Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-10-17
BY JOHN u. STURDEVANT,
Motion Picture Editor

az EVERYBODY hates Erich
Won Stroheim, it's not his fault.
y For two generations, in a
screen career stretching over two
World Wars, the monocled actor
has had an open field playing
bull-neclted arrogant German Of
ficers. Competition, when it
comes to cynical, brilliant and
sadistic roles, has been almost
non-existent.
But don't blame yourselves for
cordially loathing this superb
actor. Hollywoods script writer's
are really responsible.
In the course of their labors
they have found il necessary that
Won Stroheim be shot, strangled,
stabbed, hanged, guillotined, poi
soned and bludgeoned. For thirty
years, won" has been known as
the man you love 20 hate" but
his latest film, ne admits, sets a
now low in contemplate villainy.
As Captain Won Harden" in
Samuel Goldwyn's North Star"
he plays the part Of Nazi Army
surgeon who drains off the blood
OF captured Russian children for
transfusions 20 wounded German
soldiers.
Il have done some horrible
things in my trade" Won said the
other day, but this is a piece
OF cold-blooded savagery that
surpasses anything. The only
thing that stills my conscience
is that it is an authentic practice
among the Nazi surgeons of the
armies invading Russia"
As a matter Of fact, Von's por-
ira yal is so genuinely hissable
that his friends are afraid of
what may happen after the film
is released.
After the last war when Von's
notable interpretations of the
Beast Of Berlin" were first seen,
nitwits on the street confused
him with the real thing and
bounced on-him. Although Won
Is expertly capable Of defending
himself, the studios guarded his
valuable person carefully
II that happens now, Won may
be & 'en a couple Of kindly roles
To offset his more despicable ones.
Can you imagine that stiff mill
tary bearing and stern counter
ance masked with grandfatherly
charm?
Won, in North star" has good
reason 10 know the type of man
he portrays. He attended the
Austrian Military Academy and
became a cavalry lieutenant in
the Austrian Army, a career he
abandoned in 1909
II was then that he came to
the United States and served for
three years in the u. S. Army.
Between his discharge and his
arrival j, in Hollywood he was a
bundle wrapper in a store. a rail-
road section hand. bank clerk,
riding master. vaudeville actor
and theatrical producer.
In true Won Stroheim fashion
he arrived in Hollywood on horse
back, though his entrance wasn't
quite as glamorous as it sounds.
lie had forty other horses in tow
he was riding them from Lake
Tahoe TO Pasadena.
The studios were then making
pictures about the first World
War and someone saw Won and
was Immediately impressed by
his military bearing When it
was discovered that he knew
more about officers uniforms
than anyone in sight he got a job
as assistant director. When the
war ended and war films were
no longer boX-office. Won became
one Of Hollywood's greatest di-
rectors. His films were hailed
as highly artistic and darinEly
revolutionary,
In 1885 he went TO Paris and
made the unforgettable Grand
Illusion, which brought him a
decoration from the French gov
eminent. a few years later he
returned to this country, Of which
he has been a citizen for many
/ years.
But despite all the blood and