Hollywood's most hated genius finally comes home.
Issue No. 162 (date: July 16, 1948) of the Austrian newsreel "Welt im Film" shows Erich von Stroheim's arrival in Vienna as part of the cast of Ernst Neubach's French feature film "Le signal rouge" (1949). Translation of the newsreel voice-over: "On board the Arlberg Express, the famous American film star Erich von Stroheim arrived in Vienna. He is accompanied by the producer and author-director Ernst Neubach, the French actresses Denise Vernac and Claude Chenard, and upcoming talent Franck Villard. Erich von Stroheim, born in Vienna, left Austria for Hollywood before World War I and made a big international career there. This is his film debut in his home country."
Acting
Stroheim's weary eyes say everything the narrator won't.
Production
Arlberg Express as stage for ruined empire's return.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Stroheim was Hollywood's most despised director—fired from Greed, mutilated by studios—yet here he's packaged as 'famous American film star,' the very mask he invented.
The 'Signal Rouge' production never completed; this newsreel survives as Stroheim's only Austrian footage. He's playing himself coming home, but the real return never happened.
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