Erich von Stroheim’s last film for Universal was taken away from him by studio executive Irving Thalberg to be completed by utilitarian director Rupert Julian. Yet the film still retains elements of the von Stroheim style. Notwithstanding Norman Kerry and Mary Philbin, the sets designed by Richard Day (with direction from Stroheim) are the stars of this film.

After six weeks of shooting, during which he shot 83,000 feet of negative for only about one-fifth of the scenario, Stroheim was removed from the production. When the film was finished by Rupert Julian, he stated that only approximately 600 feet of Stroheim footage remained in the film.

Among the supporting cast are Stroheim regulars Cesare Gravina, Dale Fuller and Maude George. — Carl Bennett

This edition marked the beginning of a great year for Erich von Stroheim fans, with the majority of his surviving films being released on DVD home video in 2003.

The disc has apparently been mastered from 16mm reduction print materials. The windowboxed, natural-speed video transfer is good enough (even on upscaling HD equipment) but, despite a broad range of graytones, picture details in the source print are not a sharp as one would want, with close-ups being very-good but also with long shots that are quite soft in details.

The presentation is accompanied by a music score performed on synthesizers by Eric Beheim.

This is currently the only available DVD home video edition of Merry-Go-Round, but we feel there is some room for improvement both in picture quality and in the accompanying music.

USA: Click the logomark at right to purchase a Region 0 NTSC DVD of this edition from Amazon.com.
Canada: Click the logomark at right to purchase a Region 0 NTSC DVD of this edition from Amazon.ca.

Other silent era ERICH VON STROHEIM films available on home video.

Erich von Stroheim filmography in The Progressive Silent Film List