidelberg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Assistant Director · as Lutz

  • Ghosts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Technical Advisor · Wardrobe Assistant · as School Clerk

  • The Birth of a Nation(1915)

    Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Country Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Diner in Restaurant

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 82 titles from 1915 to 2021.

Biggest box office

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

$339K worldwide

Highest rated

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting70 of 82: 56 only acting, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thDirecting10 of 82: 0 only directing, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndWriting13 of 82: 3 only writing, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score78thProducing3 of 82: 0 only producing, 3 with another roleEditing1 of 82: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew16 of 82: 4 only other crew, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score72nd

82 titles, 19 with more than one role — acting and other crew overlap on 10 of them.

By decade

1910s20 · 16 acting · 13 crew1920s9 · 5 acting · 8 crew1930s23 · 20 acting · 4 crew1940s17 · acting1950s10 · 9 acting · 1 crew1960s1 · acting2010s1 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 50% of 10 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Erich von Stroheim's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Crimson Romance (1934)

78th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Midcredits 99th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 49. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Erich von Stroheim work with?

People who share at least 2 of Erich von Stroheim's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; William H. Daniels shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers